Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting the Need for Non-Invasive Ventilation in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (als) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease causing motor impairment. It is the third in the ranking of incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, has no cure, and its survival time after diagnosis is very limited. Since most patients die from respiratory failure, predicting the onset of hypoventilation is of major importance to prolong survival and improve the patients’ quality of life. In this paper, we use real data from patients with als to predict their need for non-invasive ventilation. We use state of the art supervised learning techniques combined with feature selection approaches, achieving a performance over 80%. The problem of learning from imbalanced data is also tackled. Furthermore, we propose an approach based on hierarchical clustering to preprocess longitudinal clinical data. We use this approach to cluster temporally related clinical exams, while constructing the instances needed to train the classiers. We consider that an instance is a snapshot of a patient’s condition at a given time window, which is characterized by a set of attributes resulting from clinical exams. Each instance is labelled with a class indicating whether or not non-invasive ventilation was needed.
Temperature dependence of fusion by sendai virus.

Studies of the temperature dependence of liposome fusion by Sendai virus indicate that fusion occurs maximally at 55 degrees C. The fusion capacity of the virus is also inactivated maximally by preincubation at this temperature and, under the same conditions, the F glycoprotein becomes resistant to proteolysis. By analogy with the activation at elevated temperatures of fusion by influenza virus our results suggest that temperature is also a variable in the activation of fusion by paramyxoviruses and possibly in the activation of other members of the group of viruses that includes myxo-, paramyxo-, retro-, and filoviruses, which all contain cleaved, trimeric fusion glycoproteins.
Precipitation and microphysical processes observed by three polarimetric X-band radars and ground-based instrumentation during HOPE

Abstract. This study presents a first analysis of precipitation and related microphysical processes observed by three polarimetric X-band Doppler radars (BoXPol, JuXPol and KiXPol) in conjunction with a ground-based network of disdrometers, rain gauges and vertically pointing micro rain radars (MRRs) during the High Definition Clouds and Precipitation for advancing Climate Prediction (HD(CP)2) Observational Prototype Experiment (HOPE) during April and May 2013 in Germany. While JuXPol and KiXPol were continuously observing the central HOPE area near Forschungszentrum Julich at a close distance, BoXPol observed the area from a distance of about 48.5 km. MRRs were deployed in the central HOPE area and one MRR close to BoXPol in Bonn, Germany. Seven disdrometers and three rain gauges providing point precipitation observations were deployed at five locations within a 5 km × 5 km region, while three other disdrometers were collocated with the MRR in Bonn. The daily rainfall accumulation at each rain gauge/disdrometer location estimated from the three X-band polarimetric radar observations showed very good agreement. Accompanying microphysical processes during the evolution of precipitation systems were well captured by the polarimetric X-band radars and corroborated by independent observations from the other ground-based instruments.
TraceViz: a visualization framework for interactive analysis of execution traces

Hardware platforms of embedded systems are more powerful at each new generation thank to the integration of System-on-Chip (SoC). Developing streaming multimedia applications on embedded systems becomes an increasingly complex process. Modern applications are highly multi-threaded and have to decode the multimedia stream in real time to prevent the apparition of audio and video artifacts. Debugging this kind of issue cannot be done with traditional debuggers that interrupt the decoding and perturb the synchronization of the different threads. The solution is to record all the events that occurred during the decoding in a trace and perform the analysis post-mortem. There exists many visualization tools to analyze execution traces but they have reached their limits with the amount of data generated by modern applications. They either provide a too generalized representation to be useful, or they show too much details leading to a fastidious data exploration. We propose a novel interaction visualization framework to address these problems. In particular, our contribution is in two parts: (a) we present a new fast backend suitable for the interactive browsing of huge traces and (b) a new visualization tool to explore the trace at different level of details.
STAT1 expression is not required for polyp formation in Min mice

Recent studies have suggested the importance of interleukin (IL)‐6 signaling in the development of colon cancer. Expression of IL‐6 and the IL‐6 receptor have been found to be elevated in colorectal carcinoma tissue, and IL‐6 has been found to be critical for tumor formation in mouse models of colon cancer. IL‐6 mediated activation of the transcription factor STAT1 has been shown to be important in protection of colorectal carcinoma cells from apoptotic signals. To test the hypothesis that the IL‐6‐STAT1 axis plays a role in early stages of colon cancer development, we examined the role of this pathway in the mouse multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) model of intestinal tumorigenesis. Due to low fecundity, we were unable to generate Min mice lacking expression of IL‐6. We then focused on the role of STAT1 in intestinal polyp formation in these animals. Min mice lacking STAT1 or heterozygous for STAT1 developed polyps in similar numbers as those expressing STAT1. Furthermore, the anatomic distribution and histological characteristics of these polyps did not vary among these populations. These results indicate that STAT1 does not play a role in the pathogenesis of the Min model for colon cancer. However, they do not rule out the possibility that STAT1 plays a role in other stages of colon cancer development. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Finite-dimensional adaptive observer design for uncertain nonlinear systems with time delays and sampled outputs

