Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients at a North American Transplant Center

Background. Autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been reported in over 200 solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients since 2006, yet little is known about the burden of HEV among SOT recipients in North America. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with HEV infection among SOT recipients at our institution. Methods. Children and adults (n = 311) who received allografts between 1988 and 2012 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital were assessed for evidence of HEV infection by testing posttransplantation serum samples for HEV antibody by enzyme immunoassay and HEV RNA by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Individuals with evidence of posttransplant HEV infection (presence of anti-HEV immunoglobulin [Ig]M antibody, anti-HEV IgG seroconversion, or HEV RNA) were compared with individuals without evidence of infection and assessed for risk factors associated with infection. Results. Twelve individuals (4%) developed posttransplant HEV infection. Posttransplant HEV infection was associated with an increased risk for graft rejection (odds ratio, 14.2; P = .03). No individuals developed chronic infection. Conclusions. Solid organ transplant recipients in the United States are at risk for posttransplant HEV infection. Further studies are needed to characterize environmental risk factors and the risk of HEV infection after SOT in North America.
A Multiscale Atomistic Method for Long-Range Electrical Interactions with Application to Multiphysics Calculations in Functional Materials

Abstract : Modern technology is continually evolving and pushing the limits of our understanding of materials. This is especially true at the smallest length scales, where phenomenological and experimental data is challenging to acquire. Computational methodologies are becoming more important in understanding the physics of materials at these small length scales. Multiscale methods, in particular, are playing a prominent role in understanding the importance of defects and how they effect properties. We focus specifically on the Quasicontinuum Method (QC). We extend the local Cauchy-Born QC to long-range Coulombic interactions. We then use the method to simulate electrical and mechanical loading in an ionic solid.
Model predictive control of a capacitor-less VAR compensator based on a matrix converter

This paper presents a reactive power compensation technique using model predictive control (MPC) of a matrix converter. This technique compensates lagging power factor loads using inductive energy storage elements instead of electrolytic capacitors (e-caps). Although ubiquitous in power electronic converters, e-caps have well-known failure modes and wear-out mechanisms. Therefore, the capacitors used to store energy in a voltage-sourced inverter (VSI) reactive power compensator require continuous monitoring and periodic replacement, both of which significantly increase the cost of the traditional load compensation technique. MPC of the matrix converter provides reactive power compensation by controlling the input reactive power and the output current to the inductive storage elements. Thus, compared to VSI techniques, the proposed reactive power compensation technique is more reliable and has a longer expected service life that is not limited by failure and wear-out modes of capacitors.
Unconstrained regularized ℓp-norm based algorithm for the reconstruction of sparse signals

A new algorithm for signal reconstruction in a compressive sensing framework is presented. The algorithm is based on minimizing an unconstrained regularized ℓp norm with p &#60; 1 in the null space of the measurement matrix. The unconstrained optimization involved is performed by using a quasi-Newton algorithm in which a new line search based on Banach's fixed-point theorem is used. Simulation results are presented, which demonstrate that the proposed algorithm yields improved reconstruction performance and requires a reduced amount of computation relative to several known algorithms.
Binding body and self in visuo‐vestibular conflicts

Maintenance of the bodily self relies on the accurate integration of multisensory inputs in which visuo‐vestibular cue integration is thought to play an essential role. Here, we tested in healthy volunteers how conflicting visuo‐vestibular bodily input might impact on body self‐coherence in a full body illusion set‐up. Natural passive vestibular stimulation was provided on a motion platform, while visual input was manipulated using virtual reality equipment. Explicit (questionnaire) and implicit (skin temperature) measures were employed to assess illusory self‐identification with either a mannequin or a control object. Questionnaire results pointed to a relatively small illusion, but hand skin temperature, plausibly an index of illusory body ownership, showed the predicted drop specifically in the condition when participants saw the mannequin moving in congruence with them. We argue that this implicit measure was accessible to visuo‐vestibular modulation of the sense of self, possibly mediated by shared neural processes in the insula involved in vestibular and interoceptive signalling, thermoregulation and multisensory integration.
Spectral Enhancement of Organic Photodetectors

Solution-processed photodiodes with infrared sensitivities at wavelengths beyond the bandgap of silicon would be a significant advance towards cost-effective imaging. Colloidal quantum dots are highly suitable as infrared absorbers for photodetection. The concept of organic bulk heterojunctions sensitized with PbS nanocrystalline was proved with efficient near-infrared detection up to 1.8 mm for NIR imaging on active matrix TFT backplanes and demonstrated x-ray sensitivity.
LncMAP: Pan-cancer atlas of long noncoding RNA-mediated transcriptional network perturbations

