Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance of creatinine and cystatin C-based glomerular filtration rate estimating equations in a European HIV-positive cohort

Objective:To validate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations in white HIV-infected patients based on serum creatinine and/or serum cystatin C. Design:Single-center, cross-sectional evaluation of the predictive performance of GFR estimators. Methods:GFR was measured by iohexol plasma clearance. Serum creatinine (Scr) and serum cystatin C (Scyst) were measured by traceable and standardized methods. We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations. We also studied the performance of the cystatin C-based equation (CKD-EPI Scyst) and the combined cystatin and creatinine-based equation (CKD-EPI combined), as recently proposed by the CKD-EPI group. Results:Two hundred and three participants (18% of women) were included. Mean age was 49 ± 10 years. Mean measured GFR (mGFR) was 95 ± 24 ml/min per 1.73 m2. CKD-EPI and CKD-EPI combined significantly outperformed the MDRD equation. The percentage of estimating results within 30% of mGFR was 75, 82 and 81% for the MDRD, CKD-EPI and CKD-EPI combined equation, respectively. Results favoring the CKD-EPI and CKD-EPI combined equation were especially observed for patients with mGFR over 90 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Conclusion:In our European HIV cohort, we confirmed that the creatinine-based CKD-EPI equation should replace the MDRD study equation. However, global performance of this equation remains worse than the performance observed in the general population. This lesser performance is particularly relevant in patients with measured GFR under and around 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Moreover, the specific interest of Scyst-based equations is not confirmed in this population.
Self-Dual Codes With an Automorphism of Order 11

Using a method for constructing self-dual codes having an automorphism of odd prime order, we classify up to equivalence all binary self-dual codes with an automorphism of order 11 with 6 cycles and minimum distance 12. This classification gives new [72, 36, 12] codes with weight enumerator that was previously not obtained as well as many [66, 33, 12], [68, 34, 12], and [70, 35, 12] codes with new values of the parameters in their respective weight enumerators.
Second-order Statistics Are Less Important for Audio Textures than for Image Textures

This paper proposes to adapt the techniques of image texture analysis to the context of audio signals. Dynamics of audio frame-level features are particularly difficult to mo del, although they have been identified as crucial perceptiv dimensions of timbre perception. Recent studies have given ample evidence that traditional means to model data dynamics, such as delta-coefficients, texture windows or Ma kov modelling, do not provide any improvement over the best static models. The situation is completely differe nt for image texture analysis, where second-order statisti cal analysis, based on co-occurrence matrices have proven to be an efficient measure for texture similarity. This paper reports on experiments to adapt these image analysis techni ques to audio signals. Results show that co-occurrence analysis of sound textures based on vector-quantized MFCC f eatures do not provide any advantage over first-order histograms. This suggests that second-order statistics, i n the form considered in this study, are not a factor as crucia l for the perception of sound textures as it is for image textur es.
A novel rapid prototyping system for expandable polystyrene

Purpose – Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a low‐density and cheap material, which has been widely used in commercial areas. As the demand for small‐batch, flexible and quick production increases, producing EPS products with metals moulds has become unaffordable. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of an EPS rapid prototyping (ERP) process, with an electric heating tool.Design/methodology/approach – Two new cutting strategies for the ERP process, constant angle mode and constant thickness mode, are proposed. The methods to generate tool path of those models are also discussed. In order to improve accuracy and cutting effectiveness, experiments have been carried out to investigate the thermal characteristics in the ERP process. Consequently, the relationships between the size of material removal area and process parameters are obtained. Suitable processing parameters for the ERP system are also conducted.Findings – It is found that the ERP process can rapidly produce complex three‐dimensi.
Axonal Neuregulin-1 Regulates Myelin Sheath Thickness

In the nervous system of vertebrates, myelination is essential for rapid and accurate impulse conduction. Myelin thickness depends on axon fiber size. We use mutant and transgenic mouse lines to show that axonal Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) signals information about axon size to Schwann cells. Reduced Nrg1 expression causes hypomyelination and reduced nerve conduction velocity. Neuronal overexpression of Nrg1 induces hypermyelination and demonstrates that Nrg1 type III is the responsible isoform. We suggest a model by which myelin-forming Schwann cells integrate axonal Nrg1 signals as a biochemical measure of axon size.
Selection of selective laser sintering materials for different applications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose and evaluate the selection of materials for the selective laser sintering (SLS) process, which is used for low-volume production in the engineering (e.g. light weight machines, architectural modelling, high performance application, manufacturing of fuel cell, etc.), medical and many others (e.g. art and hobbies, etc.) with a keen focus on meeting customer requirements. Design/methodology/approach – The work starts with understanding the optimal process parameters, an appropriate consolidation mechanism to control microstructure, and selection of appropriate materials satisfying the property requirement for specific application area that leads to optimization of materials. Findings – Fabricating the parts using optimal process parameters, appropriate consolidation mechanism and selecting the appropriate material considering the property requirement of applications can improve part characteristics, increase acceptability, sustainability, life cycle and relia.
Estimation of thermo-physical and transport properties with Bayesian inference using transient liquid crystal thermography experiments

