Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of psychometric evaluations of outcome assessments for complex regional pain syndrome

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review of the quality and extent of psychometric examinations of disease-specific outcome measures for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Methods: Health database searches yielded 23 papers covering 19 assessment instruments. Each article was scored for quality using a 12-item structured tool; data were also extracted for comparison of tool content. Results: Article quality ratings ranged from 25 to 88%. Six of the tools were specific to the upper extremity; 5 for the lower extremities while the remaining 8 were general. Many ‘general’ tools focused on a single construct, such as pain, skin temperature or allodynia. Most psychometric data was based on small studies (mean n = 33); only one study addressed all relevant issues of reliability, validity and responsiveness. Conclusions: Despite the variety of outcome measurement tools reported for CRPS rehabilitation, large gaps in both comprehensiveness and supporting psychometric evidence remain. Comprehensive, relevant and psychometrically sound tools for monitoring treatment outcomes are needed to address the pain and functional limitations experienced by this population. Implications for Rehabilitation Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a neurological disorder with signs and symptoms that vary with activity, environment and stress. Although there is no diagnostic test for this syndrome, a need exists for tools to monitor treatment outcomes that address the pain and functional limitations experienced by this population. This review suggests that at present, there is no single comprehensive outcome measure for clinical practice and/or research which has strong supporting psychometric evidence for the evaluation of persons with CRPSAPPENDIX, a scoring sheet and scoring guidelines for critical appraisals for the evaluation of persons with CRPS.
Interleukin‐5 and its receptor: a drug target for eosinophilia associated with chronic allergic disease

A characteristic feature of chronic allergic diseases such as asthma is the increase in eosinophil numbers in the inflamed tissue. In light of its specificity for the development of eosinophils, interleukin‐5 (IL‐5) is considered the most important cytokine involved in the regulation of eosinophilia. Hence, an antagonist for IL‐5 activity is a new target for drug discovery programs. We have examined the opportunity for both a random and a rational approach for the identification of such an antagonist. The elucidation of the structure of IL‐5 and the initial structure/function analysis of the ligand/receptor complex constitute a first step towards the design of antagonistic compounds. The identification of a small compound by random screening able to inhibit the IL‐5/IL‐5 receptor interaction indicated an important domain in the receptor. We examine here protein‐based IL‐5 antagonists, such as IL‐5‐muteins, soluble IL‐5 receptor constructs, and monoclonal antibodies, for their potential as IL‐5/IL‐5 receptor antagonists, and the use of a murine model of eosinophil airway inflammation for their evaluation. J. Leukoc. Biol. 57: 813–819; 1995.
hoc Computational Clusters of Mobile Devices 3 Raw data Prepared Data Focus Data Geometric Data Image Data Data Analysis Filtering Mapping Rendering

Current web-based visualizations are designed for single computers and cannot make use of additional devices on the client side, even if today’s users often have access to several, such as a tablet, a smartphone, and a smartwatch. We present a framework for ad-hoc computational clusters that leverage these local devices for visualization computations. Furthermore, we present an instantiating JavaScript toolkit called VISHIVE for constructing web-based visualization applications that can transparently connect multiple devices—called cells—into such ad-hoc clusters—called a hive— for local computation. Hives are formed either using a matchmaking service or through manual configuration. Cells are organized into a master-slave architecture, where the master provides the visual interface to the user and controls the slaves, and the slaves perform computation. VisHive is built entirely using current web technologies, runs in the native browser of each cell, and requires no specific software to be downloaded on the involved devices. We demonstrate VisHive using four distributed examples: a text analytics visualization, a database query for exploratory visualization, a DBSCAN clustering running on multiple nodes, and a Principal Component Analysis implementation.
Multi Target Acoustic Source Tracking with an Unknown and Time Varying Number of Targets

Particle Filter-based Acoustic Source Tracking algorithms track (online and in real-time) the position of a sound source - a person speaking in a room - based on the current data from a distributed microphone array as well as all previous data up to that point. This paper develops a previously introduced multi-target (MTT) methodology to allow for an unknown and time-varying number of speakers. Finally examples show typical tracking performance in a number of different scenarios with simultaneously active speech sources.
Strategic Planning for Cloud Computing Adoption in STEM Education: Finding Best Practice Solutions

