Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetics activity of Yersinia Intermedia Against ZnO Nanoparticles Either Synergism Antibiotics by Double-Disc Synergy Test Method.

BACKGROUND Bacterial resistance to the commonly used antibacterial agents is an increasing challenge in the medicine, and a major problem for the health care systems; the control of their spread is a constant challenge for the hospitals. OBJECTIVES In this study, we have investigated the antimicrobial activity of the Zinc Oxide nanoparticles against clinical sample; Yersinia intermedia bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nanoparticle susceptibility constants and death kinetic were used to evaluate the antimicrobial characteristics of the Zinc Oxide (ZnO) against the bacteria. Antimicrobial tests were performed with 108 cfu.mL-1 at baseline. At first, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of ZnO was determined and then nanoparticle suspension at one and two times of the MIC was used for death kinetic and susceptibility constant assay at 0 to 360 min treatment time. RESULTS ZnO nanoparticles with size ranging from 10 to 30 nm showed the highest susceptibility reaction against Y. intermedia (Z=39.06 mL.μg-1). The process of Y. intermedia death in ZnO suspension was assumed to follow the first-order kinetics and the survival ratio of bacteria decreased with the increasing treatment time. An increased concentration of the nanoparticle was seen to enhance the bactericidal action of the nanoparticle. Then we performed the best ratio of the nanoparticles on semi-sensitive and resistance antibiotic for the bacteria. However, based on experimental results, synergy of ZnO nanoparticles and Oxacilin was determined and Y. intermedia showed a higher sensitivity compared to the ZnO nanoparticles alone. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study illustrates that ZnO has a strong antimicrobial effect and could potentially be employed to aid the bacterial control. It could also improve- antibacterial effects in combination with the antibiotics.
Optimistic Robust Optimization With Applications To Machine Learning

Robust Optimization has traditionally taken a pessimistic, or worst-case viewpoint of uncertainty which is motivated by a desire to find sets of optimal policies that maintain feasibility under a variety of operating conditions. In this paper, we explore an optimistic, or best-case view of uncertainty and show that it can be a fruitful approach. We show that these techniques can be used to address a wide variety of problems. First, we apply our methods in the context of robust linear programming, providing a method for reducing conservatism in intuitive ways that encode economically realistic modeling assumptions. Second, we look at problems in machine learning and find that this approach is strongly connected to the existing literature. Specifically, we provide a new interpretation for popular sparsity inducing non-convex regularization schemes. Additionally, we show that successful approaches for dealing with outliers and noise can be interpreted as optimistic robust optimization problems. Although many of the problems resulting from our approach are non-convex, we find that DCA or DCA-like optimization approaches can be intuitive and efficient.
Colorization algorithm for grayscale image by propagating seed pixels

This paper presents a method of the colorization for a black and white imagery by propagating seed pixels. Although the colorization is an ill-posed problem, in this paper, the problem is solved based on local Markov property on images. At first, a user plants some color pixels as seeds on a grayscale image. Then, colors are propagated from the seed pixels by minimizing the color difference among connected 4-pixels. In this paper, a basic propagating algorithm is proposed and modified algorithms, which can stop the propagation at edge parts by setting partitions, are introduced. By comparing with a previous algorithm, the proposed algorithm works very well for both quality and speed.
Real-Time Deep Hair Matting on Mobile Devices

Augmented reality is an emerging technology in many application domains. Among them is the beauty industry, where live virtual try-on of beauty products is of great importance. In this paper, we address the problem of live hair color augmentation. To achieve this goal, hair needs to be segmented quickly and accurately. We show how a modified MobileNet CNN architecture can be used to segment the hair in real-time. Instead of training this network using large amounts of accurate segmentation data, which is difficult to obtain, we use crowd sourced hair segmentation data. While such data is much simpler to obtain, the segmentations there are noisy and coarse. Despite this, we show how our system can produce accurate and fine-detailed hair mattes, while running at over 30 fps on an iPad Pro tablet.
A 20Gb/s Forwarded Clock Transceiver in 90nm CMOS B.

Future microprocessor platforms will require system-level optimization of the I/O to minimize cost and maximize aggregate bandwidth. Critical parameters such as silicon area, power, testability, and off-chip interconnect quality must be properly balanced to maximize the I/O performance versus cost ratio. For example, there is a fundamental tradeoff between clock quality and equalizer effectiveness [1]. Producing precision RX and TX clocks and a sensitive RX may impact the power and area of some circuits, but it could allow the use of simple, low-power linear equalizers to minimize the overall link power. Additionally, these equalizers will become much more effective by limiting near-end crosstalk and stubbed backplane (BP) via length. To demonstrate this system-level optimization effort, we have developed a 20Gb/s forwarded clock I/O system intended for a wide parallel link with small area and low power.
Device level analysis of threshold voltage variation in FinFET with varied design parameters