An inverse methodology is proposed to estimate thermo-physical and transport properties individually and simultaneously from in-house experimental data obtained using the transient Liquid Crystal Thermography (LCT) technique. A vertical rectangular fin made of mild steel and size of 75 × 250 × 3 (L × W × t) (all in mm) has been used. Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLCs) are used to obtain transient temperature distribution along the fin surface to determine the temperature dependent heat transfer coefficient, hθ and the thermal diffusivity, α of the fin. The variation of heat transfer coefficient is considered as a power law function of temperature excess (hθ = a''θb(x,t)) and is derived from the basic Nusselt number equation, Nuθ = aRabθ used for laminar natural convection for a vertical plate in ambient air. Using this functional form, the 1–D transient fin equation solved using the finite difference technique for assumed values of 'a' and 'α'. Treating the inverse problem as a one parameter estimation in 'a' or 'α' or a two parameter estimation problem in 'a' and 'α', the sum of the squares of the difference between the TLC measured and simulated temperatures are minimized with the Bayesian frame work in the inverse model to determine the point estimates for 'a' and 'α'. Two point estimates namely the (i) mean and (ii) maximum a posterior (MAP) are used to report the retrieved quantities together with the associated standard deviation.
Biological pretreatment of lignocellulosics: potential, progress and challenges

The feasibility of producing biofuels and biochemicals from lignocellulosic biomass via the biochemical platform depends largely on advances in pretreatment and hydrolysis technologies to obtain sugars from the cellulose and hemicelluloses of plant cell walls. This paper provides an overview of the merits and challenges related to developing biological pretreatment processes to modify lignin for facilitating subsequent enzymatic extraction of sugars. Although it has so far attracted little attention due to many inherent limitations, biological pretreatment has multiple benefits. Compared with extensively studied thermochemical processes, biological pretreatment is more environmentally benign, requires less energy, results in fewer inhibiting compounds and has potential to produce more co-products. Increasing understanding of termites and fungal systems has provided insights for developing more effective pretreatment technologies to realize these benefits. Specifically, this paper reviews the knowledge on microorganisms and their enzymes for biodegradation of lignin in plant cell walls, summarizes the progress in biopulping as well as in biological pretreatment for obtaining sugars, and provides future perspectives on biological pretreatment development.
A complex intronic splicing enhancer from the c-src pre-mRNA activates inclusion of a heterologous exon

The mouse c-src gene contains a short neuron-specific exon, N1. To characterize the sequences that regulate N1 splicing, we used a heterologous gene, derived from the human beta-globin gene, containing a short internal exon that is usually skipped by the splicing machinery. Various fragments from the src gene were inserted into the globin substrate to measure their effects on the splicing of the test exon. These clones were transiently expressed in neuronal and nonneuronal cell lines, and the level of exon inclusion was measured by primer extension. Several sequences from the N1 exon region induced the splicing of the heterologous exon. The most powerful effect was seen with a sequence from the intron downstream of the N1 exon. This sequence acted as a strong splicing enhancer, activating splicing of the test exon when placed in the intron downstream. The enhancer was strongest in neuronal LA-N-5 cells but also activated splicing in nonneuronal HEK293 cells. Deletion and linker scanning mutagenesis indicate that the enhancer is made up of multiple smaller elements that must act in combination. One of these elements was identified as the sequence UGCAUG. Three copies of this element can strongly activate splicing of the test exon in LA-N-5 neuroblastoma cells. These component elements of the src splicing enhancer are also apparently involved in the splicing of other short cassette exons.
Preimplantation HLA typing: having children to save our loved ones

Preimplantation tissue typing has been proposed as a method for creating a tissue matched child that can serve as a haematopoietic stem cell donor to save its sick sibling in need of a stem cell transplant. Despite recent promising results, many people have expressed their disapproval of this method. This paper addresses the main concerns of these critics: the risk of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for the child to be born; the intention to have a donor child; the limits that should be placed on what may be done to the donor child, and whether the intended recipient can be someone other than a sibling. The author will show that these concerns do not constitute a sufficient ground to forbid people to use this technique to save not only a sibling, but also any other loved one’s life. Finally, the author briefly deals with two alternative scenarios: the creation of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched child as an insurance policy, and the banking of HLA matched embryos.
Diagnosis of Fanconi Anemia: Mutation Analysis by Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification and PCR-Based Sanger Sequencing

