Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The National One Week Prevalence Audit of Universal Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Admission Screening 2012

Introduction The English Department of Health introduced universal MRSA screening of admissions to English hospitals in 2010. It commissioned a national audit to review implementation, impact on patient management, admission prevalence and extra yield of MRSA identified compared to “high-risk” specialty or “checklist-activated” screening (CLAS) of patients with MRSA risk factors. Methods National audit May 2011. Questionnaires to infection control teams in all English NHS acute trusts, requesting number patients admitted and screened, new or previously known MRSA; MRSA point prevalence; screening and isolation policies; individual risk factors and patient management for all new MRSA patients and random sample of negatives. Results 144/167 (86.2%) trusts responded. Individual patient data for 760 new MRSA patients and 951 negatives. 61% of emergency admissions (median 67.3%), 81% (median 59.4%) electives and 47% (median 41.4%) day-cases were screened. MRSA admission prevalence: 1% (median 0.9%) emergencies, 0.6% (median 0.4%) electives, 0.4% (median 0%) day-cases. Approximately 50% all MRSA identified was new. Inpatient MRSA point prevalence: 3.3% (median 2.9%). 104 (77%) trusts pre-emptively isolated patients with previous MRSA, 63 (35%) pre-emptively isolated admissions to “high-risk” specialties; 7 (5%) used PCR routinely. Mean time to MRSA positive result: 2.87 days (±1.33); 37% (219/596) newly identified MRSA patients discharged before result available; 55% remainder (205/376) isolated post-result. In an average trust, CLAS would reduce screening by 50%, identifying 81% of all MRSA. “High risk” specialty screening would reduce screening by 89%, identifying 9% of MRSA. Conclusions Implementation of universal screening was poor. Admission prevalence (new cases) was low. CLAS reduced screening effort for minor decreases in identification, but implementation may prove difficult. Cost effectiveness of this and other policies, awaits evaluation by transmission dynamic economic modelling, using data from this audit. Until then trusts should seek to improve implementation of current policy and use of isolation facilities.
Hardware Execution Throttling for Multi-core Resource Management

Modern processors provide mechanisms (such as duty-cycle modulation and cache prefetcher adjustment) to control the execution speed or resource usage efficiency of an application. Although these mechanisms were originally designed for other purposes, we argue in this paper that they can be an effective tool to support fair use of shared on-chip resources on multi-cores. Compared to existing approaches to achieve fairness (such as page coloring and CPU scheduling quantum adjustment), the execution throttling mechanisms have the advantage of providing fine-grained control with little software system change or undesirable side effect. Additionally, although execution throttling slows down some of the running applications, it does not yield any loss of overall system efficiency as long as the bottleneck resources are fully utilized. We conducted experiments with several sequential and server benchmarks. Results indicate high fairness with almost no efficiency degradation achieved by a hybrid of two execution throttling mechanisms.
Towards Face Recognition at a Distance

Current face recognition algorithms require the tacit cooperation of users, who must position themselves in a small area of space and face the camera. Face recognition in uncontrolled conditions, such as in security camera footage presents two extra challenges. First, it is difficult to capture good quality images of faces in this setting. Second, the pose of the face is relatively uncontrolled which causes most face recognition algorithms to fail. In this paper, we present a series of solutions to address these problems. High quality face images are captured using a foveated wide field sensor, in which a narrow-field camera is directed towards faces using information from a static wide-field camera. Feature points corresponding to the eyes/nose etc. are accurately localized and face shape is normalized. A novel algorithm is introduced to identify these (typically non-frontal) faces from a test gallery of frontal faces. Results are demonstrated to be superior to contemporary approaches.
An Experimental Design Approach to Determine Effects of The Operating Parameters on The Rate of Ru promoted Ir Carbonylation of Methanol

carbonylation of methanol in homogenous phase is one of the major routesfor production of acetic acid. Amongst group VIII metal catalysts used in this process iridium has displayed the best capabilities. To investigate effect of operating parameters like: temperature, pressure, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, iridium, ruthenium, and water concentrations on the reaction rate, experimental design for this system based upon central composite design (CCD) was utilized. Statistical rate equation developed by this method contained individual, interactions and curvature effects of parameters on the reaction rate. The model with p-value less than 0.0001 and R 2 values greater than 0.9; confirmeda satisfactory fitness of the experimental and theoretical studies. In other words, the developed model and experimental data obtained passed all diagnostic tests establishing this model as a statistically significant. Keywords—Acetic Acid,Carbonylation of Methanol, Central Composite Design, Experimental Design, Iridium/Ruthenium
Migration and Economic Growth in the United States.

