Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of Tympanometric Middle Ear Pressure Determination in Secretory Otitis Media: Dose-Dependent Overestimation Related to the Viscosity and Amount of Middle Ear Fluid

Hypothesis: Tympanometric measurements of middle ear pressure in children with secretory otitis media are overestimated in a dose-response manner because of increased hysteresis explained by the viscosity and amount of middle ear fluid. Background: Tympanometric middle ear pressure is important in evaluating children with secretory otitis media. These measurements are influenced by hysteresis appearing as a peak pressure difference in bidirectional tympanometry. This represents an inaccuracy of 0.5 × peak pressure difference, which is only 5 to 25 daPa in normal ears. However, previous experiments found increased hysteresis, suggesting an inaccuracy of 225 daPa in secretory otitis media ears. Materials and Methods: In 56 patients with secretory otitis media, bidirectional tympanometry was performed; Type B curves were excluded. The middle ear fluid was semiquantified subsequently at surgery according to viscosity (serous, seromucoid, or mucoid) and amount (small, medium, or large). A control group included 28 normal children. Peak pressure difference was calculated by the difference between middle ear pressure determined by a positive and negative pressure sweep. Results: Mean peak pressure difference was 10 and 69 daPa in the normal and secretory otitis media groups, respectively (p < 0.001). However, peak pressure difference ranged to 205 daPa in the secretory otitis media group and showed a significant positive correlation to viscosity and amount of the fluid (both p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Peak pressure difference is significantly increased in secretory otitis media because of additional damping explained by the viscosity and amount of the fluid. The mean error was 5 daPa in normal ears and 35 daPa in secretory otitis media ears, but ranged to greater than 100 daPa. These results were only a low estimate of the inaccuracy, because patients with Type B tympanograms could not be included, and errors of more than 100 daPa can be anticipated.
Reducing Search Space for Stereo Correspondence with Graph Cuts

In recent years, stereo correspondence algorithms based on graph cuts have gained popularity due to the significant improvement in accu racy over the local methods. Even though there has been a noticeable progress in efficient max-flow algorithms, the computational cost for graph cut st ereo is still quite heavy, especially if the disparity search range is large. In this paper, we investigate and compare several ways of limiting the disparity search range. We show that the immediately obvious ideas based on thresholding or the hierarchical approach do not work reasonably well. We do, however, find that we can utilise the results of fast local correspondence meth ods for disparity range reduction of the more expensive graph cuts method. The idea is to understand and exploit the ways in which the local stereo correspondence methods fail. We are able to achieve 2.8 times average speed-up with only a modest degradation in performance, 1.7% average energy increase.
Polar codes for broadcast channels with receiver message side information and noncausal state available at the encoder

In this paper polar codes are proposed for two receiver broadcast channels with receiver message side information (BCSI) and noncausal state available at the encoder, referred to as BCSI with noncausal state for short, where the two receivers know a priori the private messages intended for each other. An achievable rate region for BCSI with noncausal state is established and shown to strictly contain the straightforward extension of the Gelfand-Pinsker result. To achieve the established rate region, we present polar codes for the general Gelfand-Pinsker problem, which adopts chaining construction and utilizes causal information to pre-transmit the frozen bits. It is also shown that causal information is necessary to pre-transmit the frozen bits. Based on the result of Gelfand-Pinsker problem, we then propose polar codes for BCSI with noncausal state. The difficulty is that there are multiple chains sharing common information bit indices. To avoid value assignment conflicts, a nontrivial polarization alignment scheme is presented. It is shown that the proposed region is tight for degraded BCSI with noncausal state.
A Data Flow Language to Develop High Performance Computing DSLs

Developing complex scientific applications on high performance systems requires both domain knowledge and expertise in parallel and distributed programming models. In addition, modern high performance systems are heterogeneous, thus composed of multicores and accelerators, which despite being efficient and powerful, are harder to program. Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) are a promising approach to hide the complexity of HPC systems and boost programmer's productivity. However, the huge cost and complexity of implementing efficient and scalable DSLs on HPC systems is hindering its adoption for most domains. Addressing such problems, we present Data Flow Language (DFL), a DSL designed to exploit distributed and heterogeneous HPC systems. DFL abstracts the key concepts such systems as SMP tasks for multicores, kernels for accelerators and high-level operations for distributed computing. In addition, DFL leverages the hybrid MPI/OmpSs data-flow programming model to efficiently implement the previous concepts. All of these features make DFL suitable as the target language for other DSLs. However, it is also suitable as a fast prototyping language to develop distributed applications on heterogeneous systems.
TB PCR in the early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: evaluation of the Roche semi-automated COBAS Amplicor MTB test with reference to the manual Amplicor MTB PCR test. .

