Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Biomarkers in Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract: The development of autoimmune diseases may be influenced by hormonal, immunomodulatory, and metabolic pathways. Prolactin (PRL), ferritin, vitamin D, and the tumor marker tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) were measured in autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune thyroid diseases, and antiphospholipid syndrome. Hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) was detected in 24% of PM patients, in 21% of SLE patients, in 6.7% of MS patients, 6% of RA patients, and in 3% of SSc patients. Hyperferritinemia was detected in 23% of SLE patients, 15% of DM patients, 8% of MS patients, and 4% of RA patients. The patients had relatively low levels of 25 OH Vitamin D: the average results (mean ± SD) were between 9.3 ± 4.4 to 13.7 ± 7.1 ng/mL in the different diseases, while the 25 OH Vitamin D concentrations less than 20 ng/mL are regarded as deficient. TPA levels were in the same range of the controls, elevated only in SLE. HPRL, hyperferritinemia, hypovitaminosis D, and TPA levels did not correlate with SLE activity elevated levels of rheumatoid factor or anti‐CCP antibodies in RA. HPRL, hyperferritinemia, and hypovitaminosis D have different immunological implications in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases. Preventive treatment with vitamin D or therapy for HPRL with dopamine agonists, may be considered in certain cases. Hyperferritinemia may be used as an acute‐phase reactant marker in autoimmune diseases mainly SLE. TPA may be used to indicate the tendency for malignancies.
ER, PR and Ki‐67 expression status in granulomatous and chronic non‐specific endometritis

Aim: To study the changes in the histological pattern, distribution and intensity of sex steroid receptors (estrogen and progesterone) and cell proliferation by Ki‐67 expression by semi‐quantitative scores in granulomatous and chronic non‐specific endometritis in the premenstrual phase.
A tool to analyse spatial distribution of science research activities based on toponym resolution in text

Spatial distribution of research activities in geo-sciences is related not only to the distribution of authors but also to the distribution of research area. In the present work we developed a tool to analyze spatial distribution of science research activities based on toponym resolution in text of scientific papers. The idea is to identify and annotate toponym referred in research papers automatically, then to geo-code them, at last to carry out an analysis of the distribution of research area and authors in related subjects in geo-sciences. We carried out some experiment with the tool. Firstly, we extracted geographical names from research articles in a pre-built Chinese documentary database on some scientific subjects with words segment software and gazetteer. Secondly, combining with Google map's geo-coding API to get coordinates of the places, we exported the place names and coordinates into arcGIS. Consequently, we tried to analyze the spatial distribution of authors and research area in ecological footprint in China. The results show that, based on toponym resolution from large-scale article collection, we can analyze hot areas and blank areas of scientific research on some subjects and the distribution of the researchers of the subjects. And we presented a redesign of the system framework. The improvement is focused on leveraging a geographical knowledge database and some rules for disambiguation, integrating Conditional Random Fields in toponym resolution in Chinese text.
Energy spectral efficiency tradeoff in downlink OFDMA network

Spectral efficiency (SE) is an important metric in traditional wireless network design. However, as the development of high‐data rate services and rapidly increase of energy consumption, energy efficiency (EE) has received more and more attention. In this paper, we investigate the EE–SE tradeoff in downlink OFDMA network. Different from previous researches, we try to optimize EE and SE simultaneously. First, the problem is formulated as a multiobjective optimization problem (MOP), and its Pareto optimal set is characterized. Then, we convert the MOP to a single‐objective optimization problem (SOP) by the weighted linear sum method and show that it is neither quasi‐convex nor quasi‐concave. After that, a novel algorithm using particle swarm optimization is proposed to solve the SOP. Simulation results validate that the proposed algorithm can efficiently reduce total transmit power and improve EE, although the cost is sacrificing some SE, which could be used to design an flexible energy efficient network in the future.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Electrocardiogram-Based Method for Early Detection of Abrupt Changes in Blood Pressure during Hemodialysis

Clinical techniques for early detection of acute hypotension during conventional hemodialysis treatment are lacking, even though intradialytic hypotension is the most common acute complication. In this article, intradialytic hypotension is identified by means of signal analysis of data recorded at two clinics. The database consists of 30 treatments with concurrently acquired signals: the 12-lead electrocardiogram, continuous blood pressure, hematocrit, oxygen saturation, relative blood volume, and important hemodialysis variables. This article presents two characteristics, a heart rate turbulence (HRT) measure called turbulence slope (TS), and the LF/HF ratio, which provide information, at the beginning of hemodialysis treatment, on the patient’s propensity to hypotension (TS: p = 0.0038, and LF/HF ratio: p = 0.0028). The authors also present a novel dynamic echocardiography-based method for detecting intradialytic hypotension using complementary information on heart rate variability (HRV) and ectopic beat patterns. These two types of information reflect different mechanisms of cardiac activity. It is essential that both types are used for the detection of hypotension, because HRV analysis is inappropriate when several ectopic beats are present. The proposed dynamic echocardiography-based method offers early identification of the cases with acute intradialytic hypotension of the database.
The AquaVIT-1 intercomparison of atmospheric water vapor measurement techniques