This chapter describes effective strategic analysis and implementation methods for the adoption of cloud computing services (infrastructure, platforms, and software) in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. The benefits of cloud computing, including lower costs, scalability and virtualization capabilities, have been recognized and adopted by major educational, governmental and research institutions internationally during the last five years. However, the term ‘cloud computing’ was only recently clarified in 2011 in the NIST’s standard definition published by Mell and Grance (2012) as “a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. ” Despite the increasing clarity in defining cloud computing, the deployment models can be complex, encompassing hybrid, public, community and private cloud frameworks, all with varying levels of privacy, security, and trust. Data format, integrity, and portability as well as geographical server location represent additional factors that educational institutions must weigh when they consider adopting a cloud solution for their educational needs. The chapter provides advice on how to strategically plan for the use of cloud computing services and how to identify, weigh and assess the various factors in decision-making. Just as with e-learning when it was found at the end of the 1990s that purely online technological approaches were not as effective as pedagogical models (blended learning) which took into account human factors such as student motivation, teacher training, technological illiteracy, etc., the author suggests that a holistic technology adoption process that includes needs assessment and stakeholder engagement will be the most successful. Alan S. Weber Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Qatar
Study of Realistic Antenna Patterns in 5G mmWave Cellular Scenarios

Large antenna arrays and millimeter- wave (mmWave) frequencies have been attracting growing attention as possible candidates to meet the high requirements of future 5G mobile networks. In view of the large path loss attenuation in these bands, beamforming techniques that create a beam in the direction of the user equipment are essential to perform the transmission. For this purpose, in this paper, we aim at characterizing realistic antenna radiation patterns, motivated by the need to properly capture mmWave propagation behaviors and understand the achievable performance in 5G cellular scenarios. In particular, we highlight how the performance changes with the radiation pattern used. Consequently, we conclude that it is crucial to use an accurate and realistic radiation model for proper performance assessment and system dimensioning.
The impact of BPMS implementation on Business Process (Management) Maturity:a nested case study in an international financial institution

Disclaimer This document contains a student thesis (bachelor's or master's), as authored by a student at Eindhoven University of Technology. Student theses are made available in the TU/e repository upon obtaining the required degree. The grade received is not published on the document as presented in the repository. The required complexity or quality of research of student theses may vary by program, and the required minimum study period may vary in duration.
Gradient-based Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy local observer

In this paper, a recently introduced nonlinear gradient-based observer [1] has been adopted for Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy systems. The designed observer is especially aimed to estimate the unmeasurable states of the TS fuzzy systems where the LMI solution is not feasible to find the observer gains. The estimation of gradient observer is evaluated based on the Levenberg-Marquardt direction where the local convergence property is guaranteed using Lyapunov function approach. The numerical simulations present accurate estimation results for TS fuzzy nonlinear systems including a comparison with the conventional Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) yielding acceptable results.
Flat Lens Antenna with Antireflection Layers Based on Artificial Dielectrics

Artificial dielectric is applied for a thin and flat lens antenna. Large effective permittivity contributes to reduce the thickness of the lens, while an arbitrary local control of permittivity allows flat profile instead of convex profile of the conventional lenses. The large permittivity, in turn, deteriorates wave matching to the air, resulting in increase of the reflection loss. Thus, the present article proposes to add antireflection layers to the lens aiming at reduction of the mismatch loss. A new design method considering multiple reflections on both surfaces of the lens has been verified to work well experimentally.
Hybrid Programming and Automated Programming : Current and Future Programmer Responsibilities a reading study

This project aims to explore hybrid and automated programming models, including an analysis of their advantages and disadvantages from a programmers perspective, as a step toward answering the question, Will automated programming models someday replace hybrid models as the norm on large-scale and heterogeneous architectures? This paper examines several hybrid and several automated models generally as well as the specific hybrid and automated models available for Intels new Xeon Phi coprocessors (often referred to as MIC for many integrated core). The new MIC coprocessors as well as Intels marketing for them represent a small but significant departure from the architectures and programming style around which many hybrid programming models are designed, making it interesting to consider how coprocessors may affect the future evolution of programming models.
Genetic Analysis of Components Involved in Vitamin B12 Uptake in Escherichia coli