This paper describes the device characteristics verification and biasing analysis of Silicon on Insulator (SOI) devices with single gate and double gate. Improvement in threshold voltage controllability and variability has been observed for these devices. One of the leading double gate devices, FinFET is analyzed over different parameter variations and with back biasing techniques. Thanks to wide threshold voltage controllability of the FinFET device in comparison with all other devices. Some of the peculiar characteristics exhibited by the device for the fin width variation when controlled in single gate (SG) and independent gate (IG) modes have been proposed here for the first time.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guideline for the management of deliberate self-harm

Objective: To provide guidance for the organisation and delivery of clinical services and the clinical management of patients who deliberately self-harm, based on scientific evidence supplemented by expert clinical consensus and expressed as recommendations. Method: Articles and information were sourced from search engines including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO for several systematic reviews, which were supplemented by literature known to the deliberate self-harm working group, and from published systematic reviews and guidelines for deliberate self-harm. Information was reviewed by members of the deliberate self-harm working group, and findings were then formulated into consensus-based recommendations and clinical guidance. The guidelines were subjected to successive consultation and external review involving expert and clinical advisors, the public, key stakeholders, professional bodies and specialist groups with interest and expertise in deliberate self-harm. Results: The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for deliberate self-harm provide up-to-date guidance and advice regarding the management of deliberate self-harm patients, which is informed by evidence and clinical experience. The clinical practice guidelines for deliberate self-harm is intended for clinical use and service development by psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians and others with an interest in mental health care. Conclusion: The clinical practice guidelines for deliberate self-harm address self-harm within specific population sub-groups and provide up-to-date recommendations and guidance within an evidence-based framework, supplemented by expert clinical consensus.
Rapid DNA–protein cross-linking and strand scission by an abasic site in a nucleosome core particle

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are ubiquitous DNA lesions that are highly mutagenic and cytotoxic if not repaired. In addition, clusters of two or more abasic lesions within one to two turns of DNA, a hallmark of ionizing radiation, are repaired much less efficiently and thus present greater mutagenic potential. Abasic sites are chemically labile, but naked DNA containing them undergoes strand scission slowly with a half-life on the order of weeks. We find that independently generated AP sites within nucleosome core particles are highly destabilized, with strand scission occurring ∼60-fold more rapidly than in naked DNA. The majority of core particles containing single AP lesions accumulate DNA–protein cross-links, which persist following strand scission. The N-terminal region of histone protein H4 contributes significantly to DNA–protein cross-links and strand scission when AP sites are produced approximately 1.5 helical turns from the nucleosome dyad, which is a known hot spot for nucleosomal DNA damage. Reaction rates for AP sites at two positions within this region differ by ∼4-fold. However, the strand scission of the slowest reacting AP site is accelerated when it is part of a repair resistant bistranded lesion composed of two AP sites, resulting in rapid formation of double strand breaks in high yields. Multiple lysine residues within a single H4 protein catalyze double strand cleavage through a mechanism believed to involve a templating effect. These results show that AP sites within the nucleosome produce significant amounts of DNA–protein cross-links and generate double strand breaks, the most deleterious form of DNA damage.
Cell-Free DNA Screening: Complexities and Challenges of Clinical Implementation

Screening for fetal aneuploidy in pregnant women using cell-free DNA has increased dramatically since the technology became commercially available in 2011. Since that time, numerous trials have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity to screen for common aneuploidies in high-risk populations. Studies assessing the performance of these tests in low-risk populations have also demonstrated improved detection rates compared with traditional, serum-based screening strategies. Concurrent with the increased use of this technology has been a decrease in invasive procedures (amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling). As the technology becomes more widely understood, available, and utilized, challenges regarding its clinical implementation have become apparent. Some of these challenges include test failures, false-positive and false-negative results, limitations in positive predictive value in low-prevalence populations, and potential maternal health implications of abnormal results. In addition, commercial laboratories are expanding screening beyond common aneuploidies to include microdeletion screening and whole genome screening. This review article is intended to provide the practicing obstetrician with a summary of the complexities of cell-free DNA screening and the challenges of implementing it in the clinical setting. Target Audience Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians. Learning Objectives After completing this activity, the learner should be better able to understand the complexities of cell-free DNA screening and describe considerations involved in its clinical implementation.
Novel Embryonic Array with Neural Network Characteristics

This paper introduces a novel design approach for embryonic arrays that is able to employ all three axial characteristics of living beings: phytogeny, ontogeny, and epigenesis. Rather than using multiplexer based binary decision diagrams (BDD) it utilizes the K/N digital neurons to define the functionality of the cells. A special neural network design technique that uses Voronoi diagram (VoD) will be employed that enables neural network array-like configuration of embryonic arrays. Additionally, learning ability, geometrical extraction of genome, gate level configuration, large number of minterm and sum of products (SOP) generation for its constituent cells are some of the other advantages of the technique.
Perceived Digital Game Realism: A Quantitative Exploration of its Structure