Abstract. The AquaVIT-1 intercomparison of atmospheric water vapor measurement techniques was conducted at the aerosol and cloud simulation chamber AIDA (Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, in October 2007. The overall objective was to intercompare state-of-the-art and prototype atmospheric hygrometers with each other and with independent humidity standards under controlled conditions. This activity was conducted as a blind intercomparison with coordination by selected referees. The effort was motivated by persistent discrepancies found in atmospheric measurements involving multiple instruments operating on research aircraft and balloon platforms, particularly in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, where water vapor reaches its lowest atmospheric values (less than 10 ppm). With the AIDA chamber volume of 84 m3, multiple instruments analyzed air with a common water vapor mixing ratio, by extracting air into instrument flow systems, by locating instruments inside the chamber, or by sampling the chamber volume optically. The intercomparison was successfully conducted over 10 days during which pressure, temperature, and mixing ratio were systematically varied (50 to 500 hPa, 185 to 243 K, and 0.3 to 152 ppm). In the absence of an accepted reference instrument, the absolute accuracy of the instruments was not established. To evaluate the intercomparison, the reference value was taken to be the ensemble mean of a core subset of the measurements. For these core instruments, the agreement between 10 and 150 ppm of water vapor is considered good with variation about the reference value of about ±10% (±1σ). In the region of most interest between 1 and 10 ppm, the core subset agreement is fair with variation about the reference value of ±20% (±1σ). The upper limit of precision was also derived for each instrument from the reported data. The implication for atmospheric measurements is that the substantially larger differences observed during in-flight intercomparisons stem from other factors associated with the moving platforms or the non-laboratory environment. The success of AquaVIT-1 provides a template for future intercomparison efforts with water vapor or other species that are focused on improving the analytical quality of atmospheric measurements on moving platforms.
Algorithm to find a maximum of a multilinear map over a product of spheres

We provide an algorithm to compute the 2-norm maximum of a multilinear map over a product of spheres. As a corollary we give a method to compute the first singular value of a linear map and an application to the theory of entangled states in quantum physics. Also, we give an application to find the closest rank-one tensor of a given one.
Uso de Simuladores en Docencia de Robótica Móvil

—The main goal of this paper is to present the advantages that the new generation of mobile robot simulators has given to the teaching of robotics to computer science students. We present some of their features, as well as some experiences of their use in two Spanish universities. These experiences have taken place at different courses, both at graduate and undergraduate levels. We also discuss about those experiences and introduce how we envision teaching in this ﬁeld.
University of Groningen Comparative Study Between Deep Learning and Bag of Visual Words for Wild-Animal

Most research in image classification has focused on applications such as face, object, scene and character recognition. This paper examines a comparative study between deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and bag of visual words (BOW) variants for recognizing animals. We developed two variants of the bag of visual words (BOW and HOG-BOW) and examine the use of gray and color information as well as different spatial pooling approaches. We combined the final feature vectors extracted from these BOW variants with a regularized L2 support vector machine (L2-SVM) to distinguish between classes within our datasets. We modified existing deep CNN architectures: AlexNet and GoogleNet, by reducing the number of neurons in each layer of the fully connected layers and last inception layer for both scratch and pre-trained versions. Finally, we compared the existing CNN methods, our modified CNN architectures and the proposed BOW variants on our novel wild-animal dataset (Wild-Anim). The results show that the CNN methods significantly outperform the BOW techniques.
Muscular efficiency during arm cranking and wheelchair exercise: a comparison.

The present study was performed to compare various individual muscular efficiency indices, i. e. , gross (GE), net (NE), work (WE), and delta (DE), during arm cranking ergometer (ACE) and wheelchair ergometer (WERG) exercise at the same relative exercise intensities. Following a maximal test on both the ACE and WERG, 15 able-bodied subjects completed 4 submaximal bouts at 0, 40, 55 and 70 % of the mode-specific VO(2) peak. The peak power output and VO(2) values were significantly higher with ACE than WERG maximal exercise. As a consequence, the power output imposed during WERG submaximal bouts was significantly lower compared to ACE submaximal bouts. ACE exercise was found to elicit a significantly higher (p < 0.001) VO(2) (16 to 28 vs 14 to 23 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1)), GE (9 to 11 vs 6 to 9 %) and NE (14 to 13 vs 10 to 11 %) compared to WERG exercise at power output from 40 to 70 % VO(2) peak, respectively. However, WE (17 to 15 vs 17 to 14 % at 40 to 55 % VO(2)peak) and DE (12 to 13 vs 12 to 12 % at Delta 40 - 55 % to Delta 55 - 70 % VO(2) peak) values were similar between ACE and WERG exercise. The lower GE and NE observed during WERG compared to ACE exercise could be explained by the biomechanical disadvantages of the hand-rim WERG pattern movement. These findings also supported that the different indices of efficiency influenced the interpretation of the comparison between ACE and WERG propulsion.
Using Runtime State Analysis to Decide Applicability of Dynamic Software Updates

