Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and clinical evaluation of a 10MHz ultrasound linear array catheter for endobronchial imaging

Applying endoscopic ultrasound to image external part of bronchial tubes is of great interest and complementary with other imaging methods. In continuation with our previous work [1], this paper presents the design and acoustical testing of a catheter array for endobronchial imaging completed by results of the clinical study performed with this probe. The transducer is a 64 elements ultrasound array included in a 7 Fr (2.3 mm Outer Diameter) catheter in order to be used in an existing bronchofiberscope. The array has a 200 µm pitch, a 1.5 mm elevation, and operates at 10 MHz center frequency. The piezoelectric material is based on 1-3 piezo-composite technology and the front layer is selected to act both as a matching and barrier layer. The probe is interfaced to a commercial ultrasound system. It was used in 25 patients without any inconvenience for the patient (in terms of discomfort and time duration which is limited to 10 minutes at the maximum) or the clinicians (easy use, perfect visualization of the area of interest). The only limitation encountered concerns the presence of air bubbles on bronchial walls which could limit the visualization of structures. This allowed the characterization of chest tumors (hypoechoic tissue) with possible adjacent lymph nodes (minimal size of 3 mm) which were not described on CT-scan. This identified clearly some underlying vessels to be spared during biopsy. This helps in identifying some regions of tumours which appeared as vascularized to guide the site of biopsy. In conclusion this specific probe is of great value to better image bronchial structures, to depict extension of tumours as well as possible sentinel lymph nodes for a more complete initial diagnosis and guidance of biopsies. This will be used to improve diagnosis and safety of biopsy.
Nonlinear Analysis of BBCDR Jitter Generation Using VOLTERRA Series

Bang-bang clock and data recovery (BBCDR) circuits are severely nonlinear systems as a result of the binary phase detector's nonlinear behavior. The characteristic of the bang-bang phase detectors follows ideally the sign function, but in practice, it exhibits a finite slope across a narrow range of the input phase difference. In this brief, by considering an approximated practical model for the phase detector, the nonlinear differential equation of the system is obtained which shows that the BBCDR is a nonlinear system with memory and VOLTERRA series expansion is useful for such systems. As a result, the jitter generation of voltage-controlled-oscillator phase noise in BBCDR is specified. Behavioral simulation is used to validate the analytical results. The results show a good agreement between analytical equations and simulation results.
A vision system for object verification and localization based on local features

An object verification and localization system should answer the question of whether an expected object is present in an image or not, i.e. verification, and if present where it is located. Such a system would be very useful for mobile robots for example for landmark recognition or for the fulfilment of certain tasks. In this paper we present an object verification and localization system specially adapted to the needs of mobile robots. The object model is based on a collection of local features derived from a small neighbourhood around automatically detected interest points. The learned representation of the object is then matched with the image under consideration. The tests, based on 90 images, showed a very satisfying tolerance to scale changes of up to 25%, to viewpoint variations of 20 degrees, to occlusion of up to 80% and to major background changes as well as to local and global illumination changes. The tests also showed that the verification capabilities are very good and that similar objects did not trigger any false verification.
Structural basis for intersubunit signaling in a protein disaggregating machine

ClpB is a ring-forming, ATP-dependent protein disaggregase that cooperates with the cognate Hsp70 system to recover functional protein from aggregates. How ClpB harnesses the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis to facilitate the mechanical unfolding of previously aggregated, stress-damaged proteins remains unclear. Here, we present crystal structures of the ClpB D2 domain in the nucleotide-bound and -free states, and the fitted cryoEM structure of the D2 hexamer ring, which provide a structural understanding of the ATP power stroke that drives protein translocation through the ClpB hexamer. We demonstrate that the conformation of the substrate-translocating pore loop is coupled to the nucleotide state of the cis subunit, which is transmitted to the neighboring subunit via a conserved but structurally distinct intersubunit-signaling pathway common to diverse AAA+ machines. Furthermore, we found that an engineered, disulfide cross-linked ClpB hexamer is fully functional biochemically, suggesting that ClpB deoligomerization is not required for protein disaggregation.
Effect of the Configuration of Contact Type Textile Electrode on the Performance of Heart Activity Signal Acquisition for Smart Healthcare