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare inherited disease characterized by developmental defects, short stature, bone marrow failure, and a high risk of malignancies. FA is heterogeneous: 15 genetic subtypes have been distinguished so far. A clinical diagnosis of FA needs to be confirmed by testing cells for sensitivity to cross-linking agents in a chromosomal breakage test. As a second step, DNA testing can be employed to elucidate the genetic subtype of the patient and to identify the familial mutations. This knowledge allows preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and enables prenatal DNA testing in future pregnancies. Although simultaneous testing of all FA genes by next generation sequencing will be possible in the near future, this technique will not be available immediately for all laboratories. In addition, in populations with strong founder mutations, a limited test using Sanger sequencing and MLPA will be a cost-effective alternative. We describe a strategy and optimized conditions for the screening of FANCA, FANCB, FANCC, FANCE, FANCF, and FANCG and present the results obtained in a cohort of 54 patients referred to our diagnostic service since 2008. In addition, the follow up with respect to genetic counseling and carrier screening in the families is discussed.
Adaptive Video-streaming Dissemination in Realistic Highway Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks

The dissemination of video information contents migth enhance the performances of safety-related applications in vehicular ah-hoc networks (VANETs). A major problem concerns the high sensitivity of the compressed video streams to the severe channel conditions in wireless ad-hoc networks. The reliable dissemination of video contents in mobile environments is recognized as one of the main challenges for the developing and deploying of VANETs. To improve the robustness of dissemination, we propose RCP+ (Road-Casting Protocol) scheme for distributing high-definition video contents in VANETs. RCP+ is a cross layer dissemination mechanism for video safety messages that specifically addresses highway scenarios with zero infrastructure support. Also, a comparison of one of the most popular and widely spread video encoder H.264/AVC with respect to the recently released video coding scheme H.265/HEVC is presented. The comparison is performed by means of simulations showing differences between encoding algorithms in terms of perceived quality. The results indicate a better performance of HEVC based encoding algorithm in comparison to AVC in VANET environments.
Beyond execution time: expanding the use of performance models

Improved performance is a major motivation for using parallel computation. However, performance models are frequently used only to predict an algorithm's execution time, not to accurately evaluate how the choices of architecture, operating system, interprocessor communication protocol, and programming language also dramatically affect parallel performance. We have developed an analytic model for synchronous iterative algorithms running on distributed-memory MIMD machines, and refined it for disrete-event simulation. The model describes the execution time of a single run in terms of application parameters such as the number of iterations and the required computation in each, and architectural parameters such as the number of processors, processor speed, and communication time. Our experience has shown us that an analytic model can not only accurately predict an algorithm's performance but can also match the algorithm to an appropriate architecture, identify ways to improve the algorithm's performance, quantify the performance effects of algorithmic or architectural changes, and provide a better understanding of how the algorithm works. <<ETX>>
Automatic change detection of driving environments in a vision-based driver assistance system

Detecting critical changes of environments while driving is an important task in driver assistance systems. In this paper, a computational model motivated by human cognitive processing and selective attention is proposed for this purpose. The computational model consists of three major components, referred to as the sensory, perceptual, and conceptual analyzers. The sensory analyzer extracts temporal and spatial information from video sequences. The extracted information serves as the input stimuli to a spatiotemporal attention (STA) neural network embedded in the perceptual analyzer. If consistent stimuli repeatedly innervate the neural network, a focus of attention will be established in the network. The attention pattern associated with the focus, together with the location and direction of motion of the pattern, form what we call a categorical feature. Based on this feature, the class of the attention pattern and, in turn, the change in driving environment corresponding to the class are determined using a configurable adaptive resonance theory (CART) neural network, which is placed in the conceptual analyzer. Various changes in driving environment, both in daytime and at night, have been tested. The experimental results demonstrated the feasibilities of both the proposed computational model and the change detection system.
Affective responses in mountain hiking—A randomized crossover trial focusing on differences between indoor and outdoor activity

