Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Off limits: highly sensitive troponin in the general population.

Risk estimates based on classical risk factors only partially explain the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population, and risk estimates vary across European populations. The BiomarCaRE project aims to determine the additional value of multiple (new) biomarkers to improve risk estimation of CVD-related events in Europe. In particular, the article by Blankenberg et al. 1 in this issue of the journal investigated the value of adding troponin I levels using a highly sensitive assay (Abbott ARCHITECT STAT) to conventional risk factors for prediction of CVD. The investigators evaluated individual level data from 10 prospective population-based studies on a total of 74 738 participants. The investigators sought to determine cardiac troponin I (cTnI) distribution, to characterize the association of cTnI with cardiovascular outcomes, to determine the predictive value beyond the variables used in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation),2 to test a potentially clinically relevant cut-off value, and to evaluate the eligibility for statin therapy based on elevated troponin I concentrations. The consortium has to be congratulated for this masterpiece of an epidemiological study. BiomarCaRE is an extensive multimodular concept perfomed in different phases, and in a very large cohort with sufficiently long follow-up periods.3 The most important finding of this project is the association between cardiovascular (CV) death, CVD, and total mortality and detectable presumably still normal cTnI values using a highly sensitive cTnI assay. Median cTnI concentrations in BiomarCaRE were 2.7 ng/L (25th, 75th percentiles: 1.5, 4.6), and risk for CV death, CVD, and total mortality increased by percentiles of cTnI level. This finding raises the suspicion for a much higher prevalence of subclinical …
Certain canine weakly beta-hemolytic intestinal spirochetes are phenotypically and genotypically related to spirochetes associated with human and porcine intestinal spirochetosis

Four canine weakly beta-hemolytic intestinal spirochetes associated with intestinal spirochetosis (IS-associated WBHIS) were compared with IS-associated human and porcine WBHIS and the type species for Serpulina hyodysenteriae and S. innocens by using phenotypic and genotypic parameters. The IS-associated canine, human, and porcine WBHIS belonged to a phyletic group distinct from but related to previously described Serpulina type species.
Participant report of therapist-delivered active ingredients in a telephone-delivered brief motivational intervention predicts taking steps towards change

Abstract Objective: Given the widespread potential for disseminating Motivational Interviewing (MI) through technology, the question of whether MI active ingredients are present when not delivered in person is critical to assure high treatment quality. The Participant Rating Form (PRF) was developed and used to evaluate therapist-delivered active ingredients in phone-delivered MI with hazardous drinking Emergency Department patients. Method: A factor analysis of all PRFs completed after receiving one call (n = 256) was conducted. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine whether PRF factors predicted a measure of motivation to change – taking steps – at the second call (n = 214). Results: The majority of participants were male (65%), with a mean age of 32 years and with an average alcohol ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) score of 20.5 (SD = 7.1). Results of the factor analysis for the PRF revealed Relational (working collaboration) and Technical (MI behaviours) factors. After controlling for demographics, alcohol severity and baseline readiness, the technical factor predicted self-report of increased taking steps towards change while the relational factor did not explain any additional variance. Conclusions: Our study adds to the growing literature investigating patient perspectives of therapist skill as a source of information to better understand MI active ingredients. The PRF is a feasible instrument for measuring the patient’s experience of phone-based MI. Results indicate that MI active ingredients of change (relational and technical components) were present in the telephone intervention as hypothesized. Clinical Trial Registration # 01326169.
77 GHz Transceiver Module Using A Low Dielectric Constant Multilayer Structure

This paper presents a novel 77 GHz transceiver design based on a simple and compact planar multilayer architecture. The module comprises a specific type of feed-through ratrace mixer and an aperture-coupled patch antenna both using low dielectric constant microstrip material. The broadband design makes the circuit suitable to be incorporated into a MMIC-based automotive radar front-end.
In designing an end-user tailorable synchronous groupware

This paper presents our design concept in implementing an end-user tailor able synchronous groupware for software engineering in the design phase. Users are provided with the power to define their own collaboration environment according to the momentary requirements of the interaction. Since end-users have the power to shape their collaboration environment, we dedicated a large portion of our requirement analysis on the human- interaction aspect of software engineering in the design phase.
Obtaining a COBOL grammar from legacy code for reengineering purposes

We argue that maintenance and reengineering tools need to have a thorough knowledge of the language that the code is written in. More specifically, for the family of COBOL languages we present a general method to define COBOL dialects that are based on the actual code that has to be reengineered or maintained. Subsequently, we give some typical examples of maintenance and reengineering tools that have been specified on top of such a COBOL grammar in order to show that our approach is useful and leads to accurate and relatively simple maintenance and reengineering tools.
Randomness-efficient oblivious sampling