A quantitative exploration is presented of the concept of perceived digital game realism, based upon the frameworks described by Malliet (2006), and Shapiro, Pea-Herborn, and Hancock (2006). The concepts and categories outlined in both studies are complemented with an additional literature study and subjected to an exploratory factor analysis. Principal axis factoring was performed on items completed by 385 respondents whose ages ranged between 15 and 19 years. Seven factors of perceived game realism were identified: simulation, freedom of choice, character involvement, perceptual pervasiveness, authenticity regarding subject matter, authenticity regarding characters, and social realism. These findings are to a considerable extent congruent with the theoretical framework.
Information needs research in Russia and Lithuania, 1965-2003

Introduccion. La invisibilidad de la investigacion sobre las necesidades de informacion de Europa del Este y Central en el Oeste sugeria una exploracion de los resultados de investigacion publicados de Lituania y Rusia de 1965 a 2003. Metodo. Los datos se tomaron de la revista Informatika-59. Las publicaciones se recuperaron de las bibliotecas lituanas y rusas o de Internet. Analisis. Los textos y, en los casos en que no estaban disponibles los textos completos, los resumenes se usaron para el analisis cualitativo evaluando la relevancia, el contenido, los conceptos usados y su evolucion con el tiempo. Se realizo una comparacion con la bibliografia (idioma ingles o anglo-americano) occidental. Resultados. Se sigue el desarrollo del concepto de necesidades de informacion del usuario en Rusia y Lituania a traves de varias decadas, asi como la comprension de sus origenes, estructura y tipologias. Se trazan los conceptos paralelos y las ideas similares en la bibliografia occidental de conducta en informacion. Se revela un contexto de investigacion relacionada (estudios de lectura y alfabetizacion en informacion). Conclusiones. A pesar del aislamiento de dos cuerpos de investigacion (Europa Oriental y Oriental) en el area de las necesidades de informacion, se revelan un desarrollo comun y las similitudes en la comprension del concepto basico de necesidad de informacion, su origen y estructura asi como las tipologias. Las diferencias basicas radican en la comprension de los contextos de la formacion de las necesidades de informacion, su influencia y, por consiguiente, la atencion a los roles de los contextos en la investigacion. Tambien parece que las necesidades de informacion diarias no relacionadas con el trabajo son excluidas totalmente de los horizontes de los investigadores rusos.
A network-centric approach to sensor-data and service integration

Sensor net require the information integration of various sensors and related contents and services. The present paper describes an approach to the construction of a sensor network using a content-aware network so called messaging network. A messaging network can be constructed as a structured overlay network. The proposed scheme enables loosely-coupled integration of sensor data and related services. The proposed scheme can be realized by an overlay network over an ordinary IP network. The paper also introduces a policy mediation, which is a kind of message mediation, for over-lay networks having each own policies enables secure overlay networks inter-operation. This paper also introduces a secure data-store grids for sensor network. The data-store grids helps to construct and manage as secure, flexible, elastic, and sustainable loosely coupled integration of sensor data and related services. The application of the proposed scheme to SmartGrid and health-care system are be discussed
Urethrorectal fistula: transanal, transsphincteric approach with locally based pedicle interposition flaps.

PURPOSE We report preliminary experience with the transsphincteric, transanal surgical approach to correct acquired urethrorectal fistula. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five men with an acquired urethrorectal fistula underwent surgical correction. Mean patient age was 56.6 years (range 37 to 72). The etiology was surgical (radical prostatectomy) in 3 cases, traumatic in 1 and idiopathic in 1. All 5 patients had urinary tract infection and pneumaturia, and 3 (60%) had watery stool. Conservative treatments had failed in all cases. The time from the diagnosis of urethrorectal fistula to surgery was 4 weeks to 4 years. RESULTSFive men underwent excision and closure of a urethrorectal fistula with diverting colostomy. In 4 men (80%) urinary continence subsequently returned with adequate sphincter tone, while in 1 (20%) with perineal trauma and active proctitis the fistula recurred 6 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Urethrorectal fistulas are rare and surgically challenging. The transsphincteric, transanal surgical approach provides many advantages, including easy access and identification of the fistula tract, good surgical exposure, adequate resection to well vascularized tissue and access to several vascularized flaps for interposition between the repaired urinary and gastrointestinal tracts.
Does Surgical Quality Improve in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: An Evaluation of All Participating Hospitals