Migration and Economic Growth in the United States: National, Regional, and Metropolitan Perspectives describes the post-World-War-II behavior of selected variables that explains the evolution of urban size and composition in the United States. This book is organized into nine chapters. Chapter 1 provides a brief historical overview of the urbanization process in the United States. In Chapters 2 and 3, certain national forces that shape the spatial distribution of population and economic activity during the postwar period are deliberated. Chapters 4 and 5 elaborate the behavior of the central cities and suburban rings of 62 major metropolitan areas. A model of metropolitan growth is dealt with in Chapter 6, followed by an evaluation of estimates of the model from 1950 to 1970 in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 covers a model of intrametropolitan location of employment, housing, and labor force. The last chapter elaborates the employment policy implications of population redistribution in the United States. This publication is beneficial to economists and specialists concerned with migration and economic growth in the United States.
Nonparametric estimation of information causality between analog narrowband signals

In this paper we address the dimensionality problem regarding information causality estimation and propose a new method to approximate directed information by identifying and eliminating superfluous calculations. Using only the most informational components we reduce conditional mutual information terms while capturing all the instantaneous or lagged dependencies between stochastic signals. Our method is tested on simulated analog narrowband signals with varying causal relationships.
Automatic generation of synthetic sequential benchmark circuits

The design of programmable logic architectures and supporting computer-aided design tools fundamentally requires both a good understanding of the combinatorial nature of netlist graphs and sufficient quantities of realistic examples to evaluate or benchmark the results. In this paper, the authors investigate these two issues. They introduce an abstract model for describing sequential circuits and a collection of statistical parameters for better understanding the nature of circuits. Based upon this model they introduce and formally define the signature of a circuit netlist and the signature equivalence of netlists. They give an algorithm (GEN) for generating sequential benchmark netlists, significantly expanding previous work (Hutton et al, 1998) which generated purely combinational circuits. By comparing synthetic circuits to existing benchmarks and random graphs they show that GEN circuits are significantly more realistic than random graphs. The authors further illustrate the viabilty of the methodology by applying GEN to a case study comparing two partitioning algorithms.
Retrieval of wet snow by means of multitemporal SAR data

An algorithm has been developed for mapping wet snow in mountainous terrain using repeat pass synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. As a basis for algorithm development, backscattering properties of snow-free and snow-covered alpine surfaces were investigated using ERS SAR data and field measurements at test sites in the Austrian Alps. The incidence angle dependence of backscattering derived from SAR data is compared with simulations for snow-free surfaces and for surfaces covered by dry snow and wet snow. Significant seasonal changes of backscattering are observed, which are mainly caused by variations of the snow liquid water content and of the surface roughness. The importance of surface roughness for backscattering of wet snow is demonstrated by a surface roughness experiment. The algorithm for mapping wet snow applies change detection using ratios of wet snow versus snow-free or dry snow surfaces. The main steps include coregistration, speckle reduction, thresholding of ratio images, geocoding, and, optionally, combination of crossing passes to reduce the loss of information due to layover. A threshold of -3 dB was found to be appropriate for both Radarsat and ERS SAR to separate wet snow from other surfaces. Postprocessing steps, based on historic snow maps or topographic information, are used to correct for dry snow areas at high elevations. Effects of imaging geometry are investigated by comparing ERS SAR images with a look angle of 19/spl deg/ and Radarsat SAR Beam Mode S7 images with a look angle of 40/spl deg/. The comparison of snow maps from SAR and Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper images shows good agreement in areas of closed snow cover, whereas near the snow line/SAR tends to slightly underestimate the snow extent.
Anodic Formation of Ordered TiO2 Nanotube Arrays: Effects of Electrolyte Temperature and Anodization Potential

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays were fabricated via electrochemical anodization of high purity Ti foil and Ti thin film coated indium tin oxide (ITO) glass in fluorine containing electrolytes (both aqueous and nonaqueous). The formation of ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays was affected by the electrolyte temperature and the applied anodization potential. In aqueous electrolyte, the anodization potential exerted significant influence on the formation of TiO2 nanotube arrays, while little effect from the electrolyte temperature was observed. In nonaqueous electrolyte, the electrolyte temperature markedly affected the TiO2 nanotube dimensions, while the anodization potential exhibited slight influence in this regard. As a consequence, TiO2 nanotube arrays with tube diameters ranging from 20 to 90 nm and film thicknesses ranging from several hundred nanometers to several micrometers were obtained. The TiO2 nanostructures were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Thermal annealing on the anodized Ti induce.
Trypan blue identifies antimetabolite treatment area in trabeculectomy