Introduction Affective responses during physical activity (PA) are important for engagement in PA programs and for adherence to a physically active lifestyle. Little is known about the affective responses to PA bouts lasting longer than 45 minutes. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to analyse acute effects on affective responses of a three-hour outdoor PA intervention (mountain hiking) compared to a sedentary control situation and to an indoor treadmill condition. Methods Using a randomized crossover design, 42 healthy participants were randomly exposed to three different conditions: outdoor mountain hiking, indoor treadmill walking, and sedentary control situation (approximately three hours each). Measures included the Feeling Scale, Felt Arousal Scale and a Mood Survey Scale. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyse differences between the conditions. Results Compared to the control situation, the participants showed a significant increase in affective valence (d = 1.21, p < .001), activation (d = 0.81, p = .004), elation (d = 1.07, p < .001), and calmness (d = 0.84, p = .004), and a significant decrease in fatigue (d = -1.19, p < .001) and anxiety (d = -.79, p < .001) after mountain hiking. Outdoor mountain hiking showed significantly greater positive effects on affective valence, activation, and fatigue compared to indoor treadmill walking. Discussion The results indicate that a three-hour PA intervention (mountain hiking) elicits higher positive and lower negative affective responses compared to a sedentary control situation and to an indoor PA condition. Outdoor mountain hiking can be recommended by health professionals as a form of PA with the potential to positively influence affective responses. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02853760. https://clinicaltrials.gov/. Date of registration: 08/02/2016 (retrospectively registered). Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 05/01/2014.
In vitro models for metabolic studies of small peptide hormones in sport drug testing

Peptide hormones represent an emerging class of potential doping agents. Detection of their misuse is difficult due to their short half‐life in plasma and rapid elimination. Therefore, investigating their metabolism can improve detectability. Unfortunately, pharmacokinetic studies with human volunteers are often not allowed because of ethical constraints, and therefore alternative models are needed. This study was performed in order to evaluate in vitro models (human liver microsomes and S9 fraction) for the prediction of the metabolism of peptidic doping agents and to compare them with the established models. The peptides that were investigated include desmopressin, TB‐500, GHRP‐2, GHRP‐6, hexarelin, LHRH and leuprolide. Several metabolites were detected for each peptide after incubation with human liver microsomes, S9 fraction, and serum, which all showed endopeptidase and exopeptidase activity. In vitro models from different organs (liver vs. kidney) were compared, but no significant differences were recorded. Deamidation was not observed in any of the models and was therefore evaluated by incubation with α‐chymotrypsin.
Fitness Test Profiles As Determined by the Eurofit Test Battery in Elite Female Gaelic Football Players

Keane, A, Scott, MA, Dugdill, L, and Reilly, T. Fitness test profiles as determined by the Eurofit Test Battery in elite female Gaelic Football players. J Strength Cond Res 24(6): 1502-1506, 2010-Gaelic Football is the main sport in Ireland and has potential for use as a means of fitness in health promotion contexts. The present study entailed a cross-sectional comparison of performances in a motor test battery between elite female players and an age-matched reference group. The aim was to identify the fitness items that characterize top performers in the game. Altogether, 83 women aged 18-29 participated in the study and completed a series of tests consisting of 8 items in the Eurofit Test Battery. The profiles of the 2 groups were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Four of the test items contributed to group discrimination (endurance, flexibility, trunk strength, and limb speed). Based on percentage difference, the most prominent discriminator was the estimated &OV0312;o2max (mean 49.9 ± 4.2 vs. 39.7 ± 6.3 ml·kg−1·min−1). Grip strength and agility were also significantly superior in the Gaelic Football players (p < 0.05), who had significantly lower body fat values (23.3 ± 2.3%) than the reference group (27.2 ± 3.6%). The use of the Eurofit Test battery in games players was confirmed as were the multifactorial requirements of fitness for women playing this sport. It was concluded that elite Gaelic Football at top level is characterized mainly by high aerobic fitness, but a holistic training program is needed to cover the multiple fitness requirements of the game. Practical applications include the use of this game for health-related purposes.
Blind Image Deconvolution Using Machine Learning for Three-Dimensional Microscopy

In this work, we propose a novel method for the regularization of blind deconvolution algorithms. The proposed method employs example-based machine learning techniques for modeling the space of point spread functions. During an iterative blind deconvolution process, a prior term attracts the point spread function estimates to the learned point spread function space. We demonstrate the usage of this regularizer within a Bayesian blind deconvolution framework and also integrate into the latter a method for noise reduction, thus creating a complete blind deconvolution method. The application of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated on synthetic and real-world three-dimensional images acquired by a wide-field fluorescence microscope, where the need for blind deconvolution algorithms is indispensable, yielding excellent results.
Gunshot wounds of the colon: role of primary repair.

1 Low-velocity injuries from weapons such as the ubiquitous AK47 assault rifle, which inflicted colonic wounds eminently treatable by debridement and primary repair with peritoneal lavage. 2 Those of high-velocity weapons, such as the Armalite AR15/M16 resulting in significant tissue damage, often with associated massive injuries to solid viscera, the degree of disruption effectively precluding primary repair.