Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Citrate Anticoagulation in Hemodialysis

In hemodialysis, the patient’s blood is flown through an extracorporeal circuit containing a hemodialyzer. This process stimulates coagulation for several reasons, most notably the blood’s contact with the artificial surfaces of the tubing and dialyzer membrane and with air in the venous bubble trap, turbulent and stagnant blood flow, shear stress and hemoconcentration during the treatment [1]. Technological advances, e.g., the development of air-free blood circuits and more biocompatible materials for both tubing and dialyzer membranes, may eventually help reduce thrombogenicity of the extracorporeal circuit but are unlikely to eliminate this problem anytime soon. As a result, anticoagulation is (and will be, for the years to come) generally required for hemodialysis in the vast majority of patients. In most cases in the United States, unfractionated heparin is the agent of choice to provide dialysis anticoagulation. While this is usually well-tolerated and relatively safe, there are significant drawbacks. The most obvious of these is that the anticoagulation is systemic in nature, which translates into an increased bleeding risk. This is certainly undesirable in endstage renal disease patients, who are already afflicted with uremic thrombocytopathy, and it is particularly dangerous for patients with additionally increased bleeding risk, e.g., patients after surgery or trauma, and patients with active (e.g., gastro-intestinal) bleeding. Another possible complication related to heparin use, albeit rare in dialysis patients, is heparininduced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II [2], a potentially life-threatening condition associated with a mortality rate of 8 to 20 percent. Other possible side-effects of heparin use include osteoporosis, hair loss, and hyperlipidemia. Starting in late 2007, a series of severe anaphylactoid reactions had caused serious injuries and deaths. These reactions were later linked to heparin contaminated with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate [3, 4]. Several alternatives to heparin anticoagulation are potentially available, each of them accompanied by specific disadvantages. Intermittent saline flushes, i.e., flushing of the extracorporeal circuit with 25 to 50 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution every 15 to 30 minutes, is often used during acute dialysis in patients with increased bleeding risk or in patients with HIT type II. Since the procedure, surprisingly, is not automated, it is very laborious. Furthermore, its capacity to prevent clotting is rather limited, with partial clotting occurring in approximately 20 percent, and complete clotting of the extracorporeal circuit in about 7 percent of treatments [1]. Clotting of the extracorporeal system, of course, is associated with blood loss to the patient, and even with partial clotting, solute clearances will be impaired. Other agents used for systemic anticoagulation in hemodialysis are fondaparinux, danaparoid, and direct thrombin inhibitors. These have other downsides,
The genus Asterodinium (Dinophyceae) as a possible biological indicator of warming in the western Mediterranean Sea

The presence of two dinoflagellate species of the genus Asterodinium, which are a priori representative of warm waters, is reported for the first time in the western Mediterranean Sea. Asterodinium libanum was identified in the Bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer (Ligurian Sea), while Asterodinium gracile is reported in the Tyrrhenian Sea. These findings are discussed in the context of the progressive warming of Mediterranean waters.
An Efficient Bayesian Optimization Approach for Automated Optimization of Analog Circuits

The computation-intensive circuit simulation makes the analog circuit sizing challenging for large-scale/complicated analog/RF circuits. A Bayesian optimization approach has been proposed recently for the optimization problems involving the evaluations of black-box functions with high computational cost in either objective functions or constraints. In this paper, we propose a weighted expected improvement-based Bayesian optimization approach for automated analog circuit sizing. Gaussian processes (GP) are used as the online surrogate models for circuit performances. Expected improvement is selected as the acquisition function to balance the exploration and exploitation during the optimization procedure. The expected improvement is weighted by the probability of satisfying the constraints. In this paper, we propose a complete Bayesian optimization framework for the optimization of analog circuits with constraints for the first time. The existing GP model-based optimization methods for analog circuits take the GP models as either offline models or as assistance for the evolutionary algorithms. We also extend the Bayesian optimization algorithm to handle multi-objective optimization problems. Compared with the state-of-the-art approaches listed in this paper, the proposed Bayesian optimization method achieves better optimization results with significantly less number of simulations.
Revision and preliminary application of Chinese version of Post-traumatic Growth Inventory in adolescents experienced the Wenchuan earthquake