Updating application code while it is running is a popular approach to the dynamic software update problem. But in many cases the behavior of the updated application bears side effects of the update in the form of a runtime phenomena that breaks application state assumptions leading to unwanted complications. We present a runtime state analysis system, Genrih, that enhances a dynamic system update solution and automatically decides if the state transformation functions of a DSU solution are sufficient for the given update. Genrih analyzes the atomic changes in the updated code compared to the already running version and based on these changes automatically determines whether updating the system’s runtime state will lead to the observable runtime phenomena. The designed system does not break the update procedure, but observes the state and produces notifications for enhanced analysis and crash management. The practical evaluation shows that the designed system imposes acceptable overhead and can help the developer be aware of several kinds of runtime
Autonomous robotic exploration based on multiple rapidly-exploring randomized trees

Efficient robotic navigation requires a predefined map. Various autonomous exploration strategies exist, which direct robots to unexplored space by detecting frontiers. Frontiers are boundaries separating known space form unknown space. Usually frontier detection utilizes image processing tools like edge detection, thus limiting it to two dimensional (2D) exploration. This paper presents a new exploration strategy based on the use of multiple Rapidly-exploring Random Trees (RRTs). The RRT algorithm is chosen because, it is biased towards unexplored regions. Also, using RRT provides a general approach which can be extended to higher dimensional spaces. The proposed strategy is implemented and tested using the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework. Additionally this work uses local and global trees for detecting frontier points, which enables efficient robotic exploration. Current efforts are limited to the single robot case. Extension to multi-agent systems and three-dimensional (3D) space is left for future effort.
Course of schizoaffective psychosis: further data from a retrospective study

This study investigated the clinical course and outcome of 72 patients, diagnosed as suffering from schizoaffective psychosis (according to ICD‐9 criteria) who also satisfied Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizoaffective disorder. The current overall functioning of these patients was related to the number and frequency of episodes, regardless of the duration of the illness: the lesser the number or frequency of relapses, the better the overall functioning. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in psychosocial impairment between bipolar and unipolar schizoaffective disorder.
Transmission disequilibrium test and haplotype analysis of the NOTCH4 gene in Japanese patients with schizophrenia

Abstract A recent study reported that the NOTCH4 gene was highly associated with schizophrenia in the British population. To confirm this association for another population, a case–control study was conducted and a transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analysis was performed on a group of Japanese subjects (235 pairs of schizophrenia patients and controls, and 78 trios consisting of probands and their parents) using two single nucleotide polymorphisms and three microsatellite markers for the NOTCH4 gene. Haplotype analysis was also studied in case–control and family based data sets. In all markers except for (CTG)n (P = 0.012, before correction for multiple testing), no differences were found in the case–control study. The TDT analysis also revealed only a weak transmission disequilibrium in (TTAT)n (genotype‐wise P = 0.012). The finding of the present study could not support the original findings that the NOTCH4 gene itself is associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia.
Hyperfractionated Radiation Therapy and Concurrent 5‐Fluorouracil, Cisplatin and Mitomycin‐C in Head and Neck Carcinoma A Pilot Study

