Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model test study of impact of pile length on long-short piles composite foundation

In order to study the impact of pile length on the bearing properties of long-short piles composite foundation, distribution of the axial force and skin friction along pile, the bearing mechanics of long-short-pile composite foundation with long and short piles were studied based on laboratory tests in three different conditions: 60-centimeter-long long piles with 20-centimeter-long short piles, 60-centimeter-long long piles with 30-centimeter-long short piles and 60-centimeter-long long piles with 60-centimeter-long short piles in this paper. Keeping the length of long piles 60 centimeters, conclusions were as follows: the axial force of long piles decreased a little with the increasing of short piles length and the axial force of short piles increased obviously with the increasing of short piles length; No matter how the length of short piles changed, long and short piles always followed the law that the value of axial force of corner piles were the largest, followed side piles and then center piles; The value of long and short piles skin friction both decreased with the increasing of short piles length; No matter how the length of short piles changed, long and short piles always followed the law that the utilization degree of the skin fiction of center piles were the largest, followed side piles and then corner piles.
Intermittent Fault Diagnosis as Discrete Signal Estimation: Trackability analysis

We address the problem of intermittent fault diagnosis as an instance of discrete signal estimation, in the context of fault management in autonomous systems and autonomous vehicles. We propose an estimation approach based on constrained optimization using conditional preference theories. We show that in some cases, our estimator can fail to find an estimation for the system. We provide a way to detect and eliminate these cases at design time.
Nondaily hormonal contraception: establishing a fit between product characteristics and patient preferences.

O ral contraceptives have made a major contribution to both women and society by substantially reducing the rate of unintended pregnancies. However, in actual clinical practice, contraceptive failures remain a problem. For example, the first-year pregnancy rate with oral contraceptives can be as high as 5% to 8%. Experts agree that a leading reason for unintended pregnancy among oral contraceptive users is incorrect and inconsistent use. Women who do not use oral contraceptives consistently are nearly 3 times as likely to become pregnant as those who use them consistently. Today, women have alternatives to the daily regimen of oral contraceptives. Highly effective, convenient, nondaily contraceptive choices are available in injectable, intrauterine, intravaginal, and transdermal delivery systems, which may be administered weekly, monthly, every 3 months, or every 5 years, depending on a woman’s family planning needs and preferences. This article compares the efficacy, noncontraceptive health benefits, side-effect profiles, and long-term safety of the available nondaily hormonal contraceptive options. It also reviews other factors to consider when selecting the most appropriate and acceptable option for women who are seeking nondaily contraception. Practice recommendations
Interferon resistance promotes oncolysis by influenza virus NS1‐deletion mutants

NS1 protein of influenza virus is a virulence factor that counteracts Type I interferon (IFN)‐mediated antiviral response by the host. A recombinant influenza A virus that lacks the NS1 protein only replicates efficiently in systems that contain defective IFN pathways. We demonstrate that the conditional replication properties of NS1‐modified influenza A virus mutants can be exploited for the virus‐mediated oncolysis of IFN‐resistant tumor cells. IFN resistance in analyzed tumor cell lines correlated with a reduced expression of STAT1. Addition of exogenous IFNα or supernatant of virus‐infected endothelial cells inhibited viral oncolysis in IFN‐sensitive but not in IFN‐resistant cell lines. The oncolytic potential of NS1‐modified influenza A virus mutants could be exploited in vivo in a SCID mouse model of a subcutaneously‐implanted human IFN‐resistant melanoma. The data indicate that IFN‐resistant tumors are a suitable target for oncolysis induced by NS1‐modified influenza virus mutants. STAT1 might serve as a marker to identify these IFN‐resistant tumors. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cross-Reactions between Streptococcal M Proteins and Human Transplantation Antigens

Allogeneic antiserums against human lymphocytes were specifically inhibited by M protein from beta hemolytic group A Streptococcus pyogenes, type 1. Analogous M proteins from streptococcus types 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, and 14 had little or no inhibitory activity. The specific inhibition by M protein is not a result of anticomplementary activity or of coating of the lymphocyte surface. Streptococcal polysaccharide and 73 other polysaccharides were inactive. Because all seven HL-A specificities tested were inhibited, it is inferred that M1 protein has a structure common to human histocompatibility antigens.
Who and how many people are taking herbal supplements? A survey of 21,923 adults.