Abstract Gene regulatory network perturbations contribute to the development and progression of cancer, however, molecular determinants that mediate transcriptional perturbations remain a fundamental challenge for cancer biology. We show that transcriptional perturbations are widely mediated by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) via integration of genome-wide transcriptional regulation with paired lncRNA and gene expression profiles. Systematic construction of an LncRNA Modulator Atlas in Pan-cancer (LncMAP) reveals distinct types of lncRNA regulatory molecules, which are expressed in multiple tissues, exhibit higher conservation. Strikingly, cancers with similar tissue origin share lncRNA modulators which perturb the regulation of cell cycle and immune response-related functions. Furthermore, we identified a large number of pan-cancer lncRNA modulators with potential clinical significance, which are differentially expressed in cancer or are strongly correlated with drug sensitivity across cell lines. Further stratification of cancer patients based on lncRNA-mediated transcriptional perturbations identifies subtypes with distinct survival rates. Finally, we made a user-friendly web interface available for exploring lncRNA-mediated transcriptional perturbations across cancer types. Our study provides a systems-level dissection of lncRNA-mediated regulatory perturbations in cancer, and also presents a valuable tool and resource for investigating the function of lncRNAs in cancer.
Identifying Soccer Players on Facebook Through Predictive Analytics

This study assesses the feasibility of identifying self-reported sports practitioners (soccer players) on Facebook. The main goal is to develop a system to support marketers with the decision as to which prospects to target for advertising purposes. To do so, we benchmark several algorithms (i.e., random forest, logistic regression, adaboost, rotation forest, neural networks, and kernel factory) using five times twofold cross-validation. To evaluate performance and variable importances, we build a fusion model, which combines the results of the other algorithms using the weighted average. This technique is also referred to as information-fusion sensitivity analysis. The results reveal that Facebook data provide a viable basis to come up with sports predictions as the predictive performance ranges from 72.01% to 80.43% for area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), from 81.96% to 83.95% for accuracy, and from 2.41 to 3.06 for top-decile lift. Our benchmark study indicates that stochastic.
Antibiotic treatment failure when consulting patients with respiratory tract infections in general practice. A qualitative study to explore Danish general practitioners’ perspectives

Abstract Background: Prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is common in primary healthcare although most of these infections are of viral origin and antibiotics may not be helpful. Some of these prescriptions will not be associated with a quick recovery, and might be regarded as cases of antibiotic treatment failure (ATF). Objectives: We studied antibiotic treatment failure in patients with acute RTIs from a general practitioner (GP) perspective, aiming to explore (i) GPs’ views of ATF in primary care; (ii) how ATF influences the doctor-patient relationship; and (iii) GPs’ understanding of patients’ views of ATF. Methods: Qualitative study based on semi-structured, recorded interviews of 18 GPs between August and October 2012. The interviews started with discussion of a unique case of acute RTI involving ATF, followed by a more general reflection of the topic. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: In patients with acute RTIs, GPs proposed and agreed to a medical definition of antibiotic treatment failure but believed patients’ views to differ significantly from this medical definition. GPs thought ATF affected their daily work only marginally. GPs used many communicative tools to maintain trust with patients in cases of ATF, but they did not consider such incidents to affect the doctor-patient relationship adversely. Conclusion: These findings suggest a possible communication gap between doctors and patients, partly due to a narrow medical definition of ATF. Studies describing patients’ views are still missing. General practitioners’ experiences and views on antibiotic treatment failure in acute respiratory infections or its effects on the doctor–patient relationship have not been studied previously.
The Cd isotope composition of atmospheric aerosols from the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

Stable isotope compositions can potentially be used to trace atmospheric Cd inputs to the surface ocean and anthropogenic Cd emissions to the atmosphere. Both of these applications may provide valuable insights into the effects of anthropogenic activities on the cycling of Cd in the environment. However, a lack of constraints for the Cd isotope compositions of atmospheric aerosols is currently hindering such studies. Here we present stable Cd isotope data for aerosols collected over the Tropical Atlantic Ocean. The samples feature variable proportions of mineral dust‐derived and anthropogenic Cd, yet exhibit similar isotope compositions, thus negating the distinction of these Cd sources by using isotopic signatures in this region. Isotopic variability between these two atmospheric Cd sources may be identified in other areas, and thus warrants further investigation. Regardless, these data provide important initial constraints on the isotope composition of atmospheric Cd inputs to the ocean.
Quantitative in vivo mapping of myocardial mitochondrial membrane potential

