Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival analysis and visual outcome in a large series of corneal transplants in India

AIM/BACKGROUND The public health significance of corneal transplantation in dealing with corneal blindness in the developing world would depend upon the survival rate of transplants. This study was done to analyse the survival rate of corneal transplants in a large series in India, and to evaluate the influence of various risk factors on transplant survival. METHODS The records of a series of 1725 cases of corneal transplants carried out during 1987–95 at a tertiary eye care institution in India were reviewed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to determine 5 year survival rates of corneal transplants performed for the various categories of preoperative diagnosis. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess how preoperative diagnosis, socioeconomic status, age, sex, vascularisation of host cornea, quality of donor cornea, and training status of surgeon influenced transplant survival. The effect of these variables on visual outcome was assessed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS The survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years for all corneal transplants performed for the first time in 1389 cases were 79.6% (95% confidence interval = 77.3–81.9%), 68.7% (65.7–71.7%) and 46.5% (41.7–51.3%). The 5 year survival rate was highest if the corneal transplant was done for keratoconus (95.1% (84.8–100%)) and lowest if carried out for previous transplant failure (21.2% (13.8–28.6%)). The relative risk of transplant failure was higher if the preoperative diagnosis was previous transplant failure (2.04 (1.62–2.55)), aphakic bullous keratopathy (1.78 (1.38–2.28)), corneal clouding due to miscellaneous causes including congenital conditions and glaucoma (1.63 (1.21–2.19)), or adherent leucoma (1.11 (0.81–1.51)) than for the other preoperative diagnoses. Patients with lower socioeconomic status had higher relative risk of transplant failure (1.28 (1.16–1.42)), as did patients <10 years of age (1.42 (1.23–1.64)). Higher relative risk of transplant failure was associated with vascularisation of the host cornea before transplantation (1.15 (1.04–1.27)), and with the use of fair quality donor cornea for transplantation compared with excellent, very good, or good quality donor cornea (1.26 (1.06–1.52)). Before corneal transplant 80.2% of the eyes were blind (visual acuity <3/60), whereas at last follow up 41.8% eyes were blind. The odds of having visual acuity >6/18 were higher if the transplant was done for keratoconus (9.99 (6.10–16.36)) or corneal dystrophies (1.77 (1.21–2.58)) than for the other preoperative diagnoses. CONCLUSION Reasonable success with corneal transplantation is possible in the developing world if data from this part of the world regarding the different survival rates for the various preoperative diagnoses and the influence of risk factors on transplant survival and visual outcome are taken into account while determining priority for transplant cases in the present situation of limited availability of donor corneas.
Konrad-zuse-zentrum F ¨ Ur Informationstechnik Berlin Pre-processing for Triangulation of Probabilistic Networks Pre-processing for Triangulation of Probabilistic Networks

The currently most efficient algorithm for inference with a probabilistic network builds upon a triangulation of a network's graph. In this paper, we show that pre-processing can help in finding good triangulations for probabilistic networks, that is, triangulations with a minimal maximum clique size. We provide a set of rules for stepwise reducing a graph. The reduction allows us to solve the triangulation problem on a smaller graph. From the smaller graph's triangulation, a triangulation of the original graph is obtained by reversing the reduction steps. Our experimental results show that the graphs of some well-known real-life probabilistic networks can be triangulated optimally just by pre-processing; for other networks, huge reductions in size are obtained.
Design of a Magnet-Switching Actuator With High Efficiency and Auto-Locking Function

This paper presents the design of an actuator with high efficiency and auto-locking ability which features an additional holding force in the power-off condition. The operating principle of the auto-locking structure is based on the concept of flux switching. In the paper, an analytical method for computing the cogging torque of the two operating states (the moving and holding states) is developed. It is investigated that the actuator develops a holding force in the power-off condition which can be safely turned on using the auto-locking mechanism The torque characteristics for the auto-locking structure are also investigated using analytical and finite element analysis methods (using ANSYS 3D FEA software). A prototype is constructed and the experimental results are used to verify and validate the simulation results.
The performance implications of intra- and inter-regional geographic diversification