BACKGROUND There is little information on the number and characteristics of adults taking herbal supplements and the relationship of this with other health and lifestyle factors. These were examined in the current study. METHODS Information on herbal supplement use and health and lifestyle characteristics was obtained by postal questionnaire, sent to a sample of the adult population in Northwest England. RESULTS In summer 2001, 70.5% (15,465/21,923) of questionnaires were returned. The mean age of responders was 49.8 years (SD 17.57) and 45.2% (6,986/15,465) were men. The percentage taking at least one herbal supplement was 12.8% (1,987/15,465). Users of herbal supplements were more likely to be younger, female, white, and to own their home. Herbal supplement use was not strongly associated with any health and lifestyle variables examined. Weak associations were found with physical activity, psychiatric caseness, and use of prescribed medications. The most common herbal supplement was evening primrose oil, taken by 7.7% (1,186/15,465) of respondents (12.7% of women and 1.1% of men). CONCLUSIONS More than one in ten adults were taking herbal supplements, with evening primrose oil, the most common supplement, used mainly by women. Individual characteristics such as age, sex, ethnicity, and social class influenced the use of herbal supplements, but there was no evidence that this substituted for conventional medical care. The evidence base to support some popular herbal supplements is weak. Large well-designed trials are needed to quantify the value of herbal supplements to health and well-being.
Distribution of atmospheric nitrogenous pollutants at a Los Angeles area smog receptor site.

An intensive field study of atmospheric nitrogenous pollutants was conducted at a Los Angeles area smog receptor site, during selected 1980 air pollution episodes. Highest 4-h averaged concentrations were 47 . mu.g m/sup -3/ for particulate nitrate (NO/sub 3//sup -/) and 36 . mu.g m/sup -3/ for nitric acid (HONO/sub 2/). HONO/sub 2/ and NO/sub 3//sup -/ exhibited opposite diurnal variations. The highest peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) concentration recorded was 47 ppb. Methyl nitrate was consistently observed at trace levels ( . PAN and NO/sub x/ . -->. HONO/sub 2/ + NO/sub 3//sup -/, PAN formation constitutes a major sink for atmospheric NO/sub x/. On a nitrogen basis, PAN accounted for approx.60% of the NO/submore » x/ oxidation products. « less
Coronary CT angiography for patients with suspected coronary artery disease

Since the introduction of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) there has been an enormous growth in the quantity of evidence to support the role of CCTA in the diagnosis of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). But what is the level of diagnostic accuracy of CCTA today? Have we attained sufficient reliable evidence to fully appreciate the role of CCTA in cardiologic practice? The technical details and potential clinical applications of CCTA have been reported in two recent reviews in ‘Education in Heart ’. 1 ,2 In this current state-of-the-art exposition of CCTA for patients with suspected CAD it appears useful to arrange the available evidence according to a hierarchical model of efficacy of diagnostic imaging first described by Fryback and Thornburg in 1991.3 Efficacy is defined as: “the probability of benefit to individuals in a defined population from medical technology (CCTA) applied for a given medical problem under ideal conditions”. 3 The model consists of six levels of efficacy: level 1 —technical efficacy; level 2 —diagnostic accuracy efficacy; level 3 —diagnostic thinking accuracy; level 4 —therapeutic efficacy; level 5 —patient outcome efficacy; level 6 —societal efficacy. The goal of the model not only involves the traditional view of the assessment of diagnostic imaging to generate optimal quality images and hence optimal diagnosis, but rather is a comprehensive assessment of patient and societal benefits of CCTA.3 This review is an update of the current position of CCTA in the diagnosis of patients with suspected CAD. The spatial resolution of 64-slice (or more) CCTA in the laboratory setting is 0.3–0.4 mm³ (isotropic spatial resolution allowing undistorted reconstruction of images in any plane), but in the clinical setting this is 0.5–0.6 mm³. The spatial resolution of CCTA is still limited compared to the 0.1–0.2 mm of invasive coronary angiography (ICA). The temporal resolution …
The motor cortex of the rat: Cytoarchitecture and microstimulation mapping

The first motor (MI) cortex of the rat was identified as the region from which movements could be evoked by the lowest intensity of electrical stimulation. The location of this region was correlated with Cytoarchitecture in the frontal and parietal cortex. Two frontal areas can be discerned in Nissl‐stained sections: (1) the medial agranular field, marked by a pale‐staining layer III and a compact layer II, and (2) the lateral agranular field, which has more homogeneous superficial layers and a broad layer V containing large, densely staining cells. Both of these regions project to the spinal cord and can therefore be included in the somatic sensorimotor cortex. MI in the rat coincides with the lateral agranular field but also overlaps with part of the adjacent granular cortex of the first somatic sensory (SI) representation. We conclude that the rat MI cortex can be identified by microstimulation techniques and by cytoarchitecture in the rat.
AREA INEQUALITIES FOR EMBEDDED DISKS SPANNING