The products of three genes are involved in cyanocobalamin (B12) uptake in Escherichia coli. btuB (formerly bfe), located at min 88 on the Escherichia coli linkage map, codes for a protein component of the outer membrane which serves as receptor for B12, the E colicins, and bacteriophage BF23. Four phenotypic classes of mutants varying in response to these agents were found to carry mutations that, based on complementation and reversion analyses, reside in the single btuB cistron. In one mutant class, ligand binding to the receptor appeared to be normal, but subsequent B12 uptake was defective. The level of receptor and rate of uptake were responsive to btuB gene dosage. Previous studies showed that the tonB product was necessary for energy-dependent B12 uptake but not for its binding. Other than those in tonB, no mutations that conferred insensitivity to group B colicins affected B12 utilization. The requirement for the btuB and tonB products could be bypassed by elevated levels of B12 (>1 μM) or by mutations compromising the integrity of the outer membrane as a permeability barrier. Utilization of elevated B12 concentrations in strains lacking the btuB-tonB uptake system was dependent on the function of the btuC product. This gene was located at 37.7 min on the linkage map, with the order pps-btuC-pheS. Strains altered in btuC but with an intact btuB-tonB system were only slightly impaired in B12 utilization, being defective in its accumulation. This defect was manifested as inability to retain B12, such that intracellular label was almost completely lost by exchange or efflux. It is proposed that btuC encodes a transport system for B12 in the periplasm.
Attempts to demonstrate a polysaccharide capsule in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The presence or absence of a polysaccharide capsule on the human pathogen Neisseria (N.) gonorrhoeae is still a topic of controversy. For this reason we compared the results obtained by light microscopy (dry India ink‐Fuchsin stain) and electron microscopy (Alcian blue‐lanthanum nitrate stain) of encapsulated strains of N. meningitidis and Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae and of non‐encapsulated strains of S. pneumoniae and Escherichia (E.) coli with those obtained using the same methods on strains of pilliated and non‐pilliated N. gonorrhoeae. After staining with India ink‐Fuchsin no capsules could be demonstrated on any of the N. gonorrhoeae strains studied. If present the capsules on these cells are too delicate to be identified by light microscopy. After treatment with Alcian blue‐lanthanum nitrate sections of cells of N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae generally showed the presence of a capsular layer. Sections of cells of the non‐encapsulated strain of S. pneumoniae which possess C (common)‐polysaccharide also showed surface associated capsule‐like material. Similarly the surface of the cells of the E. coli strain showed material which appeared to be tufts of pili and/or M (mucoid)‐antigen. In experiments where the N. gonorrhoeae cells were harvested as early as after six hours of growth a capsule‐like material was demonstrated on cells of all strains studied.
Genetic Engineering of Surrogate β Cells for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease resulting from the destruction of the insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas. While treatment options like daily insulin injections or transplantation of whole-pancreas exist, they are associated with significant drawbacks. As a result, there has been great interest in engineering surrogate β cells, both ex vivo and in situ, to replace the function of those cells lost during the progression of the disease. However, the β cell is highly specialized and extraordinarily adept at synthesizing and rapidly secreting the appropriate amount of insulin in response to even small increases in blood glucose levels. Thus, genetic engineering of the “perfect” β cell may prove impossible. In this review, we will detail the features of β cells that make them so proficient at regulating blood glucose and highlight the key features that absolutely must be met by surrogate β cells if they are to be suitable for treatment of T1DM. Then, we will summarize the current approaches used to genetically engineer surrogate β cells, including the overexpression of β cell-specific transcription factors and insulin gene therapy. Along the way, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and review important studies in the field. Lastly, we will discuss important future directions necessary to genetically engineer surrogate β cells with the potential to treat T1DM.
Evaluation of the protective efficacy of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines in an animal model

The infant rat model for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease was modified to test the protective efficacy of candidate vaccines. The administration of 0.4 micrograms of polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) combined with pertussis vaccine or with diphtheria toxoid-tetanus toxoid-pertussis vaccine (DTP) to infant rats at 5, 10, and 15 days of age resulted in significant (P less than 0.001) protection against Hib bacteremia after challenge at 20 days of age. A dose-response effect was demonstrated, and suppression of the protective effect was noted with high doses of PRP. The administration of pertussis vaccine alone or DTP alone did not protect against Hib bacteremia. The degree of protection against Hib bacteremia correlated (P less than 0.005) with the serum anti-PRP antibody response measured before bacterial challenge. High-molecular-weight PRP preparations administered alone or in combination with pertussis vaccine were less effective than standard PRP combined with pertussis vaccine. These data compare favorably with the antibody response in human infants receiving the same vaccines. The observations in this animal model should facilitate the development and testing of other vaccine preparations for human infants.
Robust video watermarking using perceptual information and motion vector

This paper proposes a video watermarking algorithm, where watermark embedding and detection process are carried out during MPEG-2 coding process. Watermark signal is embedded in DCT coefficients of I-frames and P- frames and the embedding energy is computed adaptively using perceptual information of the I-frames and the P-frames, and motion vectors information in the P-frame. Computer simulation results show the watermark robustness to common signal processing, such as contamination by noise, cropping, frame dropping, frame swapping and frame averaging, etc. Also watermark imperceptibility is evaluated by conventional PSNR and perceptual video quality measurement, taking more than 45 dB and 0.96, respectively. Also the proposed system has very little influence on the MPEG coding/decoding speed.
ICT and Web 2.0 Technologies as a Determinant of Business Performance