SETTING Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa. OBJECTIVE To assess the role of the semi-automated Roche COBAS AMPLICOR(TM)Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR test in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). DESIGN Eighty-three specimens of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected prospectively from 69 patients with suspected TBM. The COBAS AMPLICOR TB PCR test was compared with the manual AMPLICOR(TM)TB PCR test, clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, direct ZN smear and radiometric TB culture. RESULTS CSF from 7/40 (17.5%) patients treated for TBM were positive by TB COBAS AMPLICOR(TM). The sensitivity of the test was not significantly different (p=0.375) from the manual TB AMPLICOR(TM)PCR test. The comparative sensitivities of the TB COBAS AMPLICOR(TM)PCR and the manual AMPLICOR PCR for detecting cases of definite and probable TBM from CSF collected within 9 days of commencing antituberculosis treatment were 40% and 60% respectively. All 29 patients not treated for TBM were negative by COBAS AMPLICOR(TM), giving a specificity of 100%. CONCLUSION The COBAS AMPLICOR(TM)TB PCR test is a rapid and highly specific diagnostic test for TBM. However, there was a non-significant trend favouring slightly greater sensitivity using the manual AMPLICOR(TM)TB PCR test.
Dynamic adaptation of real-time software

In large, dynamic, real-time computer systems, it is frequently most cost effective to employ different software performance and reliability techniques at different levels of granularity, at different times, or within different subsystems. These techniques may include regulation of redundancy and resource allocation, multiversion and multipath execution, adjustments of program attributes such as time-out periods and others. The management of software in such systems is a difficult task. Software that may be adapted to meet varying performance and reliability requirements offers a solution. A REal-time Software Adaptation System (RESAS) includes a uniform model of adaptable software and provides the tool necessary for programmers to implement algorithms that choose and enact adaptations in real time. RESAS has been implemented on a testbed consisting of a multiprocessor and an attached workstation, and adaptation algorithms have been developed that address the problem of adapting software to achieve two goals: software execution within specified time constraints and software resiliency with respect to computer hardware failures.
The nutritional burden of methylation reactions

Purpose of reviewMethyl group metabolism is a metabolically demanding process that has significant nutritional implications. Methionine is required not only for protein synthesis but also as the primary source of methyl groups. However, demethylated methionine can be remethylated by methyl groups from methylneogenesis (via folate) and betaine (synthesized from choline). This review discusses the impact of methylation precursors and products on the methionine requirement. Recent findingsRecent evidence has clearly demonstrated that transmethylation reactions can consume a significant proportion of the flux of methionine. In particular, synthesis of creatine and phosphatidylcholine consume most methyl groups and their dietary provision could spare methionine. Importantly, methionine can become limiting for protein and phosphatidylcholine synthesis when creatine synthesis is upregulated. Other research has shown that betaine and choline seem to be more effective than folate at reducing hyperhomocysteinemia and impacting cardiovascular outcomes suggesting they may be limiting. SummaryIt appears that methyl groups can become limiting when dietary supply is inadequate or if transmethylation reactions are upregulated. These situations can impact methionine availability for protein synthesis, which can reduce growth. The methionine requirement can likely be spared by methyl donor and methylated product supplementation.
Association of a serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with body mass index categories but not type 2 diabetes mellitus in Mexicans

The serotonergic system has been hypothesized to contribute to the biological susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and body-mass index (BMI) categories. We investigate a possible association of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (L and S alleles) in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) with the development of T2DM and/or higher BMI by analyzing a sample of 138 individuals diagnosed with T2DM and 172 unrelated controls from the Mexican general population. In the total sample genotypes were distributed according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and S allele frequency was 0.58. There was no statistical association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and the development of T2DM in this Mexican population sample (p = 0.12). Nevertheless, logistic regression analysis of the L allele and increased BMI disclosed an association, after adjusting for age, sex and T2DM (p = 0.02, OR 1.74, 95% CI: 1.079–2.808).
Coordinated Control of Distributed Energy Storage System With Tap Changer Transformers for Voltage Rise Mitigation Under High Photovoltaic Penetration

This paper proposes a coordinated control of distributed energy storage system (ESS) with traditional voltage regulators including the on-load tap changer transformers (OLTC) and step voltage regulators (SVR) to solve the voltage rise problem caused by the high photovoltaic (PV) penetration in the low-voltage distribution network. The main objective of this coordinated control is to relieve the tap changer transformer operation stress, shave the distribution network peak load and decrease the transmission and distribution resistive power losses under high solar power penetration. The proposed control method limits the energy storage depth of discharge in order to meet a more than ten-year cycle life. A benchmark distribution network model was developed in the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) and the simulation results from the studied cases verified the proposed coordinated control strategy. The experimental implementation of proposed control algorithms were developed based on a power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) test bed with a 22 kWh ESS, a smart meter, Labview controller, and RTDS. The experimental results were consistent with those obtained from simulation study.
Bap, a Biofilm Matrix Protein of Staphylococcus aureus Prevents Cellular Internalization through Binding to GP96 Host Receptor