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of contact type textile electrode structure on heart activity signal acquisition for smart healthcare. In this study, we devised six contact type textile electrodes whose electrode size and configuration were manipulated for measuring heart activity signals using computerized embroidery. We detected heart activity signals using a modified lead II and by attaching each textile electrode to the chest band in four healthy male subjects in a standing static posture. We measured the signals four times repeatedly for all types of electrodes. The heart activity signals were sampled at 1 ㎑ using a BIOPAC ECG100, and the detected original signals were filtered through a band-pass filter. To compare the performance of heart activity signal
Analysis on the Relevance of Asthma Susceptibility with the Alteration of Integrin β 4 Expression

Accumulated research has suggested the importance of the adhesion molecules modulation as therapeutic approach for bronchial asthma. Adhesion molecules expression alteration contributes to the pathogenesis of asthma. In order to probe the roles of expression imbalance of adhesion molecules in asthma pathogenesis, expression profiling of adhesion molecules was performed using cDNA microarray assay. The results showed that the expression pattern of adhesion molecules was altered in peripheral blood leucocytes of asthma patients. In this study, we focused on one of the abnormally expressed molecule, integrin β4, which was down-regulated in all asthma patients, to analyze the relevance of asthma susceptibility with the alteration of integrin β4 expressions. Real time PCR was used to verify the down-regulation of integrin β4 in additional 38 asthma patients. Next, the 5′flanking region of integrin β4 DNA were amplified, sequenced and site-directed mutagenesis technology in correspondent variation sites were carried out. Among 4 variation sites found in 5′ flanking region of integrin β4, 3 were related to asthma susceptibility: -nt1029 G/A, -nt 1051 G/A, and -nt 1164 G/C. A reduction of human integrin β4 promoter activity was observed at mutants of these sites. This study demonstrates that various adhesion molecules in asthma patients are abnormally expressed. Mutations in 5′ flanking region result in reduced integrin β4 expression, which is related to increased risk of asthma.
Biochemical Outcome After Radical Prostatectomy , External Beam Radiation Therapy , or Interstitial Radiation Therapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Context. — Interstitial radiation (implant) therapy is used to treat clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate, but how it compares with other treatments is not known. Objective. — To estimate control of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation (RT), or implant with or without neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. Design. — Retrospective cohort study of outcome data compared using Cox regression multivariable analyses. Setting and Patients. — A total of 1872 men treated between January 1989 and October 1997 with an RP (n = 888) or implant with or without neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (n = 218) at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, or RT (n = 766) at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy, Boston, Mass, were enrolled. Main Outcome Measure. — Actuarial freedom from PSA failure (defined as PSA outcome). Results. — The relative risk (RR) of PSA failure in low-risk patients (stage T1c, T2a and PSA level #10 ng/mL and Gleason score #6) treated using RT, implant plus androgen deprivation therapy, or implant therapy was 1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-2.7), 0.5 (95% CI, 0.1-1.9), and 1.1 (95% CI, 0.3-3.6), respectively, compared with those patients treated with RP. The RRs of PSA failure in the intermediate-risk patients (stage T2b or Gleason score of 7 or PSA level .10 and #20 ng/mL) and high-risk patients (stage T2c or PSA level .20 ng/mL or Gleason score $8) treated with implant compared with RP were 3.1 (95% CI, 1.5-6.1) and 3.0 (95% CI, 1.8-5.0), respectively. The addition of androgen deprivation to implant therapy did not improve PSA outcome in high-risk patients but resulted in a PSA outcome that was not statistically different compared with the results obtained using RP or RT in intermediate-risk patients. These results were unchanged when patients were stratified using the traditional rankings of biopsy Gleason scores of 2 through 4 vs 5 through 6 vs 7 vs 8 through 10. Conclusions. — Low-risk patients had estimates of 5-year PSA outcome after treatment with RP, RT, or implant with or without neoadjuvant androgen deprivation that were not statistically different, whereas intermediateand high-risk patients treated with RP or RT did better then those treated by implant. Prospective randomized trials are needed to verify these findings. JAMA. 1998;280:969-974
Weight-for-height reference and the prevalence of obesity for school children and adolescents in Taiwan and Fuchien Areas.

