Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interconnection and Damping Assignment Passivity-Based Control: Static vs dynamic state-feedback

Interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control (IDA-PBC) is a technique that regulates the behavior of nonlinear systems assigning a desired (port hamiltonian) structure to the closed-loop. This basic idea, introduced eight years ago, has turned out to be very successful and has provided solutions to a wide variety of physical problems. Although IDA-PBC is originally formulated as a static state-feedback technique it can easily be reformulated to use dynamic controllers. A natural question that arises is whether it is possible to extend the realm of applicability of the method by considering dynamic controllers. More precisely, is the set of plants that is stabilizable with static state-feedback IDA-PBC smaller than the one stabilizable with dynamic IDA-PBC? The main contribution of this paper is to prove that the answer to this question is, unfortunately, negative.
Functional interactions between entorhinal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex at the very early stage of Alzheimer's disease using brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography

ObjectiveThe cause of the reduced regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the posterior cingulate cortex in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease has not been clarified. In Alzheimer's disease, the posterior cingulate cortex itself shows little neuropathologic degeneration, and a hypothesis explaining such a discrepancy is that the functional impairment in the posterior cingulate cortex reflects remote effects caused by degeneration in distant but connected areas, such as the entorhinal cortex. To test the hypothesis, we investigated the functional connectivity between the entorhinal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex. MethodsSixty-one patients with probable Alzheimer's disease at a very early stage and 61 age-matched healthy controls underwent both brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Voxel-based morphometry was performed on MRI data to identify clusters of significantly reduced grey matter concentration in patients with Alzheimer's disease relative to controls, which were set as volumes of interest (VOIs) for correlation analyses of SPECT images. We then used adjusted rCBF values in the VOIs as covariates of interest in statistical parametric mapping. ResultsVoxel-based morphometry demonstrated a significant reduction in grey matter concentration in the bilateral entorhinal cortex in Alzheimer's disease. A positive correlation between rCBF in the entorhinal cortex as VOI and that in the limbic and paralimbic systems, including the posterior cingulate cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, lingual gyri and left middle temporal gyrus (P<0.001), was observed in Alzheimer's disease. Control subjects also showed a similar correlation in the limbic and paralimbic systems, but not in the posterior cingulate cortex. ConclusionThese results indicate that rCBF changes in the posterior cingulate cortex may be closely related to those in the entorhinal cortex in patients with Alzheimer's disease, thereby supporting the ‘remote effect’ hypothesis.
Comparison of the responsiveness of the Harris Hip Score with generic measures for hip function in osteoarthritis of the hip

Objective: To compare responsiveness of the Harris Hip Score with generic measures (that is, the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and a test of walking speed and pain during walking) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Method: The first 75 cases within the population of a randomised clinical trial on manual therapy and exercise therapy were selected for secondary analysis. Experienced (self reported) recovery by the patients after treatment (five weeks) was used as an external criterion for clinically relevant improvement. Responsiveness was evaluated by comparing responsiveness ratios and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: The responsiveness ratio for the Harris Hip Score was high (1.70) compared with walking speed (0.45), pain during walking (0.66), and the subscales of the SF-36—“bodily pain” (0.42) and “physical functioning” (0.36). The area under the curve also was highest for the Harris Hip Score (0.92) compared with walking speed (0.71), pain during walking (0.73), and the SF-36 subscales—bodily pain and physical functioning (both 0.66). Conclusion: The Harris Hip Score is more responsive than the test of walking speed, pain, and subscales for function of the SF-36 in patients with OA of the hip. The Harris Hip Score seems to be a suitable instrument to evaluate change in hip function in patients with OA of the hip.
Interpreting ultrasound elastography: Image registration of breast cancer ultrasound elastography to histopathology images