Seventeen patients were entered into a Phase I/II trial of concurrent hyperfractionated radiation therapy (7,440 cGy total dose; 120 cGy b.i.d.) combined with constant infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (1,000 mg/m2/24 hours for 72 hours) and cisplatin (DDP) (50 mg/m2) for a total of three cycles. Thirteen patients had Stage IV disease; three, Stage III disease; and one, Stage II hypopharyngeal disease. Thirteen of 17 patients had positive cervical lymph nodes, and the mean size of the largest lymph node was 5.5 × 5.1 cm. The patients were not treated with planned adjunctive surgery except for one patient who had a radical neck dissection for massive, rapidly growing cervical adenopathy, which recurred promptly within 1 month before the initiation of protocol therapy. After the initial six patients were entered, mitomycin-C (Mito 8 mg/m2) was added during the second cycle. All the patients completed the planned course of radiotherapy with a median dose of 7,440 cGy and a mean dose of 7,248 cGy except for two patients who died—one from toxicity and the other, suicide. The predominant toxicity was mucositis, which was grade 3/4 in 11 of 15 patients, resulting in an average interruption of radiation therapy of 12 days. Weight loss was significant and was on the average 12% of baseline weight. Hematological toxicity was mild in the 5-FU/DDP group (only one grade 3 toxicity of six) and severe in the 5-FU/DDP/Mito-treated patients (five of eight patients having grade 3/4 toxicity including one leukopenic pneumonitis death). Additional toxicity included one parapharyngeal cellulitis, which responded to antibiotics. Noncompliance with the complex regimen was only seen in three patients. One patient refused b.i. d. radiation therapy, and one patient refused further chemotherapy after the first cycle.Additionally, one patient who had a severe ethanol withdrawal reaction during the first cycle of 5-FU/DDP did not receive further chemotherapy. The complete response rate of both primary site and neck by the protocol regimen alone was 71%. However, two patients, one from each group, did undergo salvage neck dissection, and the locoregional control is currently 73%, with a mean follow-up time of 18.4 months. The feasibility of combining hyperfractionated radiation therapy with aggressive concurrent chemotherapy was demonstrated. The response and local control rate justifies the added toxicity of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Particle Filtering for Position based 6DOF Visual Servoing in Industrial Environments

Visual servoing allows the introduction of robotic manipulation in dynamic and uncontrolled environments. This paper presents a position-based visual servoing algorithm using particle filtering. The objective is the grasping of objects using the 6 degrees of freedom of the robot manipulator (position and orientation) in nonautomated industrial environments using monocular vision. A particle filter has been added to the positionbased visual servoing algorithm to deal with the different noise sources of those industrial environments (metallic nature of the objects, dirt or illumination problems). This addition allows dealing with those uncertainties and being able to recover from errors in the grasping process. Experiments performed in the real industrial scenario of ROBOFOOT project showed accurate grasping and high level of stability in the visual servoing process.
Fermentation of fumarate and L-malate by Clostridium formicoaceticum

The fermentation of fumarate and L-malate by Clostridium formicoaceticum was investigated. Growing and nongrowing cells degraded fumarate by dismutation to succinate, acetate, and CO2; on the other hand, only small amounts of succinate were detected when the organism was grown on L-malate. This dicarboxylic acid was mainly converted to acetate and CO2. The fermentation balances were modified if bicarbonate or formate were present in the medium. When C. formicoaceticum was grown in the presence of both dicarboxylic acids, fumarate was consumed before L-malate. The latter was mainly converted to acetate, whereas fumarate was fermented to acetate and succinate. Molar growth yields were determined to be 6 g of dry weight per mol of fumarate and 8 g of dry weight per mol of L-malate fermented.
Structure of a monoclonal 2 E 8 Fab antibody fragment speci ® c for the low-density lipoprotein-receptor binding region of apolipoprotein E re ® ned at 1 . 9 AÊ

Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94141, USA, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94141, USA, Biology and Biotechnology Research Program, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94551, USA, Lipoprotein and Atherosclerosis Group, University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Department of Pathology and Biochemistry, University of Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9, Canada, and Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94141, USA
Time to Abandon Clinic Blood Pressure for the Diagnosis of Hypertension?

Article, see p 1794 When the Russian military surgeon Korotkoff was listening to the rhythmic beat of blood pressure (BP) and the Italian doctor Riva-Rocci was developing his sphygmomanometer,1 I doubt both would have believed that more than a century later, the screening and stratification for hypertension treatment would still be dependent on clinic-based measurement of seated BP. These methods have served us well and have stood the test of time, but is it time to move on? Because of the enormous public health impact of hypertension and the proven treatment benefits, the detection and treatment of hypertension has rightly assumed great importance, at least in terms of policy, if not always in terms of implementation. BP is highly variable by design to meet varying metabolic, physical, and postural demands for tissue perfusion. As a consequence, it makes sense to standardize the conditions in which BP is measured in the clinical setting, thereby replicating the conditions used to measure BP in the clinical trials that have generated the evidence base for treatment. Hence, international guidelines have endorsed a standard approach for clinic BP (CBP) measurement, which involves the patient being seated and relaxed for 5 minutes before BP is recorded in the nondominant arm with an appropriately sized cuff and a validated device, with readings taken 3 times, at least 1 minute apart, with the average of the last 2 readings defining CBP. In reality, CBP is rarely measured with this rigor in routine clinical practice. As a consequence, CBP readings are often higher than they would be if standard measurement conditions had been applied.2 This finding has led to the development of automated CBP measurement devices, programmed to record a series of seated BP measurements, unattended by a clinical practitioner, to improve measurement standardization.3 The wider …