We introduce a natural notion of obliviousness of a sampling procedure, and construct a randomness-efficient oblivious sampler. Our sampler uses O(l+log /spl delta//sup -1//spl middot/log l) coins to output m=poly(/spl epsiv//sup -1/, log /spl delta//sup -1/, log l) sample points x/sub 1/, . , x/sub m/, /spl isin/ {0, 1}/sup 1/ such that Pr[|1/m/spl Sigma//sub i=1//sup m/f(x/sub i/)-E[f]|</spl epsiv/]/spl ges/1-/spl delta/ for any function f: {0, 1}/sup 1//spl rarr/[0, 1]. We apply this sampling procedure to reduce the randomness required to halve the number of rounds of interaction in an Arthur Merlin proof system. Given a 2g(n) round AM proof for L in which Arthur sends l(n) coins per round and Merlin responds with a q(n) bit string, we construct a g(n) round AM proof for L in which Arthur sends O(l+(q+log g)/spl middot/log l) coins per round and Merlin responds with a poly(n) bit string. <<ETX>>
A rare case of breast carcinoma metastasis to mandible and vertebrae

Oral cavity metastases are considered rare and represent approximately 1% of all oral malignancies. Due to their rarity and atypical clinical and radiographic appearance, metastatic lesions are considered a diagnostic challenge. This article presents a rare case of breast carcinoma with metastasis to mandible and vertebrae. A case is presented of a 40-year-old female patient with a history of breast carcinoma which was surgically treated approximately 2 years back. The diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma was confirmed by radiographic examination, bone scan and histopathologic findings. She was referred to radiotherapy department since it was not amenable to surgery due to metastasis in vertebrae. A high index of clinical suspicion of metastatic cancer is necessary when evaluating patients who complaint of jaw pain and swelling with a history of non-head and neck carcinoma.
Class-AB and class-J 22 dBm SiGe HBT PAs for X-band radar systems

A class-AB and a class-J PAs for X-band phased array radar applications are presented. The class-AB fully-differential design features the cascade of a 8-bit PGA and a PA core, leading to a gain variation range of over 50 dB with a phase shift deviation of < 4° over a 25 dB attenuation range. The differential circuit shows 23 dB maximum gain, and 22 dBm saturated power at a PAE of 31%. Class-J operation is leveraged to increase the PA efficiency in a second design. The PAE is measured to be 36% at a saturated power level of 22 dBm. Integrated transformers are used to implement the input matching network and to synthesize the output class-J load, while providing single-ended to differential conversion. The amplifier shows a measured gain of 20 dB.
Do Functional Tests Predict Low Back Pain?

Study Design. A cohort of 307 nonsymptomatic workers and another cohort of 123 workers with previous episodes of low back pain were followed up for 2 years. The outcomes were measured by symptoms, medical consultations, and sick leaves due to low back disorders. Objectives. To study the predictive value of a set of tests measuring the physical performance of the back in a working population. The hypothesis was that subjects with poor functional capacity are liable to back disorders. Summary of Background Data. Reduced functional performance has been associated with back pain. There are few data to show whether reduced functional capacity is a cause or a consequence of pain. Methods. Mobility of the trunk in forward and side bending, maximal isokinetic trunk extension, flexion and lifting strength, and static endurance of back extension were measured. Standing balance and foot reaction time were recorded with a force plate. Clinical tests for the provocation of back or leg pain were performed. Gender, workload, age, and anthropometrics were managed as potential confounders in the analysis. Results. Marked overlapping was seen in the measures of the subjects with different outcomes. Among the nonsymptomatic subjects, low performance in tests of mobility and standing balance was associated with future back disorders. Among workers with previous episodes of back pain, low isokinetic extension strength, poor standing balance, and positive clinical signs predicted future pain. Conclusions. Some associations were found between the functional tests and future low back pain. The wide variation in the results questions the value of the tests in health examinations (e.g., in screening or surveillance of low back disorders).
Harnessing an FPGA for Built-in Self-Repair in a 3 D Die Stack

One of the main problems preventing the large scale manufacturing of 3D integrated circuits is the difficulty in testing die and obtaining high yields. However, a 3D stack also provides new opportunities for repair. If a die containing programmable logic is included in the stack, it may be harnessed to bypass defective components of other dies. In this paper, we propose the use of an FPGA die to provide repair resources to other layers of the stack. Our simulation results show clear performance benefits when using an FPGA to replace a defective ALU of a processor even when ALUs implemented on the FPGA have longer latency.
Localization of a chromosomal mutation affecting expression of extracellular lipase in Staphylococcus aureus

