Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanical ventilation may increase susceptibility to the development of bacteremia

ObjectiveWe examined the hypothesis that mechanical ventilation with a potentially injurious strategy would predispose animals to the detrimental effects of subsequent instillation of bacteria. DesignInterventional animal study. SettingA university hospital research laboratory. SubjectsFifty Sprague-Dawley male rats. InterventionsRats were anesthetized and randomized to receive a protective (tidal volume 7 mL/kg, positive end-expiratory pressure 5 cm H2O, n = 25) or an injurious ventilatory strategy (tidal volume 21 mL/kg, zero positive end-expiratory pressure, n = 25). Hemodynamics were similar during the 1-hr ventilation period in the two groups. Animals were then disconnected from the ventilator and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was instilled intratracheally before extubation. Thereafter, animals breathed spontaneously; mortality rate was assessed up to 48 hrs, at which time the animals were killed. Measurements and Main ResultsThe 48-hr mortality rate was 28% in the protective group and 40% in the injurious group (p = not significant). A positive bacterial culture from the lung was obtained in 56% of the surviving rats in the low tidal volume group and 67% in the high tidal volume group (p = .059). A positive blood bacterial culture was found in 11% of the low tidal volume group and 33% in the high tidal volume group (p < .05). The absolute bacterial count in the blood was lower in the low tidal volume group compared with the high tidal volume group (p < .05). Concentrations of blood tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and lung macrophage inflammatory protein-2 at 48 hrs were significantly higher in the low tidal volume group than in the high tidal volume group. ConclusionsAn injurious ventilatory strategy predisposes animals to subsequent bacteremia associated with an impaired host defense reflected by cytokine response.
Using SVM to design facial expression recognition for shape and texture features

This paper presents a novel facial emotion recognition (FER) technique, based on support vector machine (SVM), to recognize the facial emotion expression. Here it is called the FERS technique. First, a face detection method, which combines the Haar-like features (HFs) method with the self quotient image (SQI) filter, is used in the FERS technique to accurately locate the face region of an image. It can improve the detection rate due to the use of the SQI filter to overcome the insufficient light and shade light. Subsequently, angular radial transform (ART), discrete cosine transform (DCT) and Gabor filter (GF) are employed in the procedure of facial expression feature extraction. An SVM is trained and then utilized to recognize the facial expression for a queried face image. Finally, experimental results show that the recognition performance of the FERS technique can be better than that of other existing methods.
Live fuel moisture content: variability, predictability and impact on fire behavior and activity

Live Fuel Moisture Content (LFMC) – the ratio of water mass to the dry mass of live fuel is a critical factor of fire behavior and hazard. This parameter is largely controlled by weather conditions and is affected by climate changes. There is therefore an increasing need, to understand its variability, to improve its predictability and its impact on fire behavior and activity. This would enhance the development of tools for operational fire risk management and wildfire research. Here we compile several recent findings regarding these issues, most of them were based on the French LFMC database collected for operational purposes and containing more than 20,000 measurement dates during 22 fire seasons on 30 sites and 25 species distributed over the French Mediterranean. First we evaluated the predictability of LFMC by fitting linear relationships between LFMC and various daily empirical drought indices (Drought Code=DC, Keetch-Byram Drought Index=KBDI, Dead Moisture Code=DMC) and a water balance model describing the Relative Water Content of the soil (RWC). We found a limited explanatory power of the drought indices based on climate only due to large differences between sites and species. This support the view that predictions can be improved by accounting for stand and species specific parameters by developing more process-based approaches. The RWC model is a first step toward this direction, and can account for stand level parameterization of soil properties and leaf area index of the vegetation if data are available. To account for species specific traits involved in plant dehydration, we suggest an adaptation of a plant hydraulic model to simulate LFMC response to water potential according to plant hydraulic traits. This is promising with regard to the development of a fully-mechanistic approach of the prediction of LFMC, which would include the responses of both plant and soil. Second, we used an existing dataset reporting shrub fire experiments to investigate the response function of fire rate of spread (ROS) to LFMC. We found a very significant effect of LFMC below 100 %. However, because most LFMC values in the ROS database are higher than those prevailing in the French database, large uncertainties in ROS estimation were obtained below LFMC of ca. 70%. Finally, we explored the relationship between and fire occurrence using a French database of fire activity and the French LFMC database. We found that the response of the fire occurrence of more than 1ha was very similar to the response of rate of spread. Our global approach drawing on long-term field LFMC data constitutes an important step forward in weaving the mechanistic links between climate, vegetation functioning and fire activities.
Sentence Modeling with Deep Neural Architecture using Lexicon and Character Attention Mechanism for Sentiment Classification