Engaging the debate regarding the appropriate level of geographic diversification for multinational enterprises (MNEs), we examine a critical, yet unresolved, question: How is performance impacted by the MNE's level of intra‐ and inter‐regional diversification versus the total level of geographic diversification? Using data from 123 U.S.‐based MNEs over a seven‐year period and leveraging both sales‐based and subsidiary‐based measures for diversification, we find that performance increases at an increasingly higher rate as firms concentrate more heavily on intra‐regional diversification. Regarding inter‐regional diversification and total geographic diversification, we find inverted‐U relationships to exist between firm performance and the level of geographic diversification. Different from recent research on multinationality, our robustness checks indicate no evidence of a sigmoidal relationship between the degree of regional diversification and performance. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Parkinson’s Disease: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common, disabling, neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to classical motor symptoms, non-motor features are now widely accepted as part of the clinical picture, and cognitive decline is a very important aspect of the disease, as it brings an additional significant burden for the patient and caregivers. The diagnosis of cognitive decline in PD, namely mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, can be extremely challenging, remaining largely based on clinical and cognitive assessments. Diagnostic criteria and methods for PD dementia and MCI have been recently issued by expert work groups. This manuscript has synthesized relevant data in order to obtain a pragmatic and updated review regarding cognitive decline in PD, from milder stages to dementia. This text will summarize clinical features, diagnostic methodology, and therapeutic issues of clinical decline in PD. Relevant clinical genetic issues, including recent advances, will also be approached.
Ant Algorithms, Conceptual Vectors, and Fuzzy UNL Graphs

In the context on the UNL project, we focus on the automatization of enconversion process, that is the building of UNL graphs from sentences. We present an extension of the UNL graph structure aiming at handling lexical and relational ambiguities. On this intermediate structure, we can apply ant algorithm propagation of conceptual vectors and other constraints. Graph nodes and relations have a level of excitement and when this level remains too low for too long they are deleted. This way, both acception and attachment selections can be performed. Index Terms – Fuzzy UNL graphs, enconversion, ant algorithms, conceptual vectors, lexical and PP attachment ambiguities.
Systematic associations between germ-line mutations and human cancers

The revolution in Big Data has opened the gate for new research challenges in biomedical science. The aim of this study was to investigate whether germ-line gene mutations are a significant factor in 29 major primary human cancers. Using data obtained from multiple biological databases, we identified 424 genes from 8879 cancer mutation records. By integrating these gene mutation records a human cancer map was constructed from which several key results were obtained. These include the observations that missense/nonsense and regulatory mutations might play central role in connecting cancers/genes, and tend to be distributed in all chromosomes. This suggests that, of all mutation classes missense/nonsense and regulatory mutation classes are over-expressed in human genome and so are likely to have a significant impact on human cancer aetiology and pathomechanism. This offers new insights into how the distribution and interconnections of gene mutations influence the development of cancers.
Design and analysis of a soft mobile robot composed of multiple thermally activated joints driven by a single actuator

Soft robotic systems have applications in industrial, medical, and security applications. Many applications require these robots to be small and lightweight. One challenge in developing a soft robotic system is to drive multiple degrees-of-freedom (DOF) with few actuators, thereby reducing system size and weight. This paper presents the analysis and design of an inchworm-like mobile robot that consists of multiple, independent thermally activated joints but is driven by a single actuator. To realize control of this under-actuated system, a solder-based locking mechanism has been developed to selectively activate individual joints without requiring additional actuators. The design and performance analysis of a prototype mobile robot that is capable of inchworm-like translational and steering motion is described. The design of novel “feet” with anisotropic friction properties is also described.
ANALYSIS OF SCORE FUNCTIONS FOR THE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANS

Terrestrial laser scanners are more and more popular, e.g. for surveying purposes, cultural heritage, city modelling or architectural applications. Usually different points of view are necessary to acquire an object completely. The task of finding the relative orientation between several scan positions is termed as registration. Research work in data driven methods for the registration of point clouds was frequently published the last decade. A distinction between coarse registration and fine registration has been drawn. We use a featurebased registration to search for a coarse orientation. The transformation parameters are calculated by establishing correspondences between extracted planes. An efficient search strategy delivers possible candidates. The focus of this paper lies in the verification phase that is responsible for picking the correct solution. A score function is used to evaluate the candidates of probabilistic solutions for the searched transformation. The goal of a score function is to get a reliable indication, which solution is best. Ideally, the score function attains its maximum for the correct solution and is significantly larger than the score of any wrong solution.
Analog Simulation of the Magnetic Hysteresis

An analog simulated model of the hysteresis loop and its minor loops is presented in this paper. It can be used in studying the transients in electrical machines and devices. Dynamic minor trajectories are derived from a reference major loop by simple algebraic methods. The set up proposed has a reliable degree of stability due to the minimum number of controls included.
A novel pull-up type RF MEMS switch with low actuation voltage

We report a novel pull-up type radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch with no elastic deformation of the cantilever involved in the actuation. At a voltage of 4.5V, reliable actuations are achieved such that the movable lower contact pad is pulled up by the electrostatic force to make contact with the upper pad. At a frequency of 50GHz, an insertion loss of 0.5dB, a return loss of 12.4dB, and an isolation of 55dB are obtained from the switch. The measured transient times for switch-on and switch-off are 120 and 130ns, respectively. Compared to the MEMS switches reported thus far, the pull-up type switch shows the best switching speed and isolation characteristic at 50GHz.
Querying Semantic Data on the Web?