We describe a Tn551 chromosomal insertion in Staphylococcus aureus S6C that results in sharply reduced expression of extracellular lipase. With Tn917 as a probe, the insertion in the original mutant (KSI905) was localized to a 12.6-kb EcoRI DNA fragment. The 12.6-kb fragment was cloned and used as a probe to identify a 26-kb EcoRI fragment containing the Tn551 insertion site in the S6C parent strain. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the 12.6- and 26-kb EcoRI fragments confirmed that the Tn551 insertion in KSI905 was accompanied by a deletion of 18.7 kb of chromosomal DNA. Tn551 was transduced from KSI905 back into the S6C parent strain. All transductants exhibited the same lipase-negative (Lip-) phenotype and contained the same mutation with respect to both the insertion and the 18.7-kb deletion. The inability to produce lipase was not caused by disruption of the lipase structural gene, since all Lip- mutants carried intact copies of geh. Moreover, the Tn551 insertion was localized to a region of the staphylococcal chromosome at least 650 kb from geh. Taken together, these results suggest that the Tn551 insertion occurred in a region of the chromosome encoding a trans-active element required for the expression of extracellular lipase. A 20-bp oligonucleotide corresponding to a sequence within the region encoding RNA II near the Tn551 insertion site in ISP546 (H.L. Peng, R.P. Novick, B. Kreiswirth, J. Kornblum, and P. Schlievert, J. Bacteriol. 170:4365-4372, 1988) and a 1.75-kb DNA fragment representing the region encoding RNA III were used as gene probes to show that the Tn551 insertion did not occur in the agr locus. We conclude that the genetic element functions independently of agr or as an unrecognized part of that regulatory system.
Quantitative Optical Coherence Tomography for characterization of microscopic structures with varying refractive index

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is non-invasive imaging modality, based on low-coherence interferometer. Since its first demonstration by Hung et. al. in [1], It has advanced further and become a significant imaging modality in medical and other fields. It can be divided into two types: Time Domain and Fourier Domains OCT systems. As it is becoming widely used, calibration and cross calibration of the OCT systems has become an important issue.
P o S ( I S C C 2 0 1 5 ) 0 7 0 An Abnormal Data Detection Method Based on the Temporal-spatial Correlation in Wireless Sensor Networks

In recent years, the abnormal data detection has played a vital role in the environmental monitoring of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, several key issues in the abnormal data detection still remain to be solved, such as the real time capability of the detection and the classification of the abnormal data. To meet the classification requirements, this paper proposes an abnormal data detection method based on the temporal-spatial correlation in WSNs. Spatial and temporal correlations of the data in WSNs are analyzed in this paper. In addition, abnormal data detection methods of two dimensions are proposed respectively. By Combining the detection results of these two dimensions, the abnormal data can be found and classified accurately. Simulations show that the method proposed in this paper can guarantee both rationality and accuracy for WSNs.
On establishing the core competency identifying model: A value-activity and process oriented approach

Purpose – This research intends to establish a model integrating the related theories in strategy management and competency in the HRM field, and to develop a systematic tool that can help a company quickly and precisely identify its core competency.Design/methodology/approach – An internal value activity chain is obtained through analyzing customers' needs. The priority of the activities is then determined via examining external factors. The critical competency needed by the activity is abstracted from a process and operation analysis. Standardized procedures and tools for applying the Process Oriented Core Competency Identification (POCCI) model are sequentially deployed.Findings – An empirical case was illustrated that the POCCI model not only helps a company identify the core competency that prevails over alternative approaches but also draws more recognition from the raters. The linkage between individual competency and organizational competitive advantage was solidified by the POCCI model and eviden.
Accounting for Point Source Propagation Properties in 3D Fluorescence OPT

� Abstract- Reconstructing images from projections in fluorescence Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) is a relatively new problem requiring attention from researchers in this emerging field. There are several aspects of fluorescence OPT which require different treatment compared with non-fluorescence tomography. One significant problem, and the subject of this paper, is that fluorophores emit light isotropically and so the intensity of light captured at a microscope lens is inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the fluorophore from the focal point of the lens. Standard back-projection techniques do not account for this phenomenon and we show numerically that net effect is that fluorophores close to the centre of a body are assigned relatively low values in standard reconstructions. This is an inherent limitation of the standard back-projection method for quantitative fluorescence applications (e.g. in molecular imaging). In this paper we present a working, though computationally intensive, method to account for this, and discuss how more sophisticated (and less computationally intense) methods could be derived in the near future.
Quality care in pediatric trauma

Infrastructure, processes of care and outcome measurements are the cornerstone of quality care for pediatric trauma. This review aims to evaluate current evidence on system organization and concentration of pediatric expertise in the delivery of pediatric trauma care. It discusses key quality indicators for all phases of care, from pre-hospital to post-discharge recovery. In particular, it highlights the importance of measuring quality of life and psychosocial recovery for the injured child.
www.econstor.eu Capital Gains Taxes and Asset Prices: The Impact of Tax Awareness and Procrastination

We argue that the impact of capital gains taxation on asset pricing depends on the tax awareness of market participants. While institutional investors should be generally wellinformed about tax regulations, private investors have only limited tax knowledge and resources. As a result, market reactions on tax law changes may be delayed if a considerable fraction of market participants is not fully tax-aware. In line with our argument, we find evidence that the introduction of a previously announced German flat tax on private capital gains in 2009 resulted in a temporarily strong and significant increase of trading volumes, daily returns and asset prices. Our research implies that tax law changes provide an opportunity for well-informed investors to generate arbitrage benefits. Corresponding to our estimate, the capital gains tax resulted in an increase demand for shares of 160 % as well as in an price surplus of about 7.4 % within the last two trading days 2008.
Principles of phenomics in endometriosis.