Tweet-level sentiment classification in Twitter social networking has many challenges: exploiting syntax, semantic, sentiment, and context in tweets. To address these problems, we propose a novel approach to sentiment analysis that uses lexicon features for building lexicon embeddings (LexW2Vs) and generates character attention vectors (CharAVs) by using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DeepCNN). Our approach integrates LexW2Vs and CharAVs with continuous word embeddings (ContinuousW2Vs) and dependency-based word embeddings (DependencyW2Vs) simultaneously in order to increase information for each word into a Bidirectional Contextual Gated Recurrent Neural Network (Bi-CGRNN). We evaluate our model on two Twitter sentiment classification datasets. Experimental results show that our model can improve the classification accuracy of sentence-level sentiment analysis in Twitter social networking.
Expression Profile of Human Fc Receptor-Like 1, 2, and 4 Molecules in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease

Abstract Recently identified Fc receptor-like (FCRL) molecules are new members of the immunoglobulin superfamily dominantly expressed by B cells. Although FCRL expression patterns have been studied in normal and malignant cells, their biological functions and roles remain to be clearly identified in humans. Research has particularly focused on FCRL gene polymorphisms in autoimmune diseases, however, their involvement in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is an interesting field for investigation. In the present study, we have investigated the gene expression profiles of FCRL1, 2, and 4 in 2 common thyroid diseases, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD). FCRL1, 2, and 4 expressions were determined in peripheral blood samples of 55 HT patients, 40 GD patients and equal numbers of normal subjects by quantitative real-time PCR. Our results showed downregulation of FCRL1 and upregulation of FCRL2 transcripts in both HT and GD groups compared to healthy counterparts. Overexpression of FCRL4 was observed only in GD patients compared to controls. A significant correlation was observed between all FCRL gene expression levels in HT patients. Only FCRL2 and 4 had a correlation in GD patients. In addition, FCRL1, 2, and 4 gene expressions showed no correlations with the level of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) or anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibody from patients’ sera. In conclusion, expressions of activating or inhibitory FCRL1, 2, and 4 showed significant alterations in HT and GD patients compared to healthy subjects.
The Impacts of Tick Size Reduction in a Market with Multiple Tick Sizes

We analyze the impact of tick size reduction on market quality, placing particular focus on whether a multiple tick rule helps to mitigate the impact of a tick rule size reduction in purely order-driven markets. Using a novel dataset covering an entire limit order book, our results suggest that the tick size reduction resulted in substantial declines in effective spread, quote depth, and market depth throughout the limit order book, whereas no significant effects on either trading volume or volatility are discernible. The multiple tick schedule does not eliminate divergence in the market quality for stocks in the same tick size group or across tick size groups. Within the same tick size group, spread and depth are reduced more for those stocks with lower prices, larger capitalization levels, and higher trading frequency. Across tick size groups, the impact of the tick size reduction is found to be stronger for groups where the original tick size was more of a binding constraint and for those groups which experienced a larger (relative) tick size reduction. Overall, our results suggest that a smaller tick size has reduced transaction costs for small trades yet impaired the provision of liquidity, particularly for large trades in high capitalization and more frequently-traded stocks. As a result, the net benefit of the new tick size schedule cannot be confirmed with certainty.
Solving a generalized constrained optimization problem with both logic AND and OR relationships by a mathematical transformation and its application to robot motion planning

The logic relationship among the equality and inequality constraints in a standard constrained optimization problem (SCOP) is the logical AND. Various efficient, convergent and robust algorithms have been developed for such a SCOP. Motivated by a practical application, a more general constrained optimization problem (GCOP) with not only logic AND but also OR relationships is proposed in this paper. In order to solve such a generalized problem, a mathematical transformation which can transfer a set of inequalities with logic OR into one inequality is developed. This transformation provides a necessary and sufficient condition which enables us to use the algorithms developed for SCOPs to solve the generalized optimization problems. The research is motivated by the requirements of developing an efficient, robust, and reliable navigation algorithm for a mobile robot such as an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The original contributions of the paper include threefold: first, from the viewpoint of optimization theory, this paper, to the authors' best knowledge, is the first one to propose such a GCOP. Second, a method is developed to solve such a GCOP. Third, from the viewpoint of robot path planning, this paper presents a new way of using classical optimization approach to solve robot path planning.
Frequency‐dependent impairment of hippocampal LTP from NMDA receptors with reduced calcium permeability