Objective:To revise the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory(PTGI) in a sample of adolescents who experienced the Wenchuan earthquake.Method:The Chinese version of PTGI together with the Children' s Depression Inventory(CDI)and Children' s Revised Impact of Event Scale(CRIES)were administrated among 2 samples of the middle school students from two middle schools in Chongqing city.Result:A three-factor model of PTGI(interpersonal relationship,new possibility,and personal strength)was found in the first sample by exploratory factor analysis and was confirmed in the second sample by confirmatory analysis.The main parameters were as follows:IFI=0.990,CFI=0.990,RMSEA=0.051,and χ2/df=3.082. The original five-factor model(IFI=0.987,CFI =0.981,RMSEA=0.053,and χ2/df =3.317)was also tested by confirmatory analysis and was found inferior to the three-factor model.The reliability of the revised scale was acceptable,with Cronbach' s a coefficients ranging from 0.66~0.85. The total score of PTGI and the score of sub-scales were moderately correlated with the intrusion scale in CRIES,with coefficients ranging from 0.19 to 0.27. The total score of PTGI and the score of sub-scales were negatively correlated with CDI,with coefficients ranging from -0.21 to -0.29. Conclusion:The newly revised adolescent version of PTGI demonstrates good structure validity and acceptable reliability.It may be a potentially good instrument to measure posttraumatic growth among Chinese adolescents.
The Theory of Wave Field Synthesis Revisited

Wave field synthesis is a spatial sound field reproduction technique aiming at authentic reproduction of auditory scenes. Its theoretical foundation has been developed almost 20 years ago and has been improved considerably since then. Most of the original work on wave field synthesis is restricted to the reproduction in a planar listening area using linear loudspeaker arrays. Extensions like arbitrarily shaped distributions of secondary sources and three-dimensional reproduction in a listening volume have not been discussed in a unified framework so far. This paper revisits the theory of wave field synthesis and presents a unified theoretical framework covering arbitrarily shaped loudspeaker arrays for twoand three-dimensional reproduction. The paper additionally gives an overview on the artifacts resulting in practical setups and briefly discusses some extensions to the traditional concepts of WFS.
A comparison between API call sequences and opcode sequences as reflectors of malware behavior

The volume of malware detected annually is increasing exponentially, and malware programs are written in such a way that they can often escape detection tools. Some are can even modify themselves and alter their appearance for each infection. Thus, for malware detection, it is important to analyze malware behavior, and application programming interface (API) call sequences and operational code (opcode) sequences usefully reflect the behavior of malware. Moreover, a hidden Markov model (HMM) is a robust learning model for malware detection. In this work, we therefore compared API call sequences and opcode sequences using the HMM learning model. The results showed that learning in API call sequences is more accurate than that of opcode sequences. We conclude that API call sequences are therefore better for malware detection.
Treatment Efficacy for Validating MicroCT-Based Theoretical Simulation Approach in Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia for Cancer Treatment

The objective is to validate a designed heating protocol in a previous study based on treatment efficacy of magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia in prostate tumors. In vivo experiments have been performed to induce temperature elevations in implanted PC3 tumors injected with magnetic nanoparticles, following the same heating protocol designed in our previous microCT-based theoretical simulation. A tumor shrinkage study and histological analyses of tumor cell death are conducted after the heating. Tumor shrinkage is observed over a long period of 8 weeks. Histological analyses of the tumors after heating are used to evaluate whether irreversible thermal damage occurs in the entire tumor region. It has been shown that the designed 25 min heating (Arrhenius integral X 4 in the entire tumor) on tumor tissue is effective to cause irreversible thermal damage to PC3 tumors, while reducing the heating time to 12 min (X 1 in the entire tumor) results in an initial shrinkage, however, later tumor recurrence. The treated tumors with 25 min of heating disappear after only a few days. On the other hand, the tumors in the control group without heating show approximately an increase of more than 700% in volume over the 8-week observation period. In the undertreated group with 12 min of heating, its growth rate is smaller than that in the control group. In addition, results of the histological analysis suggest vast regions of apoptotic and necrotic cells, consistent with the regions of significant temperature elevations. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of imaging-based design for individualized treatment planning. The success of the designed heating protocol for completely damaging PC3 tumors validates the theoretical models used in planning heating treatment in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4035246]
An evaluation of the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of copper and zinc in the Polychaete Nereis virens from intertidal mudflats with different pollution histories

The king ragworm (Nereis virens) is an ecologically and commercially important polychaete species of soft sediment inter-tidal communities of the northern hemisphere and is known to be impacted by various pollutants. More specifically in many coastal locations, N. virens is exposed to a range of heavy metals including copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) which are known to be highly toxic to polychaetes. This species is also collected for bait which may change the bioavailability of these metals in the sediment, and those available to the worms. To assess the relationship between copper and zinc concentrations in the sediment, pore-water and associated worms, samples were collected from a number of sites on the south coast of the UK, with different levels of pollution. All with all sites characterised as very poorly sorted, very coarse skewed muddy sediment composed mainly of fine and very coarse silt. sites presented some differences in sediment characteristics which reflected different levels of metal pollution. The percentage organic matter of the sediment ranged from 2.32 % (Tipner) to 8.90 % for Mylor Interestingly, data from Langstone Harbour in the Solent show relatively low bioavailable metal concentrations in sediments despite being a heavily dug site. In opposition, Mylor situated in the Fal Estuary, which suffers from a heavily metal history, presented the highest metal pollution. For all sites, concentrations in the tissues also suggest that N. virens bioaccumulates more zinc than copper although interindividual variability was high. However, no relationship was found between the metal tissue concentrations and the weight of the worms. Surprisingly, no correlation was observed between metal concentrations in the worms and their weight but strong correlations were found between copper concentrations in the sediment and in the pore water and between zinc concentrations in the pore water and in N. virens. Theses correlations revealed a strong link between copper concentration in the sediment and in the pore water and also that pore water is a main source for accumulation of zinc in N. virens. Finally, our data also suggest that, although sites can be dug areas, metal bioavailability and bioaccumulation can vary considerably.
Environmental history impacts gene expression during diapause development in the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata

ABSTRACT Our understanding of the mechanisms controlling insect diapause has increased dramatically with the introduction of global gene expression techniques, such as RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). However, little attention has been given to how ecologically relevant field conditions may affect gene expression during diapause development because previous studies have focused on laboratory-reared and -maintained insects. To determine whether gene expression differs between laboratory and field conditions, prepupae of the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata, entering diapause early or late in the growing season were collected. These two groups were further subdivided in early autumn into laboratory- and field-maintained groups, resulting in four experimental treatments of diapausing prepupae: early and late field, and early and late laboratory. RNA-seq and differential expression analyses were performed on bees from the four treatment groups in November, January, March and May. The number of treatment-specific differentially expressed genes (97 to 1249) outnumbered the number of differentially regulated genes common to all four treatments (14 to 229), indicating that exposure to laboratory or field conditions had a major impact on gene expression during diapause development. Principle component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis yielded similar grouping of treatments, confirming that the treatments form distinct clusters. Our results support the conclusion that gene expression during the course of diapause development is not a simple ordered sequence, but rather a highly plastic response determined primarily by the environmental history of the individual insect. Summary: Gene expression during diapause development in Megachile rotundata is impacted by environmental history and is highly variable between individual overwintering prepupae.
Effect of Yogic Breathing on Accommodate Braille Version of Six-letter Cancellation Test in Students with Visual Impairment

Context: Attentional processes tend to be less well developed in the visually impaired, who require special training to develop them fully. Yogic breathing which alters the patterns of respiration has been shown to enhance attention skills. Letter cancellation tests are well-established tools to measure attention and attention span. Here, a modified Braille version of the six-letter cancellation test (SLCT) was used for students with visual impairment (VI). Aim: This study aimed to assess the immediate effects of Bhramari Pranayama (BhPr) and breath awareness (BA) on students with VI. Methods: This study was a self-as-control study held on 2 consecutive days, on 19 participants (8 males, 11 females), with a mean age of 15.89 ± 1.59 years, randomized into two groups. On the 1st day, Group 1 performed 10 min breath awareness and Group 2 performed Bhramari; on the 2nd day, practices were reversed. Assessments used a SLCT specially adapted for the visually impaired before and after each session. Results: The Braille letter cancellation test was successfully taken by 19 students. Scores significantly improved after both techniques for each student following practices on both days (P < 0.001). BhPr may have more effect on attention performance than BA as wrong scores significantly increased following BA (P < 0.05), but the increase in the score after Bhramari was not significant. Conclusions: Despite the small sample size improvement in attentional processes by both yoga breathing techniques was robust. Attentional skills were definitely enhanced. Long-term practice should be studied.
Efficacy of intracerebral microinfusion of trastuzumab in an athymic rat model of intracerebral metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE The monoclonal antibody (MAb) trastuzumab (Herceptin) effectively treats HER2-overexpressing extracerebral breast neoplasms. Delivery of such macromolecule therapeutic agents to intracerebral metastases, however, is limited by the tight junctions characteristic of the cerebral vasculature. Direct intracerebral microinfusion (ICM) is a technique that bypasses this blood-brain barrier and allows for a greater delivery of drugs directly into intracerebral tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A human breast cancer cell line transfected to overexpress HER2, MCF-7/HER2-18, was transplanted into the cerebrum of athymic rats. Saline, trastuzumab, or an isotype-matched control MAb was delivered systemically or by ICM to assess toxicity and efficacy. RESULTS No clinical or histological toxicity related to trastuzumab was evident under any of the conditions studied. Delivery of trastuzumab (2 mg/kg) i.p. led to a median survival of 26.5 days, whereas treatment with trastuzumab (2 mg/kg) by ICM increased the median survival by 96% to 52 days, with two of nine rats surviving >120 days (P = 0.009). Treatment with an isotype-matched control MAb (16 mg/kg) resulted in a median survival of 21 days, which did not differ significantly from the survival of rats treated by ICM with saline (16 days; P = 0.42). Treatment by ICM with trastuzumab (16 mg/kg) led to a median survival of 45 days, with 2 of 10 rats surviving >120 days. These results represent 181% and 114% increases in median survival over the saline and MAb controls, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION ICM of trastuzumab is safe and superior to systemic delivery as therapy for HER2-overexpressing intracerebral neoplasms in an athymic rat model.
Requirements and architectural approaches to adaptive software systems: A comparative study