This paper addresses the problem of observer design for a class of uncertain nonlinear time-delay systems. A finite-dimensional adaptive observer is proposed based on Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional method and neural-networks-based approximation technique. The designed observer guarantees that all signals in the closed-loop system are bounded and the estimation error decreases to zero asymptotically. In order to prevent drift of adaptive parameters, projection modification algorithm is employed. Theoretical analysis and simulation both verify the effectiveness of the proposed observer design method.
Lateral Transmalleolar Approach and Miniscrews Fixation for Displaced Posterolateral Fragments of Posterior Malleolus Fractures in Adults: A Consecutive Study

Objectives: To evaluate the lateral transmalleolar (LTM) approach for a displaced posterolateral fragments of a posterior malleolus fracture. Design: Prospective, consecutive. Setting: Level 1 trauma center. Patients: Thirty-six patients. Outcome Measures: The x-rays, evaluation of arthritic changes of the ankle joint, range of motion, and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment questionnaire (SMFA). Intervention: The LTM approach followed by multiple interfragmentary miniscrew-only fixation. Results: No patients experienced intraoperative or postoperative complications that required a revision operation. All fractures healed. There were no infections, and no patient required implant removal. The median range of motion showed no significant difference as compared with the uninjured side. Patients achieved a mean SMFA dysfunction index of 8.2 ± 2.4 points and a mean SMFA bother index of 3.2 ± 1.2 points. All patients performed normal daily life activities at averagely 3 (range, 2–5) months postoperatively. Conclusions: Direct visualization with the LTM approach followed by fixation with multiple miniscrews may be an alternative option for the treatment of ankle fractures with a posterolateral fragment associated with a posterior malleolar fracture. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Origins of the high temperature increase of the thermal conductivity of transition metal carbides from atomistic simulations

To understand the unexpected increase of the thermal conductivity of transition metal carbides at high temperatures, we calculate, with atomistic simulations, the thermal conductivity of zirconium carbide (ZrC). To account for the common substoichiometry of this material, various numbers of carbon vacancies are considered. The vibrational part of the conductivity is calculated by empirical potential molecular dynamics while the electronic part is calculated from density functional theory electronic structure with the Kubo–Greenwood formula on selected atomic configurations generated by the same empirical potential. We find that the vibrational part of the conductivity is negligible at temperatures higher than 1500 K. The increase of thermal conductivity with temperature is quantitatively reproduced in the calculations. It appears for all compositions and proves to rely entirely on its electronic component. Three phenomena are found responsible for the rise of the thermal conductivity with temperature: the semi-metallic shape of the electronic density of states, the additional electrical resistivity induced by carbon vacancies and the rise of the density of states with either temperature or the concentration of vacancies.
ELFENN: A Generalized Platform for Modeling Ephaptic Coupling in Spiking Neuron Models

The transmembrane ionic currents that underlie changes in a cell's membrane potential give rise to electric fields in the extracellular space. In the context of brain activity, these electric fields form the basis for extracellularly recorded signals, such as multiunit activity, local field potentials and electroencephalograms. Understanding the underlying neuronal dynamics and localizing current sources using these signals is often challenging, and therefore effective computational modeling approaches are critical. Typically, the electric fields from neural activity are modeled in a post-hoc form, i.e., a traditional neuronal model is used to first generate the membrane currents, which in turn are then used to calculate the electric fields. When the conductivity of the extracellular space is high, the electric fields are weak, and therefore treating membrane currents and electric fields separately is justified. However, in brain regions of lower conductivity, extracellular fields can feed back and significantly influence the underlying transmembrane currents and dynamics of nearby neurons—this is often referred to as ephaptic coupling. The closed-loop nature of ephaptic coupling cannot be modeled using the post-hoc approaches implemented by existing software tools; instead, electric fields and neuronal dynamics must be solved simultaneously. To this end, we have developed a generalized modeling toolbox for studying ephaptic coupling in compartmental neuron models: ELFENN (ELectric Field Effects in Neural Networks). In open loop conditions, we validate the separate components of ELFENN for modeling membrane dynamics and associated field potentials against standard approaches (NEURON and LFPy). Unlike standard approaches however, ELFENN enables the closed-loop condition to be modeled as well, in that the field potentials can feed back and influence membrane dynamics. As an example closed-loop case, we use ELFENN to study phase-locking of action potentials generated by a population of axons running parallel in a bundle. Being able to efficiently explore ephaptic coupling from a computational perspective using tools, such as ELFENN will allow us to better understand the physical basis of electric fields in the brain, as well as the conditions in which these fields may influence neuronal dynamics in general.
Significance of absorption spectra for the chemotaxonomic characterization of pigmented bacteria

