Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of smoking on ACL reconstruction: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) depends on proper healing of the graft or bone plug at the cellular level. The effect of cigarette smoke on ACLR was not commonly reported until recently. The primary purpose of this review was to determine if smoking has a negative effect on subjective or objective outcome scores after ACLR. The secondary purpose was to identify any increased risk of complications, infection, ACL re-tear, or revision procedures. Methods: A systematic literature review of the MEDLINE, SCOPUS and PubMed databases was performed to identify all studies that compared outcomes of ACLR surgery between smokers and nonsmokers. The frequency-weighted mean was calculated for outcome measures that were similar across several studies. Results: Seventeen studies were identified that met inclusion criteria for patients undergoing ACLR (mean age, 26.8 years) with a mean follow-up of 37 months. Smokers had significantly worse subjective outcome measures and worse side-to-side difference in anterior translation compared to non-smokers (2.68 mm vs 1.89 mm, respectively). In 2 studies, smokers were found to have a significantly higher risk of developing an infection and VTE (venous thromboembolism) post-operatively. The evidence for the effect of smoking on risk for subsequent re-tear is mixed. No study reported a higher rate of development of radiographic knee osteoarthritis among smokers compared to nonsmokers. Conclusions: Cigarette smoke is associated with significantly worse clinical outcome scores, an increase in anterior translation, and increased complication rates after ACL reconstruction. These findings may help orthopaedic surgeons better inform their patients about the potential negative effects of smoking on the outcomes of ACL reconstruction. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV.
Model order estimation based on a method for computing distance to uncontrollability

A classical tool for spurious poles detection in modal analysis is the stabilization diagram. It is widely used by practitioners because of its simplicity and intuitive appeal. Despite of its popularity the stabilization diagram requires subjective human judgment and lacks theoretical justification. In this paper, we propose an new approach to spurious poles detection that 1) has theoretical justification and 2) does not make unverifiable assumptions about the data generating system, apart form the basic one that it is linear time-invariant. The method is based on a quantitative measure of the distance of the identified model to a system with an eliminated spurious pole. Small distance indicates that the eliminated pole does not degrade the model quality. The procedure can be iterated for elimination of multiple spurious poles. An increase of the distance indicates that all spurious poles are eliminated from the model.
Splice isoform identification from transcript graphs

Providing a measure of abundances of different RNA transcripts in a sample can be very important in many different biological or medical studies. Next-generation sequencing is becoming a technology of choice for providing fundamental data for such analyses. In this work, I have presented an RNA abundance estimation model that uses next-generation RNA-Seq reads to estimate optimal relative transcript abundance values. isomorph, a software implementation of this method is presented and explained. isomorph tries to maximize a likelihood function with regards to isoform abundance levels to provide an optimal estimate of relative transcript abundances in a sample. Testing has shown that for single-end reads, isomorph performs well, while paired-end data performance should be more improved. It is available at https://github.com/darxsys/isomorph.
Experiments for damage detection by subspace identification on real mechanical structures

If structures of civil engineering are planned for a finite li fe time, it is advisable to control the buildings for failures continuous such as by a monitoring sy stem. In this lecture it is proposed to identify the dynamic characteristics of a structure by vibr ation measurements. In the case of damage this characteristic will be alternated. Here state space mo dels are used to detect and localise system variations. State space models identified by the measuremen t data represent the transfer function between input and output. The model parameters (e.g. Markov -Bl cs) can be used for damage detection.
Mining Big Data

Nowadays, the daily amount of generated data is measured in exabytes. Such huge data is now referred to as Big Data. Big data mining leads to the discovery of the useful information from huge data repositories. However, this huge amount of data hinders existing data mining tools and thus creates new research challenges that open the door for new research opportunities. In this paper, we provide an overview of the research challenges and opportunities of big data mining. We present the technologies and platforms that are required for mining big data. A number of applications that can benefit from mining big data are also discussed. We discuss the status of big data mining, current efforts and future research directions in the UAE.
Analytical Study of Finite Amplitude Capillary Waves Stability

ALEXANDER PETROV Institute for Problems in Mechanics RAS Pr. Vernadskogo 101-1, 119526 Moscow Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Institutskiy per. 9, 141700 Dolgoprudny RUSSIAN FEDERATION petrovipmech@gmail.com MARIANA LOPUSHANSKI Institute for Problems in Mechanics RAS Pr. Vernadskogo 101-1, 119526 Moscow Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Institutskiy per. 9, 141700 Dolgoprudny RUSSIAN FEDERATION masha.alexandra@gmail.com
Neutral Beam Injection on JET : Effect on Neutron Discrepancy and Energy Balance