Background/Objective:The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) has demonstrated quality improvement in the VA and pilot study of 14 academic institutions. The objective was to show that American College of Surgeons (ACS)-NSQIP helps all enrolled hospitals. Methods:ACS-NSQIP data was used to evaluate improvement in hospitals longitudinally over 3 years (2005–2007). Improvement was defined as reduction in risk-adjusted “Observed/Expected” (O/E) ratios between periods with risk adjustment held constant. Multivariable logistic regression-based adjustment was performed and included indicators for procedure groups. Additionally, morbidity counts were modeled using a negative binomial model, to estimate the number of avoided complications. Results:Multiple perspectives reflected improvement over time. In the analysis of 118 hospitals (2006–2007), 66% of hospitals improved risk-adjusted mortality (mean O/E improvement: 0.174; P < 0.05) and 82% improved risk adjusted complication rates (mean improvement: 0.114; P < 0.05). Correlations between starting O/E and improvement (0.834 for mortality, 0.652 for morbidity), as well as relative risk, revealed that initially worse-performing hospitals had more likelihood of improvement. Nonetheless, well-performing hospitals also improved. Modeling morbidity counts, 183 hospitals (2007), avoided ∼9598 potential complications: ∼52/hospital. Due to sampling this may represent only 1 of 5 to 1of 10 of the true total. Improvement reflected aggregate performance across all types of hospitals (academic/community, urban/rural). Changes in patient risk over time had important contributions to the effect. Conclusions:ACS-NSQIP indicates that surgical outcomes improve across all participating hospitals in the private sector. Improvement is reflected for both poor- and well-performing facilities. NSQIP hospitals appear to be avoiding substantial numbers of complications- improving care, and reducing costs. Changes in risk over time merit further study.
Vision based robotic grasping with a hybrid camera configuration

Vision based robotic grasping systems have significant applications in the areas of space exploration and service robots. In this paper, an image based visual servoing controller with a hybrid camera configuration is proposed. In particular, an eye-in-hand camera is employed to track the position of the target object while a stereo camera is utilized to obtain the depth information of the object. A physical vision-based mobile manipulation system is developed to validate the proposed approach. The experimental results show that the proposed controller is effective to help a robot grasp the target object autonomously.
On the eigenvalues of positive operators

The classical theory of Frobenius-Perron concerning the distribution of eigenvalues of a matrix with non-negative elements has been variously extended to positive operators, that is, linear operators on function spaces transforming non-negative functions into non-negative functions. Since the classical work of Jentzsch (see bibliography), there have been two kinds of extensions : (a) it has been established under various conditions that a positive operator shall have a positive eigenvector with positive eigenfunction (see e.g. Birkhoff [ l ] , Karlin [4], Samelson [7], Schaefer [8]), and (b) at tempts have been made to extend the Frobenius theorem stating that, for a non-negative matrix with spectral radius one, the eigenvalues on the unit circle are roots of unity. This result has been extended to positive operators under strong additional assumptions, all of them guaranteeing that the intersection of the spectrum with the unit circle shall consist of isolated points only. Results of this kind are summarized in Karlin. I t is our present purpose to establish the second result under fairly general conditions. Our result is the following:
Treatment of Intermittent Claudication with Mesoglycan – A Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study

Summary Objective: To assess the effect of treatment with mesoglycan, a sulphated polysaccharide compound, on the walking capacity of patients with stage II peripheral arterial disease. Methods: Non-diabetic out-patients with intermittent claudication, duplex ultrasound evidence of peripheral atherosclerosis, ankle/arm index <0.80, systolic ankle pressure >50 mmHg, and absolute walking distance (AWD) between 100 and 300 m (standardised treadmill test) were eligible. After a 5-week run-in on single-blind placebo, patients were randomised to double-blind treatment with mesoglycan, 30 mg/day intramuscularly for 3 weeks followed by 100 mg/day orally for 20 weeks, or matching placebo. All patients received low-dose aspirin and lifestyle instructions. Clinical response was defined as an AWD increase at Week 23 >50% over baseline. Health-related quality of life and ischaemic events were assessed as secondary efficacy variables. Results: 242 patients were randomised and 237 were assessed for clinical response. Patients achieving clinical response were 59/118 with mesoglycan (50.0%) and 31/119 with placebo (26.1%; p <0.001). Geometric mean AWD increased from 192 to 298 m with mesoglycan, and from 192 to 238 m with placebo (p <0.001). Pain-free walking distance showed a non-significant increase with mesoglycan (p = 0.057). Changes in quality of life scores were in favour of mesoglycan. The rate of ischaemic events was 1/120 on mesoglycan and 6/122 on placebo (p = 0.053). The rate of non-ischaemic adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation was 7/120 and 4/122, respectively. Conclusion: Treatment with mesoglycan improves the walking capacity of patients with intermittent claudication, and might confer additional antithrombotic protection over that of aspirin.