Background Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) arises from normal function of the electron transport chain. Maintenance of ΔΨm within a narrow range is essential for mitochondrial function. Methods for in vivo measurement of ΔΨm do not exist. We use 18F-labeled tetraphenylphosphonium (18F-TPP+) to measure and map the total membrane potential, ΔΨT, as the sum of ΔΨm and cellular (ΔΨc) electrical potentials. Methods Eight pigs, five controls and three with a scar-like injury, were studied. Pigs were studied with a dynamic PET scanning protocol to measure 18F-TPP+ volume of distribution, VT. Fractional extracellular space (fECS) was measured in 3 pigs. We derived equations expressing ΔΨT as a function of VT and the volume-fractions of mitochondria and fECS. Seventeen segment polar maps and parametric images of ΔΨT were calculated in millivolts (mV). Results In controls, mean segmental ΔΨT = -129.4±1.4 mV (SEM). In pigs with segmental tissue injury, ΔΨT was clearly separated from control segments but variable, in the range -100 to 0 mV. The quality of ΔΨT maps was excellent, with low noise and good resolution. Measurements of ΔΨT in the left ventricle of pigs agree with previous in in-vitro measurements. Conclusions We have analyzed the factors affecting the uptake of voltage sensing tracers and developed a minimally invasive method for mapping ΔΨT in left ventricular myocardium of pigs. ΔΨT is computed in absolute units, allowing for visual and statistical comparison of individual values with normative data. These studies demonstrate the first in vivo application of quantitative mapping of total tissue membrane potential, ΔΨT.
KernelTagger - a PoS Tagger for Very Small Amount of Training Data

The paper describes a new Part of speech (PoS) tagger which can learn a PoS tagging language model from very short annotated text with the use of much bigger non-annotated text. Only several sentences could be used for training to achieve much better accuracy than a baseline. The results cannot be compared to the results of state-of-the-art taggers but it could be used during the annotation process for a pre-annotation.
Neural Temporal Dynamics of Social Exclusion Elicited by Averted Gaze: An Event-Related Potentials Study

Eye gaze plays a fundamental role in social communication. The averted eye gaze during social interaction, as the most common form of silent treatment, conveys a signal of social exclusion. In the present study, we examined the time course of brain response to social exclusion by using a modified version of Eye-gaze paradigm. The event-related potentials (ERPs) data and the subjective rating data showed that the frontocentral P200 was positively correlated with negative mood of excluded events, whereas, the centroparietal late positive potential (LPP) was positively correlated with the perceived ostracism intensity. Both the P200 and LPP were more positive-going for excluded events than for included events. These findings suggest that brain responses sensitive to social exclusion can be divided into the early affective processing stage, linking to the early pre-cognitive warning system; and the late higher-order processes stage, demanding attentional resources for elaborate stimuli evaluation and categorization generally not under specific situation.
Reduction of thermal cycling to increase the lifetime of MOSFET motor drives

The variation of the temperature in semiconductors, caused by the load profile, results in the long term in material fatigue. A distinction can be made between the average temperature and the temperature swing, where the temperature swing has a significant effect on the lifetime of a semiconductor. Therefore, the auxiliary-pole topology is proposed to reduce the temperature swing of the MOSFETs in a motor drive. The auxiliary-pole topology divides the load current over two switching-legs and circulates a current when there is a low or zero load current. The conventional half bridge topology is used as a benchmark. Both topologies are simulated with the same load profile and with an equal total amount of silicon. The results show a reduction of the temperature swing and an increase in average temperature of the switches in the auxiliary-pole topology. This leads to an significant improvement in cycles to failure and time to failure.
Single‐Dose Metformin Enhances Bile Acid‐Induced Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1 Secretion in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Context: Despite a position as the first‐line pharmacotherapy in type 2 diabetes, the glucose‐lowering mechanisms of metformin remain to be fully clarified. Gut‐derived modes of action, including suppression of bile acid reabsorption and a resulting increase in glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) secretion, have been proposed. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the GLP‐1 secretory and glucometabolic effects of endogenously released bile, with and without concomitant single‐dose administration of metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes. Design: Randomized, placebo‐controlled, and double‐blinded crossover study. Setting: This study was conducted at Center for Diabetes Research, Gentofte Hospital, Denmark. Patients: Fifteen metformin‐treated patients with type 2 diabetes; all participants completed the study. Interventions: Four experimental study days in randomized order with administration of either 1500 mg metformin or placebo in combination with intravenous infusion of cholecystokinin (0.4 pmol × kg−1 × min−1) or saline. Main Outcome Measure: Plasma GLP‐1 excursions as measured by baseline‐subtracted area under the curve. Results: Single‐dose metformin further enhanced bile acid‐mediated induction of GLP‐1 secretion (P = 0.02), whereas metformin alone did not increase plasma GLP‐1 concentrations compared with placebo (P = 0.17). Metformin, both with (P = 0.02) and without (P = 0.02) concomitant cholecystokinin‐induced gallbladder emptying, elicited reduced plasma glucose excursions compared with placebo. No GLP‐1‐mediated induction of insulin secretion or suppression of glucagon was observed. Conclusions: Metformin elicited an enhancement of the GLP‐1 response to cholecystokinin‐induced gallbladder emptying in patients with type 2 diabetes, whereas no derived effects on insulin or glucagon secretion were evident in this acute setting.
Address-aware fences