We show that a smooth unknotted curve in R3 satisfies an isoperimetric inequality that bounds the area of an embedded disk spanning the curve in terms of two parameters: the length L of the curve and the thickness r (maximal radius of an embedded tubular neighborhood) of the curve. For fixed length, the expression giving the upper bound on the area grows exponentially in 1/r2. In the direction of lower bounds, we give a sequence of length one curves with r → 0 for which the area of any spanning disk is bounded from below by a function that grows exponentially with 1/r. In particular, given any constant A, there is a smooth, unknotted length one curve for which the area of a smallest embedded spanning disk is greater than A.
Quality Factor Optimization of Inductive Antennas for Implantable Pressure Sensors

Inductive antenna design for passive wireless implantable use presents several challenges not currently addressed. A small form factor is desired for minimally invasive implantation and monitoring, and a low frequency is necessary for effective through-body power transfer. However, a small inductor limits sensitivity to changes in capacitance at low-frequency operation. It is thus necessary to optimize the inductor for maximal sensitivity while satisfying tight area and low frequency constraints. Here, a design methodology is presented for planar circular spiral inductors used with capacitive pressure sensors to form a passive wireless implantable pressure sensor. Several analytical expressions are collected to find the optimal geometric parameters that maximize the quality factor and sensitivity of the sensor frequency response. The analysis is validated through comparison with field solvers and wireless measurements of fabricated devices.
Defining Early Trauma-induced Coagulopathy Using Thromboelastography

Early trauma-induced coagulopathy (ETIC) is abnormal coagulation detected on presentation, but a clear description is lacking. We used thromboelastography (TEG) to characterize ETIC. Data were prospectively collected on high-acuity trauma activations at an urban Level I trauma center between July 2012 and May 2013. Patients with admission TEG before any blood transfusion were stratified by Injury Severity Score (ISS): mild (less than 16), moderate (16 to 24), severe (25 or greater). TEG parameters were compared between groups. ETIC was defined as any abnormality detected on TEG. Fifty-two patients were included; mean age was 49 years and mean time to the emergency department was 26 minutes. Mean ISS for the cohort was 17 with 28 patients in mild, eight in moderate, and 16 in severe. Glasgow Coma Score was lower and head Abbreviated Injury Scale was higher in severe (P < 0.001). Forty-three (83%) patients had an abnormal TEG. Shortened reaction (R) time was noted in 42 patients. There were no differences in any TEG parameters between the injury severity groups. Hyperfibrinolysis was detected in four (8%) patients. ETIC was present in over 80 per cent of high-acuity trauma activations irrespective of injury severity and characterized primarily by shortened R time, indicating ETIC is initially described by a hypercoagulable state as a result of thrombin generation.
Correction for "On the Convergence of the Iterative Shrinkage/Thresholding Algorithm with a Weakly Convex Penalty"