Changes in postsynaptic Ca2+ levels are essential for alterations in synaptic strength. At hippocampal CA3‐to‐CA1 synapses, the Ca2+ elevations required for LTP induction are typically mediated by NMDA receptor (NMDAR) channels but a contribution of NMDAR‐independent Ca2+ sources has been implicated. Here, we tested the sensitivity of different protocols modifying synaptic strength to reduced NMDAR‐mediated Ca2+ influx by employing mice genetically programmed to express in forebrain principal neurons an NR1 form that curtails Ca2+ permeability. Reduced NMDAR‐mediated Ca2+ influx did not facilitate synaptic depression in CA1 neurons of these genetically modified mice. However, we observed that LTP could not be induced by pairing low frequency synaptic stimulation (LFS pairing) with postsynaptic depolarization, a protocol that induced robust LTP in wild‐type mice. By contrast to LFS pairing, similar LTP levels were generated in both genotypes when postsynaptic depolarization was paired with high frequency synaptic stimulation (HFS). This indicates that the postsynaptic Ca2+ elevation also reached threshold during HFS in the mutant, probably due to summation of NMDAR‐mediated Ca2+ influx. However, only in wild‐type mice did repeated HFS further enhance LTP. All tested forms of LTP were blocked by the NMDAR antagonist D‐AP5. Collectively, our results indicate that only NMDAR‐dependent Ca2+ sources (NMDARs and Ca2+‐dependent Ca2+ release from intracellular stores) mediate LFS pairing‐evoked LTP. Moreover, LTP induced by the first HFS stimulus train required lower Ca2+ levels than the additional LTP obtained by repeated trains.
Silent increase of urinary ethylmalonic acid is an indicator of nonspecific brain dysfunction

Our aim was to compare urinary ethylmalonic acid (EMA) levels in subjects who had no apparent clinical reason to have increased levels of this substance but were suffering from non‐specific CNS impairment, and healthy controls. Urinary EMA concentrations detected by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy were studied in 130 subjects with CNS impairment of unknown origin (with no definite diagnosis, no specific symptoms or signs, and normal common biochemical and metabolic screening results) and 130 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy subjects. EMA levels exceeding two standard deviations (SD) above normal (i.e. 8.1 mmol/molCn) were found in a subgroup of CNS‐impaired patients and healthy controls. EMA levels exceeding 2 SD above normal were fourfold prevalent in the urine of patients with non‐specific CNS impairment compared to from the EMA levels in healthy controls. Moreover, we found that the level exceeding > 8.1 mmol/molCn (i.e. > + 2 SD) had sufficient discrimination accuracy in identifying subjects with non‐specific CNS impairment; the level exceeding 12 mmol/molCn (i.e. > + 6 SD) reaches suitable accuracy (i.e. 100% specificity and 78.6% sensitivity). These observations are of importance, as we found that subtle increases in urinary EMA levels are frequent in patients with non‐specific CNS impairment. The reasons for this association remain unknown. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Remote sensing imagery retrieval based-on Gabor texture feature classification

According to the remote sensing imagery, a novel method for retrieval based on the classification of Gabor texture features is proposed in this paper. The method firstly applies Gabor transforms with different scales and orientations to the image. Secondly conduct an unsupervised classification of the obtained Gabor features in the way of K-means. At last a set of features based on the classification information are extracted to present the content of the image. Compared with traditional method of Gabor filters, our approach introduces the correlation of the similar textures, omits the effect of unimportant pixels with sparse distribution. Experimental results approve that the novel method do achieve a promotion performance in remote sensing imagery retrieval.
The Reliability of Walking Tests in People with Claudication

Teixeira da Cunha-Filho I, Gomes Pereira DA, Borges de Carvalho AM, Campedeli L, Soares M, de Sousa Freitas J: The reliability of walking tests in people with claudication. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007;86:574–582. Objective:To contrast the reliability of the 6-min walking test (6MW) with that of the shuttle walking test (SWT) in patients with intermittent claudication attributable to peripheral obstructive arterial disease (POAD), and to examine the relationships of the walking tests, medical outcomes, and hemodynamic variables. Design:Twenty-three patients were randomly assigned to perform both walking tests on two different occasions. Total distance walked (DW), time of pain onset (PO), and time of limiting claudicating symptom (TLS) were analyzed. Results:The reliability coefficients (ICC) generated with the 6MW for DW, PO, and TLS were 0.84, 0.81, and 0.63, respectively, and the coefficients of variation (CV) across trials were 18, 31.8, and 20.3%, respectively. With the SWT, the ICCs were 0.95, 0.72, and 0.90 for each variable, respectively, whereas the CV was 10.9% for DW, 26.8% for PO, and 9.1% for TLS. There was a significant correlation between DW and double product with the SWT (r = 0.51, P = 0.01), but there was no correlation with the 6MW. Conclusion:Both the 6MW and the SWT are reliable walking tests for claudicant patients. However, the reliability coefficients obtained with the SWT are higher, the measurements are less variable, and there were better associations between this walking test and hemodynamic variables.
Ultrastructure of the taste buds in the blind cave fish Astyanax jordani (“Anoptichthys”) and the sighted river fish Astyanax mexicanus (Teleostei, Characidae)