The Semantic Web is the initiative of the W3C to make information on the Web readable not only by humans but also by machines. RDF is the data model for Semantic Web data, and SPARQL is the standard query language for this data model. In recent years, we have witnessed a constant growth in the amount of RDF data available on the Web, which has motivated the theoretical study of fundamental aspects of RDF and SPARQL. The goal of this paper is two-fold: to introduce SPARQL, which is a fundamental technology for the development of the Semantic Web, and to present some interesting and non-trivial problems on RDF data management at a Web scale, that we think the database community should address.
LIE: Leadership, Influence and Expertise

This paper describes our research into methods for inferring social and instrumental roles and relationships from document and discourse corpora. The goal is to identify the roles of initial authors and participants in internet discussions with respect to leadership, influence and expertise. Web documents, forums and blogs provide data from which the relationships between these concepts are empirically derived and compared. Using techniques from Natural Language Processing (NLP), characterizations of authority and expertise are hypothesized and then tested to see if these pick out the same or different participants as may be chosen by techniques based on social network analysis (Huffaker 2010) see if they pick out the same discourse participants for any given level of these qualities (i.e. leadership, expertise and influence). Our methods could be applied, in principle, to any domain topic, but this paper will describe an initial investigation into two subject areas where a range of differing opinions are available and which differ in the nature of their appeals to authority and truth: genetic engineering' and a Muslim Forum'. The available online corpora for these topics contain discussions from a variety of users with different levels of expertise, backgrounds and personalities.
Evidence that MEK1 positively promotes interhomologue double-strand break repair

During meiosis there is an imperative to create sufficient crossovers for homologue segregation. This can be achieved during repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are biased towards using a homologue rather than sister chromatid as a repair template. Various proteins contribute to this bias, one of which is a meiosis specific kinase Mek1. It has been proposed that Mek1 establishes the bias by creating a barrier to sister chromatid repair, as distinct from enforcing strand invasion with the homologue. We looked for evidence that Mek1 positively stimulates strand invasion of the homologue. This was done by analysing repair of DSBs induced by the VMA1-derived endonuclease (VDE) and flanked by directly repeated sequences that can be used for intrachromatid single-strand annealing (SSA). SSA competes with interhomologue strand invasion significantly more successfully when Mek1 function is lost. We suggest the increase in intrachromosomal SSA reflects an opportunistic default repair pathway due to loss of a MEK1 stimulated bias for strand invasion of the homologous chromosome. Making use of an inhibitor sensitive mek1-as1 allele, we found that Mek1 function influences the repair pathway throughout the first4–5 h of meiosis. Perhaps reflecting a particular need to create bias for successful interhomologue events before chromosome pairing is complete.
Crystal Structure of Hcp from Acinetobacter baumannii: A Component of the Type VI Secretion System

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a bacterial macromolecular machine widely distributed in Gram-negative bacteria, which transports effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells or other bacteria. Membrane complexes and a central tubular structure, which resembles the tail of contractile bacteriophages, compose the T6SS. One of the proteins forming this tube is the hemolysin co-regulated protein (Hcp), which acts as virulence factor, as transporter of effectors and as a chaperone. In this study, we present the structure of Hcp from Acinetobacter baumannii, together with functional and oligomerization studies. The structure of this protein exhibits a tight β barrel formed by two β sheets and flanked at one side by a short α-helix. Six Hcp molecules associate to form a donut-shaped hexamer, as observed in both the crystal structure and solution. These results emphasize the importance of this oligomerization state in this family of proteins, despite the low similarity of sequence among them. The structure presented in this study is the first one for a protein forming part of a functional T6SS from A. baumannii. These results will help us to understand the mechanism and function of this secretion system in this opportunistic nosocomial pathogen.
Action, State and Effect Metrics for Robot Imitation

This paper addresses the problem of body mapping in robotic imitation where the demonstrator and imitator may not share the same embodiment (degrees of freedom (DOFs), body morphology, constraints, affordances and so on). Body mappings are formalized using a unified (linear) approach via correspondence matrices, which allow one to capture partial, mirror symmetric, one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one and many-to-many associations between various DOFs across dissimilar embodiments. We show how metrics for matching state and action aspects of behaviour can be mathematically determined by such correspondence mappings, which may serve to guide a robotic imitator. The approach is illustrated in a number of examples, using agents described by simple kinematic models and different types of correspondence mappings. Also, focusing on aspects of displacement and orientation of manipulated objects, a selection of metrics are presented, towards a characterization of the space of effect metrics
The urban development of European border regions: a spatial typology