Aim: Colourless solutions of mitomycin C (MMC) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are widely used during trabeculectomy to inhibit postoperative scarring. The poor visibility of these agents on the eye has several drawbacks including the inability to accurately assess the area of treatment. This study examined the utility of using trypan blue dye to colour antimetabolites used during trabeculectomy and the effect of trypan blue on antimetabolite cytotoxicity in vitro. Methods: For in vitro experiments, MMC (0.4 mg/ml) and 5-FU (25 mg/ml) were reconstituted with or without trypan blue. A lactate dehydrogenase release assay was used to measure drug induced cell death and viable cell number 7 days after treatment. For clinical assessment, trypan blue 0.1% was added to MMC and 5-FU to final concentrations of between 0.01% and 0.05%. The mixture was applied to Tenon’s capsule and sclera via pre-wet or into dry 5×8 mm sponges (MMC and 5-FU) for 3 minutes or by direct subconjunctival injection after completion of surgery (5-FU). Twenty two consecutive patients undergoing trabeculectomy either with or without trypan blue were followed for 2 years postoperatively. Results: The addition of 0.05% trypan blue to MMC or 5-FU did not alter MMC induced cell death or the number of viable fibroblast in vitro. In vivo, trypan blue clearly delineated the antimetabolite treatment area and facilitated control of excess antimetabolite at the wound margins as well as sponge removal. With direct subconjunctival injection, total staining area varied for a given volume with location of the needle tip. Any leakage from the injection site could be easily seen. No adverse effects attributable to trypan blue were found in 2 years of follow up. Conclusions: Trypan blue permits delineation of antimetabolite/tissue interactions without affecting cytoxicity for the assays investigated. Trypan blue can be used to visualise antimetabolite soaked sponges, estimate treatment area, and show areas of unintended tissue contact during trabeculectomy. The addition of trypan blue to antimetabolites has potential benefits in clinical, research, and teaching aspects of ocular surgery and therapy.
The cytosolic domain of APP induces the relocalization of dynamin 3 in hippocampal neurons

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been the subject of intense research to uncover its implication in Alzheimer's disease. Its physiological function is, however, still poorly understood. Herein, we investigated its possible influence on the development of cultured hippocampal neurons. A peptide corresponding to the APP intracellular domain linked to a cell‐penetrating peptide was used to alter the interactions of APP with its cytosolic partners. This treatment promoted the concentration of the cytosolic GTPase dynamin 3 (Dyn3) in neurite segments when most untreated cells displayed a homogenous punctate distribution of Dyn3. The Dyn3‐labelled segments were excluded from those revealed by APP staining after aldehyde fixation. Interestingly, after aldehyde fixation MAP2 also labelled segments excluded from APP‐stained segments. Thus APP is also a marker for the spacing pattern of neurites demonstrated by Taylor & Fallon (2006)J. Neurosci. , 26, 1154–4463.
Characterization of the transcriptome and EST-SSR development in Boea clarkeana, a desiccation-tolerant plant endemic to China

Background Desiccation-tolerant (DT) plants can recover full metabolic competence upon rehydration after losing most of their cellular water (>95%) for extended periods of time. Functional genomic approaches such as transcriptome sequencing can help us understand how DT plants survive and respond to dehydration, which has great significance for plant biology and improving the drought tolerance of crops. Boea clarkeana Hemsl. (Gesneriaceae) is a DT dicotyledonous herb. Its genomic sequences characteristics remain unknown. Based on transcriptomic analyses, polymorphic EST-SSR (simple sequence repeats in expressed sequence tags) molecular primers can be designed, which will greatly facilitate further investigations of the population genetics and demographic histories of DT plants. Methods In the present study, we used the platform Illumina HiSeq™2000 and de novo assembly technology to obtain leaf transcriptomes of B. clarkeana and conducted a BLASTX alignment of the sequencing data and protein databases for sequence classification and annotation. Then, based on the sequence information, the EST-SSR markers were developed, and the functional annotation of ESTs containing polymorphic SSRs were obtained through BLASTX. Results A total of 91,449 unigenes were generated from the leaf cDNA library of B. clarkeana. Based on a sequence similarity search with a known protein database, 72,087 unigenes were annotated. Among the annotated unigenes, a total of 71,170 unigenes showed significant similarity to the known proteins of 463 popular model species in the Nr database, and 59,962 unigenes and 32,336 unigenes were assigned to Gene Ontology (GO) classifications and Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COG), respectively. In addition, 44,924 unigenes were mapped in 128 KEGG pathways. Furthermore, a total of 7,610 unigenes with 8,563 microsatellites were found. Seventy-four primer pairs were selected from 436 primer pairs designed for polymorphism validation. SSRs with higher polymorphism rates were concentrated on dinucleotides, pentanucleotides and hexanucleotides. Finally, 17 pairs with stable, highly polymorphic loci were selected for polymorphism screening. There was a total of 65 alleles, with 2–6 alleles at each locus. Primarily due to the unique biological characteristics of plants, the HE (0–0.196), HO (0.082–0.14) and PIC (0–0.155) per locus were very low. The functional annotation distribution centered on ESTs containing di- and tri-nucleotide SSRs, and the ESTs containing primers BC2, BC4 and BC12 were annotated to vegetative dehydration/desiccation pathways. Discussion This work is the first genetic study of B. clarkeana as a new plant resource of DT genes. A substantial number of transcriptome sequences were generated in this study. These sequences are valuable resources for gene annotation and discovery as well as molecular marker development. These sequences could also provide a valuable basis for future molecular studies of B. clarkeana.
Outage Probability Analysis of an AF Cooperative Multi-Relay Network with Best Relay Selection and Clipped OFDM Transmission