We consider the iterative shrinkage/thresholding algorithm (ISTA) applied to a cost function composed of a data fidelity term and a penalty term. The penalty is nonconvex but the concavity of the penalty is accounted for by the data fidelity term so that the overall cost function is convex. We provide a generalization of the convergence result for ISTA viewed as a forward-backward splitting algorithm. We also demonstrate experimentally that for the current setup, using large stepsizes in ISTA can accelerate convergence more than existing schemes proposed for the convex case, like TwIST or FISTA.
Phalangeal bone ultrasound is of limited value in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE In children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), alterations of the skeletal system have been described. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate a phalangeal bone ultrasound device in the assessment of the skeletal status in children with active JIA. METHODS In 49 children with oligoarticular, polyarticular or systemic JIA, the speed of an ultrasound signal (Ad-SOS) through the phalanges of the dominant hand was measured using the Igea 1200. RESULTS Children in all subgroups were significantly smaller than those in the reference population, but there were no significant deficits in Ad-SOS. The finger width was reduced only in patients with polyarticular JIA. The Ad-SOS correlated highly with height, but no correlation between the finger width and Ad-SOS, and no correlation between the standard deviation scores of body height and Ad-SOS were seen. CONCLUSIONS Phalangeal ultrasound is strongly dependent on body and therefore bone size, but other parameters of bone and soft tissues influence the measurements as well. It is not possible to differentiate as to which extent the various components of bone and soft tissue influence the measurement results. Ultrasound might therefore be of limited value in the assessment or screening of the skeletal system in children with JIA.
How patients with atrial fibrillation value different health outcomes: a standard gamble study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The assessment of any health care intervention should consider both risks and benefits and take patients' preferences about these into account. The study reported in this paper aimed to elicit patient valuations of health states relevant to assessment of the prevention of stroke by warfarin anticoagulation therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS A sample of patients over the age of 60 years with atrial fibrillation from three family practices in North-East England was interviewed. Their health state values were elicited using the standard gamble method for general practitioner (GP)-managed warfarin treatment, hospital-managed warfarin treatment, major bleed, mild stroke and severe stroke. RESULTS Of 180 patients, 69 (38%) agreed to participate, of whom 57 (83%) completed interviews. Median (mean) utility values were for GP-managed warfarin treatment 0.986 (0.948), hospital-managed warfarin treatment 0.984 (0.941), major bleed 0.880 (0.841), mild stroke 0.675 (0.641) and severe stroke 0 (0.189). There was wide variation in values between patients and the distributions were highly skewed. CONCLUSIONS The results are of value in applying decision analysis to groups of patients. They should be used with caution in reaching decisions about appropriate treatment for individual patients, but may provide a starting point for necessary further exploration of those patients' individual preferences.
Reproducibility of cardiopulmonary exercise measurements in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES As part of a recent study, cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) were used to evaluate and follow up patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These patients were more impaired than those in other published series evaluating CPET reproducibility. We used these patient tests to assess patient performance variability and evaluate reading variability. To achieve this end, six independent evaluators graded key CPET measurements in patients with PAH who underwent duplicate CPETs within 3 days of each other. SETTING AND PATIENTS Over a 15-month period at two tertiary-care teaching hospitals, 42 patients with PAH underwent repeated, paired CPETs using cycle ergometry. INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS Each patient underwent one to six pairs of cycle ergometry tests to maximal tolerance. Each pair of tests was separated by 3 months, with each test in the pair separated by 1 to 3 days. Specific guidelines were given to the independent evaluators for the key measurements assessed from each CPET study: peak O(2) uptake (Vo(2)), peak heart rate, peak O(2) pulse, anaerobic threshold (AT), and end-tidal Po(2), end-tidal Pco(2), and the ventilatory equivalent for CO(2) at the AT (Ve/Vco(2)@AT). RESULTS There were no fatalities or complications occurring among the 242 tests performed on 42 patients. The mean peak Vo(2) was 722 mL/min or 41% of predicted; 34 patients were Weber class C or D. Using the specific guidelines to measure the variability of measurements made by the six independent evaluators, the coefficients of variation were < 2.2% for peak Vo(2), peak heart rate, peak O(2) pulse, end-tidal values at the AT, and Ve/Vco(2)@AT, while for the AT, it was 8.5%. There were no significant differences in these measurements between the first and second tests of any pair or between the earlier and later sets of pairs. CONCLUSIONS Using specific guidelines, key CPET measurements can be safely, reliably, and reproducibly assessed even in patients with severe exercise intolerance.
The influence of orographic Rossby and gravity waves on rainfall

Orography is known to influence winter precipitation in Asia and the Indo‐Pacific Ocean by mechanically forcing winds, but the dynamics involved in the precipitation response are incompletely understood. This study investigates how two types of orographically forced oscillatory motions alter time‐mean winds and precipitation. The quasi‐geostrophic omega equation is used together with previous ideas of ‘downward control’ to develop a simple theory of the spatial distribution and amplitude of the vertical motion response to orographically forced stationary Rossby waves and gravity wave drag in a precipitating atmosphere. This theory is then used to understand the response of the boreal winter atmosphere to realistic Asian orography in a global numerical model that includes representations of moist processes and unresolved gravity wave drag. We isolate the effects of the orographically forced stationary Rossby wave and the gravity wave drag by incremental addition of wave sources in this model. The peak precipitation response to the forced Rossby wave is about a factor of three larger than that of the gravity wave drag, but the wave drag response has a distinct spatial structure that dominates in some regions. Both the Rossby wave and the gravity wave drag perturb precipitation in areas distant from orography, producing shifts in the equatorial intertropical convergence zone, an increase in precipitation over southern Asia, and drying in much of northern Asia.
Reducing Wavelength Conversion Range in Space/Wavelength Switches

Wavelength converters with a wide conversion range are usually technologically infeasible. The limit of conversion range introduces new constraints in the construction of space/wavelength switches. In this letter, we show how we can reduce the wavelength conversion range without compromising the nonblocking properties. We use the space/wavelength switches that are based on the wavelength band converters to illustrate our technique.
Lexical segmentation and vocabulary growth in early language acquisition

ABSTRACT The identification of appropriate lexical segmentations of the speech signal constitutes a problem for the language learner and the child language researcher alike. Articulatory precision and fluency criteria for identifying formulaic expressions, sub-lexical forms and target lexemes in linguistic productions are defined and applied to the analysis of two Danish children's language development between the ages of 1;0 and 2;0. The results of this analysis are compared to the results of applying standard distributional and frequency criteria in the tabulation of mean length of utterance and vocabulary profiles for both standard and nonstandard lexical segmentations. It is argued that although the two methods yield converging profiles of development during the latter part of the period studied, articulatory precision and fluency criteria offer a more powerful tool for identifying alternative segmentation strategies in early language acquisition. Profiles of vocabulary development for these two children suggest that the solution to the segmentation problem may be an important trigger for their vocabulary spurts.