The biofilm matrix, composed of exopolysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, plays a well-known role as a defence structure, protecting bacteria from the host immune system and antimicrobial therapy. However, little is known about its responsibility in the interaction of biofilm cells with host tissues. Staphylococcus aureus, a leading cause of biofilm-associated chronic infections, is able to develop a biofilm built on a proteinaceous Bap-mediated matrix. Here, we used the Bap protein as a model to investigate the role that components of the biofilm matrix play in the interaction of S. aureus with host cells. The results show that Bap promotes the adhesion but prevents the entry of S. aureus into epithelial cells. A broad analysis of potential interaction partners for Bap using ligand overlayer immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation with purified Bap and pull down with intact bacteria, identified a direct binding between Bap and Gp96/GRP94/Hsp90 protein. The interaction of Bap with Gp96 provokes a significant reduction in the capacity of S. aureus to invade epithelial cells by interfering with the fibronectin binding protein invasion pathway. Consistent with these results, Bap deficient bacteria displayed an enhanced capacity to invade mammary gland epithelial cells in a lactating mice mastitis model. Our observations begin to elucidate the mechanisms by which components of the biofilm matrix can facilitate the colonization of host tissues and the establishment of persistent infections.
Mechanistic-empirical processor performance modeling for constructing CPI stacks on real hardware

Analytical processor performance modeling has received increased interest over the past few years. There are basically two approaches to constructing an analytical model: mechanistic modeling and empirical modeling. Mechanistic modeling builds up an analytical model starting from a basic understanding of the underlying system — white-box approach — whereas empirical modeling constructs an analytical model through statistical inference and machine learning from training data, e.g., regression modeling or neural networks — black-box approach. While an empirical model is typically easier to construct, it provides less insight than a mechanistic model. This paper bridges the gap between mechanistic and empirical modeling through hybrid mechanistic-empirical modeling (gray-box modeling). Starting from a generic, parameterized performance model that is inspired by mechanistic modeling, regression modeling infers the unknown parameters, alike empirical modeling. Mechanistic-empirical models combine the best of both worlds: they provide insight (like mechanistic models) while being easy to construct (like empirical models). We build mechanistic-empirical performance models for three commercial processor cores, the Intel Pentium 4, Core 2 and Core il, using SPEC CPU2000 and CPU2006, and report average prediction errors between 9% and 13%. In addition, we demonstrate that the mechanistic-empirical model is more robust and less subject to overfitting than purely empirical models. A key feature of the proposed mechanistic-empirical model is that it enables constructing CPI stacks on real hardware, which provide insight in commercial processor performance and which offer opportunities for software and hardware optimization and analysis.
RMIT at TREC 2010 Blog Track: Faceted Blog Distillation Task

This paper reports RMIT's participation in the TREC Blog Track 2010. For the baseline task, we adopted the BM25 model implemented in the Zettair search engine to establish a retrieval system of blog posts based on topic relevance. We then experimented with a number of different approaches to aggregate the post similarity scores to retrieve the most relevant blogs. Similarly, for the faceted distillation task we built a system at the post level first. After that, scores are aggregated for blogs to re-rank the most relevant blogs for the facet inclinations. A SVM classifier has been trained on Blog 06 collection to produce the opinion scores for each post. The cross entropy is used to evaluate posts for the in-depth versus shallow facet. For the personal versus official facet, we assumed blogs which are opinionated are also personal.
Modeling of Z-Source Network for Neutral Point Clamped Multilevel Inverter

Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and fuel cell have a wide voltage change range due to the nature of the sources. Fuel cell stack voltage drops greatly with current and wind generator voltage varies with wind speed and control. Photovoltaic cell's voltage varies with temperature and irradiation. The traditional voltage source inverter that has been the power conversion technology for these energy sources cannot cope with this wide voltage change nature and often requires additional voltage boost by additional DC-DC converter. The Z-source inverters can solve this problem. Multilevel Inverter (MLI) has been recognized as an attractive topology for high voltage DC-AC conversion. This paper presents design of Impedance (Z) Source network for Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) three level inverter. This inverter uses single impedance source network and less clamping diodes. The operating modes of Z-Source Inverter (ZSI) are Shoot through mode, Active and Open mode. The detailed design aspects in these modes are presented.
ICDAR2017 Competition on Arabic Text Detection and Recognition in Multi-Resolution Video Frames