Outage probability analysis of a multi-path cooperative communication system with single relay selection, amplifyand- forward (AF) relaying and clipped orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission is addressed. The clipping technique is the simplest approach to overcome the high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of OFDM transmitted signals, but it may give rise to in-band distortion as well as out-of-band interference. In this work, the nonlinear distortions introduced by the clipping process at the source are modeled as the aggregate of an attenuation factor and clipping noise. The magnitude squared of the signal scaled by the clipping factor can be modeled by an exponential distribution. The twohop wireless transmission is modeled in the time domain as an Erlang distribution function. As a result of this model, the outage probability with the clipped OFDM signal transmitted over multipath fading channel of length L and an arbitrary number of relay nodes M with best single relay selection is calculated. Moreover, the analytical expressions for the cumulative density function (CDF) of the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are obtained. In addition, the analysis shows how the clipping operation affects the outage probability for different clipping ratio levels (μ). Finally, the theoretical results are compared with simulated results to confirm the validity of the analysis. © VDE Verlag GMBH.
Conversion as a Dynamic Process in Christian Mission

In recent years, Dr. Tippett, the former editor of MISSIOLOGY, has been seeking to schematize the conversion process in non-western societies. His concern arose over the felt need to organize and interpret the extensive field data on this phenomenon he had observed and gathered over the years while serving as a missionary and anthropologist in the island world of the Pacific. This article reflects the progression of his thinking over the last decade. Those who are acquainted with his extensive writing in the field of “power encounter” and “people-movements” will appreciate this extensive description of the conversion experience which brings these two phenomena into clear and related focus.
ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS INVOLVED IN THE MODULATION OF ENDOGENOUS PAIN CONTROL PATHWAYS AND IN THE INDUCTION OF PARADOXICAL PAIN

The present doctoral thesis involves three experimental studies on pain processing and its modulation by psychological mechanisms. The first investigation focused on the relationship between associative learning aspects and the endogenous pain control system referred to as diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) or conditioned pain modulation (CPM). The aim of the study consisted in uncovering whether descending pain inhibition may depend on specific environmental or circumstantial cues that have been linked to a reduction of pain sensations through associative learning in pain treatment contexts. A heterotopic noxious counter-stimulation (HNCS) was used to trigger the endogenous pain control system in the experimental context. For the study of the potential impact of associative learning on the pain-inhibits-pain phenomenon, a respondent (Pavlovian) conditioning procedure was realized during the HNCS stimulation. It could be shown that the repeated pairing of a phone signal (conditioned stimulus, CS) with the unconditioned tonic pain stimulus (UCS, HNCS) enabled the CS in the post-conditioning phase to generate a DNIC-like effect similar to the one induced by the tonic pain stimulus. The results demonstrated that learning processes are able to influence endogenous pain modulation processes and decreases in pain perceptions and reflex activity. A thermal grill paradigm was used in the second and third study to examine the influence of psychological characteristics on the individual disposition to display the thermal grill illusion (TGI) of pain. First, the impact of pain-related personality traits like trait anxiety, pain catastrophizing, rumination, pessimism, expectancy of pain, suggestibility and interoceptive accuracy on inter-individual differences in paradoxical pain sensitivity was assessed. Second, the potential influence of dispositional self-regulation ability on illusive pain perceptions was measured. Vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV) at rest was used as an index of individual self-regulatory strength. The results allowed identifying several psychological factors that are substantially affecting thermal grill-related perceptions. Mainly ruminative and interoceptive accuracy features increased the probability of paradoxical pain perceptions. The likelihood of the TGI elicitation was in addition significantly affected by the magnitude of the HRV-indicator respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Since thermal grill and neuropathic pain-related pain processing share common neural pathways, the identified psychological effects may be relevant in the context of pathological pain conditions.