A method for characterizing pigmented bacteria based on the numerical analysis of their carotenoid absorption spectra was examined. To achieve this, some non-phototrophic pigmented bacteria that were isolated from various environments and closely related types of species were used. Bacterial carotenoid pigments were extracted with an acetone:methanol (7:2) mixture and the absorption spectra were determined. Data were normalized, and their first derivatives were analyzed using Ward clustering algorithms. Based on the spectral data, isolates were separated into 7 groups. Characterization based on derivative pigment spectral data showed good agreement statistically with biochemical characterization results. The Mantel test indicated that the dissimilarity matrices of phenotypic tests and the pigment spectral data were correlated (P < 0.001). Absorption spectra can simplify and accelerate the identification and characterization of pigmented bacteria, when used with other distinctive biochemical tests. This method might be useful for determination of the microbial community structure in a variety of ecological studies.
Hypertension-associated hypalgesia. Evidence in experimental animals and humans, pathophysiological mechanisms, and potential clinical consequences.

A behavioral hypalgesia (increased response threshold to noxious stimuli) has been consistently, although not invariably, reported in spontaneous and experimental acute and chronic hypertension in the rat. Studies in human hypertension have also demonstrated a diminished perception of pain, assessed as pain thresholds or ratings. The sensitivity to painful stimuli correlated inversely with blood pressure levels, and this relationship extended into the normotensive range. Evidence in humans and rats points to a role of the baroreflex system in modulating nociception. In the rat, blood pressure-related antinociception may be due to attenuated transmission of noxious stimuli at the spinal level secondary to descending inhibitory influences that are projected from brain stem sites involved in cardiovascular regulation and that may depend on baroreceptor activation and/ or on a central "drive. " Both endorphinergic and noradrenergic central neurons (the latter acting through postsynaptic alpha 2-receptors) have been shown to be involved, and other mediators probably also play a role. Functionally, blood pressure-related antinociception may represent an aspect of a more-complex coordinated adaptive response of the body to "stressful" situations. It is still uncertain whether in human essential hypertension hypalgesia is secondary to elevated blood pressure or whether both depend on some common mechanism. Studies on the effect of hypotensive treatment are too few to allow conclusions. According to one hypothesis, the reduction in pain perception caused by baroreceptor activation secondary to blood pressure elevation may represent a rewarding mechanism that may be reinforced with repeated stress and may be involved in the development of hypertension in some individuals. Hypertension-associated hypalgesia may have clinically relevant consequences, especially in silent myocardial ischemia and unrecognized myocardial infarction, both of which are more prevalent in hypertensive individuals.
The need for the incorporation of phylogeny in the measurement of biological diversity, with special reference to ecosystem functioning research

Defining and measuring biodiversity is an important research area in biology, with very interesting theoretical and applied aspects. Numerous definitions have been proposed, and these definitions of biodiversity influence how it is measured. From the still commonly used measure of species diversity, through higher taxon diversity, molecular measures, ecological measures and indicator taxa, these measures have as their fundamental shortcoming the lack of an explicit consideration of the evolutionary context represented by phylogenies. Attempts have been made to incorporate phylogenetic considerations into measuring biodiversity, but more hypothesis‐driven research needs to be done. A specific case study is presented of how this added emphasis on phylogeny‐based biodiversity measurement can influence the way in which research is directed and hypotheses are generated. The elucidation of the relationship of biodiversity to ecosystem functioning is a very timely concern with the unarguable loss of biodiversity this planet is experiencing, whichever way biodiversity is measured.
Bayi Tabung, Status Hukum dan Hubungan Nasabahnya dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam

Dari pembahasan ini, dapat ditarik kesimpulan sebagai berikut: kesimpulan sebagai berikut: 1. Bayi tabung dengan proses menggunakan 1. Bayi tabung dengan proses menggunakan sperma dan ovum yang diambil dari pasangan sperma dan ovum yang diambil dari pasangan suami-isteri yang sah, yang kemudian suami-isteri yang sah, yang kemudian embrionya ditransfer ke rahim isterinya yang embrionya ditransfer ke rahim isterinya yang diambil ovumnya hukumnya dibolehkan. Anak diambil ovumnya hukumnya dibolehkan. Anak yang dilahirkan dengan proses ini, mempunyai yang dilahirkan dengan proses ini, mempunyai kedudukan yang sah menurut hukum Islam, kedudukan yang sah menurut hukum Islam, baik dari segi hubungan nasab maupun dari segi hak dan kewajiban terhadap kedua baik dari segi hubungan nasab maupun dari segi hak dan kewajiban terhadap kedua orangtuanya. orangtuanya. 2. Bayi tabung dengan ibu titipan (surrogate 2. Bayi tabung dengan ibu titipan (surrogate mother) baik sperma dan ovumnya berasal mother) baik sperma dan ovumnya berasal dari suami-isteri atau donor, hukumnya dari suami-isteri atau donor, hukumnya haram dalam hukum Islam. Bayi tabung haram dalam hukum Islam. Bayi tabung yang dilahirkan dengan cara ini nasabnya yang dilahirkan dengan cara ini nasabnya hanya dapat dipertalikan kepada ibu yang hanya dapat dipertalikan kepada ibu yang mengandung dan melahirkannya mengandung dan melahirkannya
Effects of meals high in carbohydrate, protein, and fat on ghrelin and peptide YY secretion in prepubertal children.