Ultrasound elastography is a promising technique for the detection of breast cancer. Despite being proven to be a useful method in clinical studies, no studies have looked at directly correlating information in in-vivo ultrasound elastography images with histopathology images (regarded as the gold standard) using image registration. In this paper, expert knowledge from clinicians is utilised as constraints to register 2D elastography and histopathology images based on corresponding features identified by clinicians such as tumours and fibrous structures. The recently proposed coherent point drift (CPD) algorithm by Myronenko and Song [11] was applied to align the corresponding feature points and the thin-plate splines method of Bookstein [1] is then used to warp the images. The registered images were then overlaid. It was found that in elastography images, the stiffness of malignant tumours tend to extend beyond the tumour boundaries identified in the histopathology images, and there were many stiff areas indicated in the elastography images where no corresponding features could be identified in the histopathology images. The study thus provides some new insight into the relationship of elastography and histopathology as well as suggests further work is needed to better understand how to interpret patterns in elastography images.
S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase concentrations in blood as indicators of infarction volume and prognosis in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Better techniques are needed to monitor infarction volume and predict neurological outcome after ischemic brain infarction. We evaluated the usefulness of serial measurements of S-100 protein versus neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in blood samples from patients with acute stroke. METHODS Using nonisotopic sandwich immunoassays, we measured plasma concentrations of S-100 protein and NSE on admission and on days 3, 4, 7, and 14 after infarction in 44 patients (age range, 22 to 86 years; mean age, 65.1 years; 12 female, 32 male). Infarct volume was measured by volumetric CT on day 4 after ictus, and clinical outcome was assessed at discharge from hospital with the Activities of Daily Living Scale and 6 months after infarction with the Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS Peak blood levels of S-100 protein were found on day 2.5 +/- 1.3, and peak levels of NSE were found on day 1.9 +/- 0.8 after infarction. Peak plasma levels of S-100 protein correlated well with infarct volume (r = .75, P < .001) and with clinical outcome assessed with the Glasgow Outcome Scale (r = .51, P < .001). Serum levels of NSE correlated with infarct volume (r = .37, P < .05) but not with clinical outcome (r = .18, P > .05). CONCLUSIONS The results of our study indicate that measuring blood concentrations of S-100 protein periodically in the first 10 days after cerebral infarction helps to predict infarct volume and the long-term neurological outcome more accurately than periodic measurements of blood concentrations of NSE.
Clinical outcome endpoints in heart failure trials: a European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Association consensus document

Endpoint selection is a critically important step in clinical trial design. It poses major challenges for investigators, regulators, and study sponsors, and it also has important clinical and practical implications for physicians and patients. Clinical outcomes of interest in heart failure trials include all‐cause mortality, cause‐specific mortality, relevant non‐fatal morbidity (e.g. all‐cause and cause‐specific hospitalization), composites capturing both morbidity and mortality, safety, symptoms, functional capacity, and patient‐reported outcomes. Each of these endpoints has strengths and weaknesses that create controversies regarding which is most appropriate in terms of clinical importance, sensitivity, reliability, and consistency. Not surprisingly, a lack of consensus exists within the scientific community regarding the optimal endpoint(s) for both acute and chronic heart failure trials. In an effort to address these issues, the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (HFA‐ESC) convened a group of expert heart failure clinical investigators, biostatisticians, regulators, and pharmaceutical industry scientists (Nice, France, 12–13 February 2012) to evaluate the challenges of defining heart failure endpoints in clinical trials and to develop a consensus framework. This report summarizes the group's recommendations for achieving common views on heart failure endpoints in clinical trials.
“They Ask Whether This Is Real or Fake”: A Qualitative Norwegian Study of Pregnancy Complaints and Access to Social Benefits

Women increasingly combine paid work and childbearing, but working full time throughout pregnancy is commonly experienced as overtaxing. We explored access to sick leave or medical care as experienced by Norwegian women suffering from pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy. Through a grounded theory approach we compared results from qualitative interviews and open Internet discussions, and found that women struggled with credibility and that their claims for sick leave or medical care were commonly disregarded. Support from peers was seen as instrumental in regaining control over their health and was a vehicle in developing critical health literacy.
A nano-ampere 2nd order temperature-compensated CMOS current reference using only single resistor for wide-temperature range applications

This paper presents a new second-order temperature-compensated current reference which uses only one resistor. The behavior of the proposed bias circuit is analyzed in this paper, and the current reference circuits were designed and simulated in a 130 nm CMOS technology. From the simulation results, the proposed current reference achieved 327 ppm/°C in the temperature range of -30°C to +150°C, which is very wide. Its nominal current is 27 nA with a current variation of + 3% at a supply voltage of 1.2 V. Compared to a conventional first-order temperature-compensated current bias circuit designed for nano-amperes, the proposed current reference provides a current that is 4.7 times more stable over the temperature range of -30°C to +150°C. Also, the current drift from process corner variations deviates less than 3.7% from the simulation results.
Photosynthetic plasticity in the green algal species Klebsormidium flaccidum (Streptophyta) from a terrestrial and a freshwater habitat

Abstract: The genus Klebsormidium (Klebsormidiales, Streptophyta) has a worldwide distribution in terrestrial habitats. In the present study, we focused on two strains of Klebsormidium flaccidum, the type species of the genus. The isolates used in this study were isolated from soil and freshwater habitats. Photosynthetic activity was evaluated under different controlled gradients of light, temperature and desiccation. The data clearly indicate that both isolates of K. flaccidum exhibit conspicuously different photosynthetic response patterns to photon fluence rate, temperature and desiccation, and thus can be related to their different habitats. Although both strains represent the same species, their physiological response patterns to abiotic gradients as well as their morphology differed to some extent. This indicates high phenotypic plasticity of K. flaccidum, which was maintained even after long-term culture and thus can be explained by the formation of physiologically distinct ecotypes.
The views of stakeholders on the role of the primary school in preventing childhood obesity: a qualitative systematic review