BACKGROUND Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence are recognized as public health problems worldwide. Updated growth reference values of weight-for-height are needed for monitoring physical growth of children and adolescents. METHODS Weight-for-height and the prevalence of obesity for school children and adolescents in Taiwan and Fuchien Areas were analyzed based on the data obtained in a 2002 nationwide survey of 86,967 subjects, including 44,133 boys and 42,834 girls, ages 6.5 to 18.5 years. Weight-for-height percentile curves were smoothed separately by regression model with polynomials. RESULTS The growth reference values of weight-for-height were updated for monitoring physical growth. The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity was 18.5% (range: 10.6%-22.8%) in boys and 15.0% (range: 10.0%-18.4%) in girls. Boys had a higher prevalence of obesity than girls did at all ages. The peak of prevalence of obesity in boys was around 10.0-12.0 years old. CONCLUSION At all ages, the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity for both sexes is higher in the 2002 than in 1997. This evidence strongly suggests an increasing prevalence of obesity during childhood and adolescence in recent years, irrespective of sex.
Representing uncertainty in spatial and spatiotemporal databases

The theme of this thesis is uncertainty in spatial and spatiotemporal databases. Due to lack of accurate measurements, or rapid changes in time, spatial and spatiotemporal data are often uncertain. This thesis presents new abstract and discrete models for uncertain spatial and spatiotemporal information. The models are based on the principle that one knows that the uncertain object, regardless of type, must be within a certain area.The first part of this thesis concerns an abstract model. To this author’sknowledge, this is the first attempt to create a general type system for uncertainty with spatial data. Individual uncertain types have been modelled before, but no work has studied points, lines and regions and used the same principles to model all three. It also seems to be the first model to handle temporal as well as spatial uncertainty. This thesis contains mathematical definitions of uncertain points, lines, regions and temporal versions of these. The thesis also contains definitions of relevant operations on these types. These operations are also evaluated for their usefulness with regard to uncertain data.The second part of this thesis concerns three discrete models which are all based on the abstract model mentioned earlier. One of these is an advanced model that manages to model almost all of the aspects of the abstract model, but at the cost of increased need for storage space. It is also difficult to compute probabilities in a consistent manner for this model.The second model is of medium complexity, and balances storage use and modelling power. It also has the advantage that computing probabilities in a consistent manner is much easier than for the advanced model. The third model is an attempt to bring the storage space needed as low as possible. It therefore has somewhat limited modelling power. Unlike the two other discrete models, it cannot be extended to handle spatiotemporal data.The handling of uncertain spatiotemporal data is based on how crisp spatiotemporal data are handled in [GBE+00] and [FGNS00]. This thesis makes two important additions to these models so that they can handle uncertain data. First, it presents ways of generating a sliced representation when the times the snapshots were taken are uncertain. Second, it details how operations change as a result of uncertainty. The Initial and Final operations exemplify this as in the crisp case they return the initial and final shapes of an object, but they cannot be defined in the uncertain case. This thesis discusses how these operations can be replaced in the uncertain case.
THE STELLAR-ACTIVITY–ROTATION RELATIONSHIP AND THE EVOLUTION OF STELLAR DYNAMOS