This paper describes the multi-resolution Arabic Text detection and recognition in Video Competition— AcTiVComp held in the context of the 14th International Conference on Document Analysis and Recognition (ICDAR' 2017), during November 9-15, 2017, in Kyoto, Japan. The main objective of this competition is to evaluate the performance of participants' algorithms for automatically detecting and recognizing Arabic texts in video frames using the freely available Arabic-Text-in-Video (AcTiV) dataset. A first edition was held in the framework of the 23rd International Conference on Pattern Recognition (ICPR'2016). Three groups with five systems are participating to the second edition of AcTiVComp. These systems are tested in a blind manner on a closed-subset of the AcTiV database, which is unknown to all participants. In addition to the experimental setup and observed results, we also provide a short description of the participating groups and their systems.
Filtering or adapting: two strategies to exploit noisy parallel corpora for cross-language information retrieval

Noisy parallel corpora have been widely used for Cross-language information retrieval (CLIR). However, the previous studies only focus on truly parallel corpus. In this paper, we examine two possible approaches to exploit noisy corpora: filtering out noise from the corpora or adapting the training process of translation model to the noise corpora. Our experiments show that the second approach is better suited to CLIR.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cytotoxicity Is Attenuated at High Cell Density and Associated with the Accumulation of Phenylacetic Acid

Background P. aeruginosa is known to cause acute cytotoxicity against various human and animal cells and tissues. Methodology/Findings Intriguingly, however, in this study we noticed that while a low cell density inoculum of P. aeruginosa caused severe cytotoxicity against human lung tissue cell line A549, increasing the cell density of bacterial inoculum led to decreased cytotoxicity. Addition of the supernatants from high density bacterial culture to low cell density inoculum protected the human cells from bacterial cytotoxic damage, suggesting that P. aeruginosa may produce and accumulate an inhibitory molecule(s) counteracting its pathogenic infection. The inhibitor was purified from the stationary-phase culture supernatants of P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 using bioassay-guided high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and characterized to be phenylacetic acid (PAA) by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Microarray analysis revealed that treatment of P. aeruginosa with PAA down-regulated the transcriptional expression of Type III secretion system (T3SS) genes and related regulatory genes including rsmA and vfr, which were confirmed by transcriptional and translational analysis. Conclusions Identification of bacterial metabolite PAA as a T3SS-specific inhibitor explains this intriguing inverse cell-density-dependent-cytotoxicity phenomenon as T3SS is known to be a key virulence factor associated with cytotoxicity and acute infection. The findings may provide useful clues for design and development of new strategies to combat this formidable bacterial pathogen.
The Biochemical and Neuroendocrine Bases of the Hyperalgesic Nocebo Effect

Despite the increasing research on placebos in recent times, little is known about the nocebo effect, a phenomenon that is opposite to the placebo effect and whereby expectations of symptom worsening play a crucial role. By studying experimental ischemic arm pain in healthy volunteers and by using a neuropharmacological approach, we found that verbally induced nocebo hyperalgesia was associated to hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, as assessed by means of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol plasma concentrations. Both nocebo hyperalgesia and HPA hyperactivity were antagonized by the benzodiazepine diazepam, suggesting that anxiety played a major role in these effects. The administration of the mixed cholecystokinin (CCK) type-A/B receptor antagonist proglumide blocked nocebo hyperalgesia completely but had no effect on HPA hyperactivity, which suggests a specific involvement of CCK in the hyperalgesic but not in the anxiety component of the nocebo effect. Importantly, both diazepam and proglumide did not show analgesic properties on basal pain, because they acted only on the nocebo-induced pain increase. These data indicate a close relationship between anxiety and nocebo hyperalgesia, in which the CCKergic systems play a key role in anxiety-induced hyperalgesia. These results, together with previous findings showing that placebo analgesia is mediated by endogenous opioids, suggest that the analgesic placebo/hyperalgesic nocebo phenomenon may involve the opposite activation of endogenous opioidergic and CCKergic systems.
Study of a high resolution, 3-D positioning cross-strip Cadmium Zinc Telluride detector for PET

As a part of our teams’ efforts in developing ultra-high resolution PET systems, this paper investigates the performance of 1 mm resolution Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors capable of positioning the 3-D coordinates of individual 511 keV photon interactions. The detectors are 40 mm × 40 mm × 5 mm monolithic CZT crystals that employ a novel cross-strip readout with interspersed steering electrodes to obtain high spatial and energy resolution. The study found the best-case single anode FWHM energy resolution of 2.7±0.2% at 511 keV, and neighborsummed FWHM energy resolution of approximately 4.64±0.35% at 511 keV. Improved resolution is expected with properly shielded front-end electronics. Measurements made using a collimated beam established the efficacy of the steering electrodes in facilitating full charge collection across anodes, as well as a spatial resolution of 1 mm in the direction perpendicular to the electrode planes. Finally, measurements based on coincidence electronic collimation demonstrated a spatial resolution of 1 mm transverse to the anodes -as expected from the 1 mm anode pitch. These findings indicate that the CZT-based detector concept has excellent performance and shows great promise for a high resolution PET system.