Many modern multicore architectures support shared memory for ease of programming and relaxed memory models to deliver high performance. With relaxed memory models, memory accesses can be reordered dynamically and seen by other processors. Therefore, fence instructions are provided to enforce the memory orderings that are critical to the correctness of a program. However, fence instructions are costly as they cause the processor to stall. Prior works have observed that most of the executions of fence instructions are unnecessary. In this paper we propose address-aware fence, a hardware solution for reducing the overhead of fence instructions without resorting to speculation. Address-aware fence only enforces memory orderings that are necessary to maintain the effect that the traditional fence strives to enforce. This is achieved by dynamically checking a condition for when an execution of a fence must take effect and delay the memory accesses following the fence. When a fence instruction is encountered, first, necessary memory addresses are collected to form a watchlist, and then, only the memory accesses to addresses that are contained in the watchlist are delayed. The memory accesses whose addresses are not contained in the watchlist are allowed to complete without waiting for the completion of pending memory accesses from before the fence. Our experiments conducted on a group of concurrent lock-free algorithms and SPLASH-2 benchmarks show that address-aware fence eliminates nearly all the overhead due to fences and achieves an average improvement of 12.2\% on programs with traditional fences.
Isopimaric acid – a multi‐targeting ion channel modulator reducing excitability and arrhythmicity in a spontaneously beating mouse atrial cell line

Atrial fibrillation is the most common persistent cardiac arrhythmia, and it is not well controlled by present drugs. Because some resin acids open voltage‐gated potassium channels and reduce neuronal excitability, we explored the effects of the resin acid isopimaric acid (IPA) on action potentials and ion currents in cardiomyocytes.
Neonatal Safety of Elective Family-Centered Caesarean Sections: A Cohort Study

Background Although little data are available concerning safety for newborns, family-centered caesarean sections (FCS) are increasingly implemented. With FCS mothers can see the delivery of their baby, followed by direct skin-to-skin contact. We evaluated the safety for newborns born with FCS in the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), where FCS was implemented in June 2014 for singleton pregnancies with a gestational age (GA) ≥38 weeks and without increased risks for respiratory morbidity. Methods The incidence of respiratory pathology, unplanned admission, and hypothermia in infants born after FCS in LUMC were retrospectively reviewed and compared with a historical cohort of standard elective cesarean sections (CS). Results From June 2014 to November 2015, 92 FCS were performed and compared to 71 standard CS in 2013. Incidence of respiratory morbidity, hypothermia, temperatures at arrival at the department, GA, and birth weight were comparable (ns). Unplanned admission occurred more often after FCS when compared to standard CS (21 vs 7%; p = 0.03), probably due to peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring. There was no increase in respiratory pathology (8 vs 6%, ns). One-third of the babies were separated from their mother during or after FCS. Conclusion Unplanned neonatal admissions after elective CS increased after implementing FCS, without an increase in respiratory morbidity or hypothermia. SpO2 monitoring might have a contribution. Separation from the mother occurred often.
Neural mechanisms of strength increase after one-week motor imagery training

Abstract The neural mechanisms explaining strength increase following mental training by motor imagery (MI) are not clearly understood. While gains are mostly attributed to cortical reorganization, the sub-cortical adaptations have never been investigated. The present study investigated the effects of MI training on muscle force capacity and the related spinal and supraspinal mechanisms. Eighteen young healthy participants (mean age: 22.5 ± 2.6) took part in the experiment. They were distributed into two groups: a control group (n = 9) and an MI training group (n = 9). The MI group performed seven consecutive sessions (one per day) of imagined maximal isometric plantar flexion (4 blocks of 25 trials per session). The control group did not engage in any physical or mental training. Both groups were tested for the isometric maximal plantar flexion torque (MVC) and the rate of torque development (RTD) before and after the training session. In addition, soleus and medial gastrocnemius spinal and supraspinal adaptations were assessed through the recording of H-reflexes and V-waves, with electrical stimulations of the posterior tibial nerve evoked at rest and during MVC, respectively. After one week, only the MI training group increased both plantar flexion MVC and RTD. The enhancement of muscle torque capacity was accompanied by significant increase of electromyographic activity and V-wave during MVC and of H-reflex at rest. The increased cortical descending neural drive and the excitability of spinal networks at rest could explain the greater RTD and MVC after one week of MI training.