Success in a highly dynamic environment requires a more efficient response to customers from the side of the companies, more flexible approaches in facing their business circle and more focus on their core competencies (Smith, 2008). What are companies expected to do in order to introduce the necessary changes in the whole business circle? The answer definitely lies in people. The employees’ knowledge and competencies significantly contribute to the company’s ability to react to the ExcutIvE Summary
Class based Synthetic Minority Sampling Technique In Imbalanced Data Classification of Fraud Detection

— The present paper proposes an intellectual pioneering fraud detection method, build upon existing fraud detection explore and Minority Report, to deal with the data mining problem of skewed data distributions. Fraud detection system experience an inherent problem of Imbalance Class allocation which requirements to be address as conventional classification algorithms fails on this situation, Class imbalance problem turn out to be greatest issue in data mining. Imbalance problem happen where one of the two classes have more sample than other classes. The most of algorithm are more focus on categorization of major sample while ignore or misclassifying minority sample. The minority samples are those that rarely happen but very important. So to overcome existing methodology drawback need to plan a new algorithm which is categorize in different method of imbalance data set which is separated into three main categories, the adaptive class algorithmic approach, imbalanced data preprocessing and post processing approach and feature selection approach all combine is called CBSMST-Class Based Synthetic Minority Sampling Technique.
Solitary IgM phase II response has a limited predictive value in the diagnosis of acute Q fever

SUMMARY We investigated the positive predictive value (PPV) of a solitary positive immunoglobulin M (IgM) phase II response for the serodiagnosis of acute Q fever detected with either an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Initial and follow-up sera from patients suspected of acute Q fever were included if initially only IgM phase II tested positive with IFA in 2008 (n=92), or ELISA in 2009 (n=85). A seroconversion for Q fever was defined as an initial sample being IgG phase II negative but positive in the follow-up sample. The PPV of an initial isolated IgM phase II result detected by IFA or ELISA was 65% and 51%, respectively, and therefore appeared not to adequately predict acute Q fever. For this reason it cannot be used as a diagnostic criterion nor should it be included in public health notification without confirmation with other markers or a follow-up serum sample.
Microdialysis of Glucose in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue up to 3 Weeks in Healthy Volunteers

OBJECTIVE To measure possible changes in dialysate glucose concentrations over time, to validate the diffusional model for glucose transport from tissue to the probe, and to evaluate the actual glucose concentration in adipose tissue. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Glucose concentrations in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of five healthy subjects (age 25 ± 2.7 years, BMI 23.2 ± 2.3 kg/m2 [mean ± SD]) were measured by the microdialysis technique and compared with blood glucose. We applied microdialysis probes with hollow fibers of various membrane length (10–35 mm), used eight perfusion flow rates (0.5–20 μl/min), and perfused four glucose solutions (0.0, 2.8, 8.3, 11.1 mmol/l). RESULTS After implantation, a substantial decrease in glucose recovery to the lowest value of 26 ± 10% of the final plateau value was noted during the first few hours (n = 4). Recovery increased and stabilized after 5–9 days at 84.0 ± 7.4% of capillary blood glucose when a flow rate of 0.5 μ/min was applied. According to the zero net-flux method, the glucose concentration in equilibrium, Cequi, with the surrounding tissue can be obtained. This concentration also decreases; however, 1 h after recovery, Cequi increases again over 1 or 2 days to a stable value that is not significantly different from the measured capillary blood glucose (P < 0.05). Using various perfusion flow rates and probes (membrane length 10–35 mm), it is shown that diffusion is the rate-limiting process for glucose transport through tissue. CONCLUSIONS Insertion of the microdialysis probes causes damage to the adipose cells and the vascular bed around the probe. Glucose recovery decreases because of a lower blood supply. In 5–9 days, glucose recovery increases; apparently, this time is needed to repair the microstructure of tissue around the probe. After stabilization of the recovery, no loss of probe permeability, which is due to biocompatibility problems, was seen. The change during the 2 days in equilibrium concentration is probably caused by an inflammation reaction that consumes glucose around the probe. The individual increase in recovery during the 1st days after probe insertion until a stable plateau value is reached (flow rate >0 μ/min) is complicated for short-term clinical glucose measurements in adipose tissue. After stabilization, the mean equilibrium concentration of all subjects was equal to the mean capillary blood glucose concentration. Therefore, we conclude that capillary blood glucose concentration probably is the driving force for diffusion through the capillary wall into the probe and is not some interstitial concentration.