The growing interest in adaptive software systems has resulted in a number of different proposals for the design of adaptive systems. Some approaches adopt architectural models, whereas others model adaptation options, at the level of requirements. This dichotomy has motivated us to perform a comparative study between two proposals for the design of adaptive systems: the Rainbow Framework (architecture-based) and our own proposal, Zanshin (requirements-based). This evaluation paper reports on our methodology and results. It also provides a comparison between the use of architectural and requirements models as centrepieces of adaptation, offering guidelines for the future research in the field of adaptive systems.
Five Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting 4‐Nitroquinoline 1‐Oxide‐induced Tongue Cancer in the Rat

In our previous study, Dark‐Agouti (DA) rats were found to be highly susceptible to 4‐nitroquino‐line 1‐oxide (4NQO)‐induced tongue carcinoma (TC), whereas Wistar/Furth (WF) rats were barely susceptible. Interval mapping analysis of reciprocal backcross rats showed two quantitative trait loci (QTL) on rat chromosomes (RNO) 1 and 19. In the present study, a composite interval mapping analysis was applied to 4NQO‐induced TC in 130 (DAxWF) F2 rats, demonstrating five independent QTL, Tongue squamous cell carcinoma 1‐5 (Tscc1‐5), responsible for phenotypic differences in the size and number of TCs in the two strains. Two of these QTL were mapped on RNO1, and the others were mapped on RNO4, 14, and 19. The DA allele at these loci consistently yielded semidominant susceptibility to TC. Out of the five loci detected in this F2 generation, Tscc1 and 2 were identical to Stcl and Rtc1 described in our previous study, but the other three were novel. We propose a new nomenclature consistent with their function. Genome‐wide screening of the F2 progeny also suggested the presence of three additional QTL on RNO5, 6, and 10. The possible roles of these loci in tongue carcinogenesis are discussed.
Optical Topography Measurement of Patterned Wafers

We model the measurement process in an interference microscope and derive libraries of signal signatures corresponding to various types of materials and thin film structures. These libraries allow calculating the top surface topography of patterned wafer features as well as the thickness of the underlying top transparent layer with nanometer height resolution. We show applications of the technique to the measurement of trenches etched in SiO2 films, post‐CMP STI patterns and line structures. The results of the optical profiler are in good agreement with AFM and ellipsometer measurements of nearby structures.
Strathprints Institutional Repository (2011) Fault-tolerant Control for a Modular Generator and Converter Scheme for Direct-drive Wind Turbines : Industrial Electronics, Ieee Transactions On. Ieee Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 58 (1). Pp. 305-315. Issn 0278-0046 Fault Tolerant Control for 

Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. Abstract—A modular power electronic converter, with a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter, has been proposed as the grid interface for a large direct drive wind turbine generator. The present study is to investigate the potential and requirement of fault tolerant operation in such a system. As each module is connected to isolated generator coils, tolerance to a module or coil fault is possible if the affected module can be bypassed while the control of the healthy modules can be adjusted accordingly. A boost rectifier scheme on the machine side of the power conversion stage has been developed for this purpose, featuring control of the coil current without measuring the EMF. A coordinated DC-link voltage controller has been developed which can rapidly raise the DC-link voltage of the remaining modules to compensate for the loss of a module, while ignoring the ripple in the DC-link due to low-frequency inverter switching. The ability of the resultant system to tolerate module faults has been demonstrated on a small scale laboratory prototype.
A20 regulates canonical wnt-signaling through an interaction with RIPK4

A20 is a ubiquitin-editing enzyme that is known to regulate inflammatory signaling and cell death. However, A20 mutations are also frequently found in multiple malignancies suggesting a potential role as a tumor suppressor as well. We recently described a novel role for A20 in regulating the wnt-beta-catenin signaling pathway and suppressing colonic tumor development in mice. The underlying mechanisms for this phenomenon are unclear. To study this, we first generated A20 knockout cell lines by genome-editing techniques. Using these cells, we show that loss of A20 causes dysregulation of wnt-dependent gene expression by RNAseq. Mechanistically, A20 interacts with a proximal signaling component of the wnt-signaling pathway, receptor interacting protein kinase 4 (RIPK4), and regulation of wnt-signaling by A20 occurs through RIPK4. Finally, similar to the mechanism by which A20 regulates other members of the receptor interacting protein kinase family, A20 modifies ubiquitin chains on RIPK4 suggesting a possible molecular mechanism for A20’s control over the wnt-signaling pathway.