We present a sample of 824 solar and late-type stars with X-ray luminosities and rotation periods. This is used to study the relationship between rotation and stellar activity and derive a new estimate of the convective turnover time. From an unbiased subset of this sample the power-law slope of the unsaturated regime, LX/Lbol∝Roβ, is fit as β = −2.70 ± 0.13. This is inconsistent with the canonical β = −2 slope to a confidence of 5σ, and argues for an additional term in the dynamo number equation. From a simple scaling analysis this implies ΔΩ/Ω∝Ω0. 7, i.e., the differential rotation of solar-type stars gradually declines as they spin down. Supersaturation is observed for the fastest rotators in our sample and its parametric dependencies are explored. Significant correlations are found with both the corotation radius and the excess polar updraft, the latter theory providing a stronger dependence and being supported by other observations. We estimate mass-dependent empirical thresholds for saturation and supersaturation and map out three regimes of coronal emission. Late F-type stars are shown never to pass through the saturated regime, passing straight from supersaturated to unsaturated X-ray emission. The theoretical threshold for coronal stripping is shown to be significantly different from the empirical saturation threshold (Ro < 0.13), suggesting it is not responsible. Instead we suggest that a different dynamo configuration is at work in stars with saturated coronal emission. This is supported by a correlation between the empirical saturation threshold and the time when stars transition between convective and interface sequences in rotational spin-down models.
Differential effects of buffer pH on Ca2+-induced ROS emission with inhibited mitochondrial complexes I and III

Excessive mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) emission is a critical component in the etiology of ischemic injury. Complex I and complex III of the electron transport chain are considered the primary sources of ROS emission during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury. Several factors modulate ischemic ROS emission, such as an increase in extra-matrix Ca2+, a decrease in extra-matrix pH, and a change in substrate utilization. Here we examined the combined effects of these factors on ROS emission from respiratory complexes I and III under conditions of simulated IR injury. Guinea pig heart mitochondria were suspended in experimental buffer at a given pH and incubated with or without CaCl2. Mitochondria were then treated with either pyruvate, a complex I substrate, followed by rotenone, a complex I inhibitor, or succinate, a complex II substrate, followed by antimycin A, a complex III inhibitor. H2O2 release rate and matrix volume were compared with and without adding CaCl2 and at pH 7.15, 6.9, or 6.5 with pyruvate + rotenone or succinate + antimycin A to simulate conditions that may occur during in vivo cardiac IR injury. We found a large increase in H2O2 release with high [CaCl2] and pyruvate + rotenone at pH 6.9, but not at pHs 7.15 or 6.5. Large increases in H2O2 release rate also occurred at each pH with high [CaCl2] and succinate + antimycin A, with the highest levels observed at pH 7.15. The increases in H2O2 release were associated with significant mitochondrial swelling, and both H2O2 release and swelling were abolished by cyclosporine A, a desensitizer of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). These results indicate that ROS production by complex I and by complex III is differently affected by buffer pH and Ca2+ loading with mPTP opening. The study suggests that changes in the levels of cytosolic Ca2+ and pH during IR alter the relative amounts of ROS produced at mitochondrial respiratory complex I and complex III.
Prefracture functional level evaluated by the New Mobility Score predicts in-hospital outcome after hip fracture surgery

Background and purpose Clinicians need valid and easily applicable predictors of outcome in patients with hip fracture. Adjusting for previously established predictors, we determined the predictive value of the New Mobility score (NMS) for in-hospital outcome in patients with hip fracture. Patients and methods We studied 280 patients with a median age of 81 (interquartile range 72–86) years who were admitted from their own homes to a special hip fracture unit. Main outcome was the regain of independence in basic mobility, defined as. independence in getting in and out of bed, sitting down and standing up from a chair, and walking with an appropriate walking aid. The Cumulated Ambulation score was used to evaluate basic mobility. Predictor variables were NMS functional level before fracture, age, sex, fracture type, and mental and health status. Results Except for sex, all predictor variables were statistically significant in univariate testing. In multiple logistic regression analysis, only age, NMS functional level before fracture, and fracture type were significant. Thus, patients with a low prefracture NMS and/or an intertrochanteric fracture would be 18 and 4 times more likely not to regain independence in basic mobility during the hospital stay, respectively, than patients with a high prefracture level and a cervical fracture, respectively. The model was statistically stable and correctly classified 84% of cases. Interpretation The NMS functional level before fracture, age, and fracture type facilitate prediction of the in-hospital rehabilitation potential after hip fracture surgery.
Adaptive collaboration in an ever-changing environment