Schools are increasingly recognized as an ideal setting for interventions to tackle childhood obesity. A better understanding of the views of key stakeholders would help to engage schools and inform the feasibility of such interventions in practice. This meta‐synthesis of 18 qualitative studies explores the views of parents, school staff, school governors, school nurses and students on the role of the primary school in preventing childhood obesity. Six categories emerged: ‘School as a key setting’; ‘What schools should be doing to promote healthy eating (HE)’; ‘What schools should be doing to promote physical activity (PA)’; ‘General barriers’; ‘Barriers to promoting HE at school’; and ‘Barriers to promoting PA at school’. Thirty‐seven finer‐level themes emerged within these categories. Stakeholders agreed on the key role of the primary school as a setting for obesity prevention, the importance of schools providing and promoting opportunities for HE and PA, and the need for schools to work with parents. Some perceived barriers could be overcome at school level, e.g. using unhealthy foods as rewards/fundraisers or withholding PA for bad behaviour. Leadership and guidance from government were considered to be needed to counteract other observed barriers, particularly regarding school canteens, support for parents and time for PA.
AMEE 2009 spotlight on educational research

The AMEE meeting is unique among the medical education conferences in that it is truly international. Educational research presented at the 2009 AMEE Meeting was both diverse and robust. In this article, we will present an overview of educational research from the meeting. We will begin with outlining our methods for the selection and categorization of themes, discuss some highpoints from some of the respective themes, and finally from the conference overall.
The effectivity of Fresnel prisms for visual field enhancement.

An objective method for placement of Fresnel prisms has been used to enhance constricted visual fields at the Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Center in West Haven, CT since 1975. To study the effectiveness of this method, 22 patients fitted with prisms since 1986 participated in a survey regarding their level of satisfaction with the prisms. Nineteen out of 22 patients continued to wear the prisms successfully, resulting in a retention rate of 86.3 percent. Of those still wearing the prisms, their reported overall satisfaction level averaged 3.63 on a scale of 1-4 (4 representing very satisfied). The reported satisfaction levels of the patients wearing the prisms were statistically analyzed with respect to pathology, months of wear, age of the patient, binocular versus monocular fitting, size of the residual field, visual acuity, the power of the prism used, and ocular rotation to enter the prism. No significant predictive value was found with any of these variables in trying to determine the level of satisfaction. However, this may be due to the small sample size. These same variables were used in comparing the patients who continued to wear the prisms with the patients who had discontinued prism use. None of these variables was found to be significant in predicting a successful outcome, possibly in part to small sample size, and the low number of unsuccessful patients. In an effort to make improvements on the existing methods being used for field enhancement, questions were asked regarding technical use of the prisms, mobility with the prisms, the spectacle carrier lens, and the maintenance of the prisms. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identifying factors that predict longitudinal outcomes of untreated common mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE Historically, meeting criteria for a mental disorder has been used as a proxy for the need for mental health services, yet research suggests that a significant proportion of disorders remit without treatment. In this study, risk factors for poor longitudinal outcomes of individuals with untreated common mental disorders were determined, with the goal of identifying individuals with unmet need and informing the development of targeted interventions. METHODS Data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a longitudinal, nationally representative survey of the adult U.S. population (age ≥18; N=34,653). Respondents were assessed for past-year depressive, anxiety, and substance use disorders and mental health service use via face-to-face interviews conducted at two time points, three years apart. Among respondents without a history of mental health treatment, logistic regression analyses examined factors associated with persistence of the disorder, comorbidity, or suicide attempt (that is, presence of any axis I disorder in the past year at wave 2 or any suicide attempt during the follow-up) versus spontaneous recovery of baseline disorders. RESULTS Certain sociodemographic factors, comorbid mental disorders at baseline (such as three or more axis I disorders, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.27-2.12), and childhood maltreatment (AOR=1.47, CI=1.23-1.75) were predictors of disorder persistence, comorbidity, or suicide attempt in depressive, anxiety, and substance use disorders during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS In addition to considering the presence of a mental disorder, policy makers should consider other variables, such as childhood maltreatment and comorbidity, in estimating treatment need.
Analysis of gender policies of the Spanish cycling and triathlon federations from the point of view of representative athletes and expert technicians