There has been a consistent discrepancy between neutrons predicted and measured during JET pulses, with the measured neutrons typically being lower than interpretive simulation results. A number of investigations into this have been carried out [1] with many explanations excluded. Further to this the energy balance on JET has shown a discrepancy of ~25% [2]. The neutron production on JET is split between thermal fusion reactions and beam-target reactions, with beam-target reactions making the larger contribution in most deuterium-deuterium discharges.
The Yogi Project : Software Property Checking via Static Analysis and Testing

We present Yogi, a tool that checks properties of C programs by combining static analysis and testing. Yogi implements the Dash algorithm which performs verification by combining directed testing and abstraction. We have engineered Yogi in such a way that it plugs into Microsoft’s Static Driver Verifier framework. We have used this framework to run Yogi on 69 Windows Vista drivers with 85 properties. We find that the new algorithm enables Yogi to scale much better than Slam, which is the current engine driving Microsoft’s Static Driver Verifier.
Candida albicans Ume6, a Filament-Specific Transcriptional Regulator, Directs Hyphal Growth via a Pathway Involving Hgc1 Cyclin-Related Protein

ABSTRACT The ability of Candida albicans, the most common human fungal pathogen, to transition from yeast to hyphae is essential for pathogenicity. While a variety of transcription factors important for filamentation have been identified and characterized, links between transcriptional regulators of C. albicans morphogenesis and molecular mechanisms that drive hyphal growth are not well defined. We have previously observed that constitutive expression of UME6, which encodes a filament-specific transcriptional regulator, is sufficient to direct hyphal growth in the absence of filament-inducing conditions. Here we show that HGC1, encoding a cyclin-related protein necessary for hyphal growth under filament-inducing conditions, is specifically important for agar invasion, hyphal extension, and formation of true septa in response to constitutive UME6 expression under non-filament-inducing conditions. HGC1-dependent inactivation of Rga2, a Cdc42 GTPase activating protein (GAP), also appears to be important for these processes. In response to filament-inducing conditions, HGC1 is induced prior to UME6 although UME6 controls the level and duration of HGC1 expression, which are likely to be important for hyphal extension. Interestingly, an epistasis analysis suggests that UME6 and HGC1 play distinct roles during early filament formation. These findings establish a link between a key regulator of filamentation and a downstream mechanism important for hyphal formation. In addition, this study demonstrates that a strain expressing constitutive high levels of UME6 provides a powerful strategy to specifically dissect downstream mechanisms important for hyphal development in the absence of complex filament-inducing conditions.
Junk Foods Consumption and Its Impact on Health and Leptin Hormone Level of Female Students in Kuwait 1

During the last few decades, the state of Kuwait experienced rapid socio-cultural changes caused by the accelerating economy in the Arabian Gulf region. That was associated with major changes in the food choices and eating habits which, progressively, became more and more "Westernized". Such a nutritional transition has been claimed for the rising rates of overweight and obesity which were recently observed among Kuwaiti population. Therefore, the objectives of the current work were to to assess Junk foods consumption and its impact on female student health. This study conducted on 100 female students from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). Students are selecting randomly and the selected information on demographics data, lifestyle, and health status was collected by using questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, body height and body mass index (BMI), and biochemical parameters; liver function, lipid profile and leptin hormone, were determined to measure the obesity the grade and health status for chosen students. The results revealed that most of chosen female subjects had high levels of liver functional enzymes activity, lipids profile constituents and leptin hormone in their blood serum according to grade of obesity due to the high levels of junk foods consumption. The present findings suggest the need for strategies and coordinated efforts at all levels (family, university, community and government) to reduce the tendency of overweight and obesity among college students and to promote healthy eating habits in our youth.
SIW Hybrid Feeding Network-Integrated 2-D DRA Array: Simulations and Experiments

Simulation and experimental results of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW)-integrated 2-D dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) array operating at millimeter-wave frequency band are presented. The antenna array consists of 64 elements arranged in 8 ×8. Hybrid feeding network combining series-fed and corporate-fed is used to provide a uniform power distribution over the entire aperture of the array. The antenna array is fabricated and tested. The measured reflection coefficient shows an impedance bandwidth ( S11 ≤ - 10 dB) of 2 GHz and a measured gain of 21.60 dB over the operating frequency band 35-37 GHz. A very good correlation between the measured results and simulated results is observed.
Identification of E-selectin as a Novel Target for the Regulation of Postnatal Neovascularization: Implications for Diabetic Wound Healing