Border regions have long been considered as economically disadvantaged areas that are not conducive to urban development. The European Union enlargement and integration processes and the subsequent relative opening of borders have had a profound impact on border regions, resulting in new patterns of urban development. The objective of this paper is to provide empirical evidence for effects of urbanisation in all European border regions. Based on a functional approach that delineates border regions according to their propensity to be influenced by the relative proximity to a border, the resulting typology brings to the fore eight categories of urban border regions and highlights their geographical pattern at the European scale. The use of demographic data allows for better assessment of the importance of the urban development of border regions, including their cross-border dimension, and to underline national specificities. Border regions, urban potential, metropolitan areas, spatial typology, Europe Zusammenfassung Die urbane Entwicklung europäischer Grenzregionen: eine räumliche Typologie Grenzregionen gelten seit Langem als wirtschaftlich benachteiligte Gebiete betrachtet, deren urbane Entwicklung zudem beeinträchtigt ist. Die Erweiterungsund Integrationsprozesse der Europäischen Union und die relative Öffnung der Grenzen in Folge, haben sich maßgeblich auf die Grenzregionen ausgewirkt, wodurch neue Muster der urbanen Entwicklung entstanden sind. Mit dieser Studie sollen empirische Nachweise für die Auswirkungen der Urbanisierung in allen europäischen Grenzregionen vorgelegt werden. In einem funktionellen Ansatz werden die Grenzregionen danach eingestuft, wie stark die jeweilige Tendenz zur Beeinflussung durch die relative Nähe zu einer Grenze ist. Die daraus resultierende Typologie weist acht Kategorien urbaner Grenzregionen auf und beleuchtet ihr geografisches Muster auf europäischer Ebene. Demografische Daten werden herangezogen, um die Bedeutung der urbanen Entwicklung von Grenzregionen einschließlich ihrer grenzübergreifenden Dimension besser beurteilen und nationale Ausprägungen hervorheben zu können. Grenzregionen, urbanes Potenzial, Stadtgebiete, räumliche Typologie,
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Contains a Cryptic High Affinity Binding Site for the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein*

Much of the controversy surrounding the binding of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) to the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) may be due to the labile structure of PAI-1 and the distinct conformations that it can adopt. To examine this possibility and to test the hypothesis that PAI-1 contains a specific high affinity binding site for LRP, a sensitive and quantitative assay for PAI-1 binding to LRP was developed. This assay utilizes a unique PAI-1 mutant that was constructed with a hexapeptide tag at the NH2 terminus, which is recognized by the protein kinase, heart muscle kinase and can be specifically labeled with 32P. Our results show that only 32P-PAI-1 in complex with a proteinase binds LRP with high affinity and is efficiently endocytosed by cells, indicating that a high affinity site for LRP is generated on PAI-1 only when in complex with a proteinase. In addition, PAI-1 in complex with different proteinases is shown to cross-compete for LRP binding, demonstrating that the binding site is independent of the proteinase and therefore must reside on the PAI-1 portion of the complex. Finally, mutagenesis of PAI-1 results in loss of LRP binding, confirming that the high affinity binding site is located on PAI-1 and suggesting that the LRP binding site lays within a region of PAI-1 previously shown to contain the heparin binding domain.
Optimal indirect and capital taxation

In this paper, we consider an environment in which agents? skills are private information, are potentially multi-dimensional, and follow arbitrary stochastic processes. We allow for arbitrary incentive-compatible and physically feasible tax schemes. We prove that it is typically Pareto optimal to have positive capital taxes. As well, we prove that in any given period, it is Pareto optimal to tax consumption goods at a uniform rate.
Hardware-Assisted Rendering of Cylindrical Panoramas

Abstract Cylindrical panorama is being used in many applications. Cylindrical panoramic viewers render the panorama from the center of the cylinder by projecting the cylindrical map onto a planar screen. This process involves nonlinear image warping, so many panoramic viewers are implemented in software. Hardware acceleration may be used if the panorama is resampled onto the polygonal models. This paper presents an algorithm to render cylindrical panorama with hardware acceleration while using the input panorama as is. The render ing equation of cylindrical panorama is decomposed into linear approximation and nonlinear residuals. Nonlinear parts are encoded as bump maps to perturb the texture coordinates on a per-pixel basis. This process can be performed by environment-mapped bump mapping (EMBM) hardware.