BACKGROUND Endometriosis has been associated with specific morphometric characteristics and pigmentary traits. The purpose of this study was to systematically review prior publications dealing with this aspect in order to revisit phenotypic information in the context of phenomics principles. METHODS Comprehensive searches of Pubmed, Medline and Embase were conducted to identify studies, published from 1990 to 2011 in the English language literature, on the relationship between endometriosis and morphometric characteristics/pigmentary traits. RESULTS We identified 11 studies on the association between endometriosis and body mass index (BMI) in the adult population and 5 studies on the same association during early life. While a modest inverse correlation was found between endometriosis and adult BMI, a stronger association was consistently demonstrated between endometriosis and early life body size, even after adjusting for confounding factors such as age, birthweight, age at menarche, parity and oral contraceptive use. Four papers have been published on the association between endometriosis and cutaneous naevi and five on the association between the disease and specific pigmentary traits. A skin phenotype characterized by the presence of naevi and freckles and by a high sensitivity to sun exposure is represented more frequently in women with endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS Endometriosis appears to be associated with some phenotypic variations likely attributable to the strong effect of the environment on the expression and function of genes influencing the traits. Novel clues on endometriosis pathogenesis may derive from the analysis of the phenotypic traits associated with the disease.
An Adenovirus Mutant That Replicates Selectively in p53- Deficient Human Tumor Cells

The human adenovirus E1B gene encodes a 55-kilodalton protein that inactivates the cellular tumor suppressor protein p53. Here it is shown that a mutant adenovirus that does not express this viral protein can replicate in and lyse p53-deficient human tumor cells but not cells with functional p53. Ectopic expression of the 55-kilodalton EIB protein in the latter cells rendered them sensitive to infection with the mutant virus. Injection of the mutant virus into p53-deficient human cervical carcinomas grown in nude mice caused a significant reduction in tumor size and caused complete regression of 60 percent of the tumors. These data raise the possibility that mutant adenoviruses can be used to treat certain human tumors.
Mixing spectral representations of graphs

Generative models are well known in the domain of statistical pattern recognition. Typically, they describe the probability distribution of patterns in a vector space. The individual patterns are defined by vectors and so the individual features of the pattern are well defined. In contrast, very little has been done with generative models of graphs. Graphs are not naturally represented in a vector space since there is no natural labelling of the vertices of the graphs - different labellings lead to different representations of the graph structure. Because of this, simple statistical quantities such as mean and variance are difficult to define for a group of graphs. While we can define statistical quantities of individual edges, it is not so straightforward to define how sets of edges in graphs are related. The spectral decomposition of a graph can be used to extract information about the relationship of edges and parts in a graph. In this paper we look at the problem of mixing graphs by using the spectral representation of a graph as an intermediate step. The spectral representation allows us to mix different structural features from each of the graphs to create new combinations. We can also define an averaging process on the spectral representations which generates a graph close to the graph median
Efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum against Ralstonia solanacearum under greenhouse conditions

The rhizosphere soil samples of healthy tomato plants were used to isolate Trichoderma spp and identified based on morphological and molecular characterization as a Trichoderma koningii (T1) T. flavofuscum (T2) , T. harzianum (T3), T . asperellum (T4), T. harzianum (T5 & T7) , T. koningii (T6) , T. asperellum (T8) , T. harzianum (T9) , T. viride (T10). The isolates screened for antagonistic activity against ten virulent strains of Ralstonia solanacearum ( Rs ). Two isolates of Trichoderma (T4 and T8) exhibiting high antagonistic activity (24-29mm and 20-27mm respectively) and also studied for several biocontrol mechanisms under greenhouse conditions. These strains were found to be positive to protease, β-1, 3-glucanase, Cellulase, Chitinase, Xylanase, Amylase, Pectinase and lipase activity. Germination percentage increased by 48% and 45% by Trichoderma with pathogen treated seeds and also increased root length, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight and vigour index. Efficacy of T4 and T8 isolate were evaluated under green house conditions in suppressing disease and promoting tomato plant growth. The disease incidence was significantly reduced by about 50% in tomato plants raised under green house conditions.