Objectives:We previously reported that stromal cell-derived factor-1&agr; (SDF-1&agr;, a homing signal for recruiting endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) to areas of neovascularization), is down-regulated in diabetic wounds (Gallagher et al, J Clin Invest. 2007;117:1249–1259). We now investigate signals whereby mature endothelial cells (EC) and circulating EPC achieve SDF-1&agr;-mediated EPC homing. Methods:SDF-1&agr; in diabetic wounds were therapeutically increased by injection of SDF-1&agr;-engineered bone marrow-derived fibroblasts versus control cells (N = 48 [20, non-obese diabetic (NOD)], [28, streptozotocin-C57]). Polymerase chain reaction-array gene expression differences were validated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The role of adhesion molecule(s) in mediating SDF-1&agr;-induced EPC homing, and wound healing was furthered studied using antagonists in vitro and in vivo. Results:Increasing wound SDF-1&agr; via cell-based therapy promotes healing in diabetic mice (∼20% increase in healing rates by day 3, P = 0.006). SDF-1&agr; increased EC-EPC adhesion and specifically upregulated E-selectin expression in human microvascular EC (2.3-fold increase, P < 0.01). This effect was also significant in blood vessels of the experimental mice and resulted in increased wound neovascularization. The regulatory effects of SDF-1&agr; on EC-EPC adhesion and EPC homing were specifically mediated by E-selectin, as the application of E-selectin antagonists significantly inhibited SDF-1&agr;-induced EC-EPC adhesion, EPC homing, wound neovascularization, and wound healing. Conclusions:SDF-1&agr;-engineered cell-based therapy promotes diabetic wound healing in mice by specifically upregulating E-selectin expression in mature EC leading to increase EC-EPC adhesion, EPC homing, and increased wound neovascularization. These findings provide novel insight into the signals underlying the biological effect of SDF-1&agr; on EPC homing and point to E-selectin as a new potential target for therapeutic manipulation of EPC trafficking in diabetic wound healing.
Rhythm Sensitivity and Musical Aptitude : ERPs and Individual Differences

This study investigated the electrophysiological markers of rhythmic expectancy during speech perception. In addition, given the large literature showing overlaps between cognitive and neural resources recruited for language and music, we considered a relation between musical aptitude and individual differences in speech rhythm sensitivity. Twenty adults were administered a standardized assessment of musical aptitude, and EEG was recorded as participants listened to sequences of four bisyllabic words for which the stress pattern of the final word either matched or mismatched the stress pattern of the preceding words. Words with unexpected stress patterns elicited an increased fronto-central mid-latency negativity. In addition, rhythm aptitude significantly correlated with the size of the negative effect elicited by unexpected iambic words, the least common type of stress pattern in English. The present results suggest shared neurocognitive resources for speech rhythm and musical rhythm.
The Impact of Shared Attention on Multiple Object Tracking in Competitive and Cooperative Settings

Shared attention theory postulates that when simultaneously co-attending to a stimulus with a similar other, cognitive prioritization occurs that has both psychological and behavioral impact, with the ultimate goal of generating collective knowledge. A cooperative scenario occurs when a group’s goal is linked such that one person’s success is also another’s. By contrast, a competitive scenario occurs when a group’s goal is linked such that if one person succeeds, the other fails. The purpose of this thesis was to understand the effect of cooperative and competitive settings on shared attention in a performance domain. I hypothesized that cooperation would moderate the effect of shared attention on performance, such that during synchronous coattention, a cooperative scenario (versus a competitive one) would increase and improve shared attention’s influence on performance. This relationship was investigated in a study with 152 undergraduate participants, but the expected relationship was not found. There were no differences between groups in terms of performance on a multiple object tracking task. Subjective experience results are also discussed.
Scleraxis Modulates Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4)-Smad1 Protein-Smooth Muscle α-Actin (SMA) Signal Transduction in Diabetic Nephropathy*

Background: Activated mesangial cells exhibit SMA and contribute to the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Results: Scleraxis negatively regulated the AGE-induced expression and secretion of BMP4. Conclusion: Scleraxis and Id1 are involved in the BMP4-SMA pathway and modulate phenotypic changes. Significance: Deeper insight into the impact of regulatory mechanism of scleraxis-BMP4-Smad1 signal activation might help to prevent diabetic glomerular damage. Activation of mesangial cells (MCs), which is characterized by induction of smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) expression, contributes to a key event in various renal diseases; however, the mechanisms controlling MC differentiation are still largely undefined. Activated Smad1 induced SMA in a dose-dependent manner in MCs. As a direct regulating molecule for SMA, we identified and characterized scleraxis (Scx) as a new phenotype modulator in advanced glycation end product (AGE)-exposed MCs. Scx physically associated with E12 and bound the E-box in the promoter of SMA and negatively regulated the AGE-induced SMA expression. Scx induced expression and secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), thereby controlling the Smad1 activation in AGE-treated MCs. In diabetic mice, Scx was concomitantly expressed with SMA in the glomeruli. Inhibitor of differentiation 1 (Id1) was further induced by extended treatment with AGE, thereby dislodging Scx from the SMA promoter. These data suggest that Scx and Id1 are involved in the BMP4-Smad1-SMA signal transduction pathway besides the TGFβ1-Smad1-SMA signaling pathway and modulate phenotypic changes in MCs in diabetic nephropathy.
Robust Calculation of Frequency-Dependent Transmission-Line Transformation Matrices Using the Levenberg–Marquardt Method