CONTEXT Ghrelin and peptide YY (PYY) are two hormones produced by the gastrointestinal tract that have effects on appetite. However, little is known about their secretion in response to meals high in individual macronutrients in prepubertal children. OBJECTIVE We sought to understand how meals high in carbohydrate, protein, and fat affect serum concentrations of total ghrelin and total PYY, hypothesizing that these macronutrients would exert differential effects on their secretion. DESIGN AND SETTING This was a cross-sectional study at one tertiary care center. SUBJECTS Subjects were 7- to 11-yr-old healthy normal-weight (NW) and obese (OB) volunteers recruited from local advertisements. INTERVENTIONS After an overnight fast, the subjects were given a breakfast high in carbohydrate, protein, or fat at 0800 h. Blood samples for total ghrelin and total PYY were taken at baseline, 30 min, and hourly from 0900 to 1200 h. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE We assessed postprandial ghrelin suppression and PYY elevation, as well as changes in reported hunger and satiety, after the three test meals. RESULTS After the high-protein meal, ghrelin declined gradually in both groups over the study period without subsequent increase, whereas ghrelin suppressed more rapidly to a nadir at 60 min after the high-carbohydrate meal in both NW and OB children, followed by rebound in ghrelin levels. Similarly, after the high-protein meal, PYY concentrations increased steadily over the course of the morning in both groups without decline, whereas PYY levels peaked 30 min after the high-carbohydrate meal in both NW and OB subjects with significant decline thereafter. Ghrelin and PYY responses to the high-fat meal were somewhat intermediate between that observed with high carbohydrate and high protein. The OB children reported higher hunger and lower satiety after the high-carbohydrate meal compared to the NW subjects, whereas appetite ratings were similar between the groups after the high-protein and high-fat meals. Additionally, within the OB group, area under the curve (AUC) analysis revealed significantly greater PYY response, as well as lower AUC hunger and higher AUC satiety, to the high-protein meal than the high-carbohydrate and high-fat meals. CONCLUSIONS The patterns of secretion of ghrelin and PYY in our study of prepubertal children suggest that they may play a role in the effectiveness of high-protein/low-carbohydrate diets in promoting weight loss.
Balancing Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian Contradictions Within Organizations

This article describes how institutions get infused with competing logics and analyzes how such competing logics might aid the design of contemporary organizations. It does so by exploring the contrasting views of American founders Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson on the issues they confronted in the years leading up to and after the United States’ independence from the British. Their views have had a lasting influence on the character and efficacy of the U.S. government. Although Hamilton and Jefferson contemplated issues related to the governance of the United States, the authors argue that their writings offer insights that can be useful to students of organizational design. They identify four influential ideas from the writings of Hamilton and Jefferson and discuss their implications for organizational design.
The regulatory role of the NO/cGMP signal transduction cascade during larval attachment and metamorphosis of the barnacle Balanus (=Amphibalanus) amphitrite

SUMMARY The barnacle Balanus amphitrite is among the most dominant fouling species on intertidal rocky shores in tropical and subtropical areas and is thus a target organism in antifouling research. After being released from adults, the swimming nauplius undertakes six molting cycles and then transforms into a cyprid. Using paired antennules, a competent cyprid actively explores and selects a suitable substratum for attachment and metamorphosis (collectively known as settlement). This selection process involves the reception of exogenous signals and subsequent endogenous signal transduction. To investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) during larval settlement of B. amphitrite, we examined the effects of an NO donor and an NO scavenger, two nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors and a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor on settling cyprids. We found that the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) inhibited larval settlement in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, both the NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO and the NOS inhibitors aminoguanidine hemisulfate (AGH) and S-methylisothiourea sulfate (SMIS) significantly accelerated larval settlement. Suppression of the downstream guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity using a GC-selective inhibitor ODQ could also significantly accelerate larval settlement. Interestingly, the settlement inhibition effects of SNP could be attenuated by ODQ at all concentrations tested. In the developmental expression profiling of NOS and sGC, the lowest expression of both genes was detected in the cyprid stage, a crucial stage for the larval decision to attach and metamorphose. In summary, we concluded that NO regulates larval settlement via mediating downstream cGMP signaling.