This study describes the ultrastructure of the taste buds of the sighted river fish Astyanax mexicanus and of the blind cave fish Astyanax jordani (= Anoptichthys) (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae). In Astyanax and Anoptichthys, taste buds occur in the epithelia of the lips, oral cavity, and, in Anoptichthys, lower jaw. Both possess three types of taste buds: type I (elevated), type II (slightly elevated), and type III taste buds (not elevated or sunken). The taste buds are up to 60 μm high and up to 35 μm wide. The taste bud's sensory epithelium consists of 100–130 elongated cells: light cells, dense‐cored‐vesicles (dcv) ‐cells, dark cells, and degenerating cells. The dcv‐cells are rich in dense‐cored vesicles and are described for the first time in a teleostean taste bud. At the taste bud's base, there lie two to three basal cells. The basal cells of type I and type II taste buds have microvillus (spine)‐like processes, in contrast to those of type III taste buds. The taste bud's nerve fiber plexus is situated between the bases of the elongated taste bud cells and the basal cells. Afferent synapses occur between dcv‐cells and basal cells (presynaptic sides) and axons (postsynaptic side). Indistinct synapses occur between light cells and dark cells (presynaptic sides) and axons (postsynaptic side). The nerve fiber plexes of Anoptichthys type II and type III taste buds contain significantly more axon profiles than those of Astyanax. This may be associated with a compensatory improvement of the sense of taste in the blind, cave‐dwelling fish. J. Comp. Neurol. 434:428–444, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of fractional flow reserve in guiding intervention for borderline coronary lesions

Objective This study investigated the clinical efficacy and value of fractional flow reserve (FFR) in guiding the treatment of borderline coronary lesions. Methods Forty-three patients with borderline coronary lesions, as demonstrated by coronary angiography, and who had FFR measurements were selected. The patients were grouped according to FFR values. All patients were evaluated 6 months after surgery to record major adverse cardiac events (MACE [sudden cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or revascularization]) and recurrence of angina pectoris. Results After the 6-month follow-up, no sudden cardiac deaths or myocardial infarctions occurred in either group, and there were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Inter-group comparisons showed that in the groups with a FFR<0.75, the recurrence rate of angina pectoris in the PCI group was significantly lower than the drug therapy group (0.08% vs. 0.27%, P<0.05). In contrast, the recurrence rate of angina pectoris in the PCI group among the groups with a FFR<0.75 revealed no statistical significance when compared to the groups with a FFR≥0.75 (0.08% vs. 0.05%, P>0.05). The recurrence rate of angina pectoris in the simple drug therapy group among the groups with a FFR<0.75 was higher than the same groups with a FFR≥0.75 (0.27% vs. 0.05%, P<0.05). Conclusion When coronary intervention is used to treat borderline lesions, guiding interventional therapy with measurement of FFR does not increase the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in the short term and can better guide PCI therapy.
Enriched server and client side based Customized Web Look (CWL)

Customized Web Look (CWL) has exhibited its adequacy in enhancing the nature of different inquiry benefits on the Internet. In any case, confirmations demonstrate that clients' hesitance to reveal their private data during search has turned into a noteworthy boundary for the wide expansion of CWL. We think about protection security in CWL applications that model client inclination as various leveled client profiles. We propose a CWL system called CAPPS that can adaptively sum up profiles by questions while regarding client determined protection necessities. Our runtime speculation goes for striking a harmony between two prescient measurements that assess the utility of personalization and the protection danger of uncovering the summed up profile. We display two greedy calculations, to be specific GreedyDP also GreedyIL, for runtime speculation. We likewise give an online prediction mechanism in choosing whether customizing an inquiry is useful. Far reaching examinations, exhibit the adequacy of our structure. The trial results likewise uncover that GreedyIL essentially outflanks GreedyDP as far as productivity.
Welfare, Inequality and Financial Effects of a Multi-Pillar Pension Reform: The Case of Peru

Abstract This paper studies the potential effects of a multi-pillar pension system on pension inequality, actuarial liability and welfare in Peru, by means of simulations of future distributions of pensions with social security administrative records. The results show that actual pension inequality and actuarial liability can be substantially reduced with welfare preserving policies. The simulations illustrate that when welfare is considered, it is important to define the implied value judgments, which are not universally agreed upon. Therefore, this paper highlights the trade-offs of a pension policy reform and contributes to assess the second generation of pension reforms in Latin America.