This paper presents a new method for the calculation of smooth frequency-dependent transmission-line (TL) transformation matrices. The proposed method, based on the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm, solves an equivalent real-valued approach of the generalized complex eigenproblem. The implemented formulation incorporates a robust convergence criterion and is applicable to all TL configurations, due to the included numerically well-defined computational scheme. Smooth modal transformation matrices are calculated for overhead and underground TL configurations under different representations of the imperfect earth. Results are compared and validated with the corresponding results obtained from the Newton-Raphson and the sequential quadratic programming methods, revealing the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the proposed formulation, even in cases where the other methods fail.
Non-Contact Method of Heart Rate Measurement Based on Facial Tracking

Image photoplethysmography can realize low-cost and easy-to-operate non-contact heart rate detection from the facial video, and effectively overcome the limitations of traditional contact method in daily vital sign monitoring. However, it is hard to obtain more accurate heart rate detection values under the conditions of subject’s facial movement, weak ambient light intensity and long detection distance, etc. In this article, a non-contact heart rate detection method based on face tracking is proposed, which can effectively improve the accuracy of non-contact heart rate detection method in practical application. The corner tracker algorithm is used to track the human face to reduce the motion artifact caused by the movement of the subject’s face and enhance the use value of the signal. And the maximum ratio combining algorithm is used to weight the pixel space pulse wave signal in the facial region of interest to improve the pulse wave extraction accuracy. We analyzed the facial images collected under different experimental distances and action states. This proposed method significantly reduces the error rate compared with the independent component analysis method. After theoretical analysis and experimental verification, this method effectively reduces the error rate under different experimental variables and has good consistency with the heart rate value collected by the medical physiological vest. This method will help to improve the accuracy of non-contact heart rate detection in complex environments.
Hydromorphone metabolites: isolation and identification from pooled urine samples of a cancer patient

1. Hydromorphone-3-glucuronide, dihydromorphine, dihydroisomorphine, dihydromorphine-3-glucuronide and dihydroisomorphine-3-glucuronide were isolated from a cancer patient's urine and identified as metabolites of hydromorphone by comparison with synthetic standards using LC/MS/MS with gradient elution. 2. The relative urinary recovery of dihydroisomorphine-3-glucuronide was estimated to be 17-fold higher than previously reported. 3. Three new metabolites, including hydromorphone-3-sulphate, norhydromorphone and nordihydroisomorphine, were tentatively identified.
Using extra-linguistic information for generating demonstrative pronouns in a situated collaboration task

This paper addresses the generation of demonstrative pronouns in dialogues of a collaborative situated task. We built a Japanese corpus of dialogues in which two participants collaboratively solve the Tangram puzzle. The corpus records every action by participants and the arrangement of the puzzle pieces in synchronisation with the course of dialogues. This extralinguistic information as well as transcribed dialogues were used to build a generation model of demonstrative pronouns. We adopted a machine learning technique (Support Vector Machine) to constructed a classifier deciding if a demonstrative pronoun is appropriate for referring to a given target puzzle piece in a given situation. Through a series of experiments, we found that extra-linguistic information, particularly those concerning current operations, plays a key role in learning usage of demonstrative pronouns.
Thermal Performance of Solar Air Heater Having Absorber Roughened by Chamfered-Square Elements

In an objective to improve the thermo hydraulic performance of a solar air heater, a novel idea is proposed in this paper following a passive heat transfer enhancement technique. The technique uses the concept of providing artificial roughness on the absorber plate of the heater with diagonally cut cuboids. A numerical study using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is performed to show the enhancement of the thermo hydraulic performance of the heater for the relative roughness pitch of 6 to 8 and cross section of cuboids from 8mm to 12mm with a constant relative roughness height of 0.0889. The Reynolds number is kept in the range of 5000 to 22500 with a constant heat flux of 1000 W/m 2 on the absorber plate. The standard k-ε turbulence model with enhanced wall treatment is used to handle the flow turbulence. The Nusselt number and the average friction factor are determined for different values of the relative roughness pitch and cross sectional areas of the roughness element. In order to determine the enhancement of heat transfer and increment in the friction factor, the Nusselt number and friction factor are compared with those of smooth duct under similar flow conditions. It is observed that the thermal performance of the heater is increased in presence of the chamfered square roughness elements.