Traditional collaboration systems are typically bundled with a set of tools with pre-specified static workflow and usage patterns. They are found to be inflexible and incompetent for today's heterogeneous and ever-changing collaboration contexts and computing environments. Today's collaboration systems must be aware of the dynamic changes of collaboration contexts in a timely manner and be adaptive to these changes appropriately. In this paper, we illustrate how business logic and computing environment context awareness are provided through a set of shared ontologies with well-defined semantics in a project called as EkSarva. The awareness of collaboration contexts and its changes then enables the collaboration system to adapt to these changes and be more flexible. A dynamic workflow process is also facilitated by the context-awareness.
A Tripartite Amplification Loop Involving the Transcription Factor WRKY75, Salicylic Acid, and Reactive Oxygen Species Accelerates Leaf Senescence

A leaf senescence accelerator involving the transcription factor WRKY75, salicylic acid, and H2O2 is driven by three interlinking positive feedback loops. Leaf senescence is a highly coordinated, complicated process involving the integration of numerous internal and environmental signals. Salicylic acid (SA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are two well-defined inducers of leaf senescence whose contents progressively and interdependently increase during leaf senescence via an unknown mechanism. Here, we characterized the transcription factor WRKY75 as a positive regulator of leaf senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana. Knockdown or knockout of WRKY75 delayed age-dependent leaf senescence, while overexpression of WRKY75 accelerated this process. WRKY75 transcription is induced by age, SA, H2O2, and multiple plant hormones. Meanwhile, WRKY75 promotes SA production by inducing the transcription of SA INDUCTION-DEFICIENT2 (SID2) and suppresses H2O2 scavenging, partly by repressing the transcription of CATALASE2 (CAT2). Genetic analysis revealed that the mutation of SID2 or an increase in catalase activity rescued the precocious leaf senescence phenotype evoked by WRKY75 overexpression. Based on these results, we propose a tripartite amplification loop model in which WRKY75, SA, and ROS undergo a gradual but self-sustained rise driven by three interlinking positive feedback loops. This tripartite amplification loop provides a molecular framework connecting upstream signals, such as age and plant hormones, to the downstream regulatory network executed by SA- and H2O2-responsive transcription factors during leaf senescence.
Relationships between Measurement of Pain Using Visual Analog Score and Morphine Requirements during Postoperative Intravenous Morphine Titration

Background Although intravenous morphine titration is widely used to obtain rapid and complete postoperative pain relief, the relationship between measurement of pain and morphine requirements varies, and the evolution of pain during titration is poorly understood. Methods Intravenous morphine titration was administered as a bolus of 2 (body weight ≤ 60 kg) or 3 mg (body weight > 60 kg) during the immediate postoperative period in the PACU. The interval between each bolus was 5 min. The visual analog scale (VAS) score threshold required to administer morphine was 30, and pain relief was defined as a VAS score of 30 or less. Results Data from 3,045 patients were analyzed. The mean initial VAS score was 73 ± 19 (mean ± SD), and the mean morphine dose required to obtain pain relief was 0.17 ± 0.10 mg/kg, i.e., a median of four boluses (range, 1–20). When patients were grouped according to several classes of initial VAS score (31–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89, 90–100), it seemed that the relationship between VAS score and morphine requirements was a sigmoid curve. A VAS score of 70 or greater predicted the need for a high (>0.15 mg/kg) morphine dose (sensitivity, 0.77; specificity, 0.54). During the pain relief process, the relationship between VAS score and time was depicted by a sigmoid curve. Conclusion A VAS score of 70 or greater should be considered indicative of severe pain. The relationship between the initial VAS score and morphine requirements is not linear, and the evolution of the VAS score during the pain relief process is described by a sigmoid curve.