The Spanish National Sports Council, through its program “Women and Sport” (published in the Decree Pre/525/2005), implements specific entities in Spanish cycling and triathlon federations with the aim of promoting the sportswomen involvement in the physical activity and sport on similar terms with sportsmen, trying to overcome the barriers which nowadays hamper gender equality in this areas. In this work, we try to analyze the current situation of cycling and triathlon in Spain, with the aim of rebuilding, through content analysis and key information analysis, the general current context of competition where Spanish female cyclists and triathletes are participating. This study, enclosed in the interpretative paradigm, uses a qualitative methodology. Feedback from 17 interviewees has been compiled: 8 sportspeople (4 cyclists and 4 triathletes) and 9 managers/staff members linked to triathlon and cycling federations (President of International Triathlon Union, President of Spanish National Sports Council, secretaries-general, Presidents of Women and Sport Commission, Team managers and coaches from both sports federations of cycling and triathlon). The instrument used for this study was a semi-structured interview. Data showed a situation in need of a change, where a modification of the regulatory framework in sports area, a revision of gender-related policies applied by sports federations, and a modernization of federation management would be advisable.
A Role for c-Raf Kinase and Ha-Ras in Cytokine-mediated Induction of Cell Adhesion Molecules*

Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) play fundamental roles in the pathophysiology of inflammation and immunity-related diseases. Despite rapid advances in our understanding of cytokine biology in recent years, definitive knowledge of the cytokine cell signaling pathways remains elusive due to the enormous complexity of these pathways and the lack of specific biological tools and reagents. Using highly specific antisense oligonucleotides that target the mRNA encoding c-Raf kinase and Ha-Ras, we show here that inhibition of c-raf and Ha-ras expression blocks the up-regulation of E-selectin and vascular adhesion molecule-1 induced by TNFα in endothelial cells. Induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was also reduced, although to a much lesser extent, by treatment with antisense oligonucleotides. We also show that inhibition of c-raf kinase expression decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) kinase stimulation by TNFα. Furthermore, antisense inhibition of JNK2 also blocked TNFα-mediated induction of E-selectin, whereas PD98059 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 and 2 inhibitor) had no effect on this process. These results indicate that TNFα induction of E-selectin and vascular adhesion molecule-1 in endothelial cells occurs through signaling pathways that are, at least in part, dependent on c-Raf kinase, Ha-Ras, and JNK2.
Technology-Dependent Logic Optimization

In modern design flows, technology-dependent logic optimizations consist of technology mapping and transformations applied after mapping. Advances have been made in technology mapping in the last decade. However, it is inherently an intractable problem and state-of-the-art algorithms produce suboptimal netlists in terms of area and timing. Also, during the design flow, when physical information becomes available, wire loads and net delays change the timing values at the gates. That presents opportunities for further timing and area optimization. This is accomplished by transforms such as gate sizing, gate replication, buffer optimization, restructuring and remapping, and pin permutation. In this paper, we survey algorithms for technology-dependent optimizations, along with a comparison of their relative power to optimize the netlist.
Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Disease and Dementia

Subcortical ischemic vascular disease and dementia (SIVD) incorporate small vessel disease as the chief vascular etiology, lacunar infarct and ischemic white-matter lesions (WMLs) as primary type of brain lesions, subcortical location as the primary location of lesions, and subcortical syndrome as the primary clinical manifestation. It incorporates two clinical entities: Binswanger's syndrome and the lacunar state. Patients with SIVD present with extensive white-matter lesions and multiple lacunae on neuroimaging. SIVD is expected to be a more homogenous subtype of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. Recently modified NINDS-AIREN research criteria for SIVD have been proposed. Further empirical research is needed to refine the syndrome and stages and validate the brain imaging criteria, as well as to detail the natural history and outcomes of SIVD.
SSIML/AR: A Visual Language for the Abstract Specification of Augmented Reality User Interfaces

Augmented Reality (AR) applications provide a high potential to support the user in solving tasks e.g. in scenarios from the domain of assembly, maintenance and repair. AR applications enrich the physical world around the user with additional useful virtual information. However, the integration of physical objects into AR user interfaces poses a challenge to developers. In addition, the information displayed in such an environment often strongly depends on the user’s current task. In this paper we present an approach to specify the integration of real objects into AR user interfaces and the task dependent visualization of AR user interface elements on the design level. To describe user tasks, the AR user interface structure and the relations between them we use UML activity diagrams in combination with the Scene Structure and Integration Modelling Language (SSIML), a visual language which provides support for the description of 3D user interface structures. Furthermore, code can be generated from the visual models. The proposed concepts are illustrated by an AR application example from the domain of assembly and lead to a new language called SSIML/AR.