Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Respiratory Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Very Preterm Infants and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Case-Control Study

Background In the period immediately after birth, preterm infants are highly susceptible to lung injury. Early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (ENCPAP) is an attempt to avoid intubation and may minimize lung injury. In contrast, ENCPAP can fail, and at that time surfactant rescue can be less effective. Objective To compare the pulmonary clinical course and outcome of very preterm infants (gestational age 25–32 weeks) with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) who started with ENCPAP and failed (ECF group), with a control group of infants matched for gestational age, who were directly intubated in the delivery room (DRI group). Primary outcome consisted of death during admission or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Results 25 infants were included in the ECF group and 50 control infants matched for gestational age were included in the DRI group. Mean gestational age and birth weight in the ECF group were 29.7 weeks and 1,393 g and in the DRI group 29.1 weeks and 1,261 g (p = NS). The incidence of BPD was significantly lower in the ECF group than in the DRI group (4% vs. 35%; P<0.004; OR 12.6 (95% CI 1.6–101)). Neonatal mortality was similar in both groups (4%). The incidence of neonatal morbidities such as severe cerebral injury, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis and retinopathy of prematurity, was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion A trial of ENCPAP at birth may reduce the incidence of BPD and does not seem to be detrimental in very preterm infants. Randomized controlled trials are needed to test whether early respiratory management of preterm infants with RDS plays an important role in the development of BPD.
Measuring retinal vessel tortuosity in 10-year-old children: validation of the Computer-Assisted Image Analysis of the Retina (CAIAR) program.

PURPOSE To examine the agreement of a novel computer program measuring retinal vessel tortuosity with subjective assessment of tortuosity in school-aged children. METHODS Cross-sectional study of 387 retinal vessels (193 arterioles, 194 veins) from 28 eyes of 14 children (aged 10 years). Retinal digital images were analyzed using the Computer Assisted Image Analysis of the Retina (CAIAR) program, including 14 measures of tortuosity. Vessels were graded (from 0 = none; to 5 = tortuous) independently by two observers. Interobserver agreement was assessed by using kappa statistics. Agreement with all 14 objective measures was assessed with correlation/regression analyses. Intersession repeatability (comparing morning and afternoon sessions) of tortuosity indices was calculated. RESULTS Interobserver agreement of vessel tortuosity within one grade was high (kappa = 0.97), with total agreement in 56% of grades and 42% differing by +/-1 grade. Tortuosity indices based on subdivided chord length methods showed strong log-linear associations with agreed subjective grades (typically r > 0.6; P < 0.001). An approach that averages the distance from the vessel to chord length along the length of the vessel showed best agreement (r = 0.8; P < 0.0001). Tortuosity measures based on curvature performed less well. Intersession repeatability of the vessel to chord technique was good, differing by values equivalent to <1 in subjective grade. CONCLUSIONS Tortuosity indices based on changes in subdivided chord lengths showed optimal agreement with subjective assessment. The relation of these indices to ethnicity and cardiovascular risk factors in childhood should be examined further, as these indices may be a useful indicator of early vascular function.
Distributed under Creative Commons Cc-by 4.0 Rim-db: a Taxonomic Framework for Community Structure Analysis of Methanogenic Archaea from the Rumen and Other Intestinal Environments

Methane is formed by methanogenic archaea in the rumen as one of the end products of feed fermentation in the ruminant digestive tract. To develop strategies to mitigate anthropogenic methane emissions due to ruminant farming, and to understand rumen microbial differences in animal feed conversion efficiency, it is essential that methanogens can be identified and taxonomically classified with high accuracy. Currently available taxonomic frameworks offer only limited resolution beyond the genus level for taxonomic assignments of sequence data stemming from high throughput sequencing technologies. Therefore, we have developed a QIIME-compatible database (DB) designed for species-level taxonomic assignment of 16S rRNA gene amplicon data targeting methanogenic archaea from the rumen, and from animal and human intestinal tracts. Called RIM-DB (Rumen and Intestinal Methanogen-DB), it contains a set of 2,379 almost full-length chimera-checked 16S rRNA gene sequences, including 20 previously unpublished sequences from isolates from three different orders. The taxonomy encompasses the recently-proposed seventh order of methanogens, the Methanomassiliicoccales, and allows differentiation between defined groups within this order. Sequence reads from rumen contents from a range of ruminant-diet combinations were taxonomically assigned using RIM-DB, Greengenes and SILVA. This comparison clearly showed that taxonomic assignments with RIM-DB resulted in the most detailed assignment, and only RIM-DB taxonomic assignments allowed methanogens to be distinguished taxonomically at the species level. RIM-DB complements the use of comprehensive databases such as Greengenes and SILVA for community structure analysis of methanogens from the rumen and other intestinal environments, and allows identification of target species for methane mitigation strategies.
Distributed robot helpers handling a single object in cooperation with a human

In this paper, we propose distributed robot helpers (DR helpers) and a decentralized control algorithm for them to transport a single object in cooperation with a human/humans. The DR helper consists of an omni-directional mobile base, a six-axis body force sensor, a folk lift, and an onboard controller. Each robot is controlled as if it has a caster-like mechanism. The adaptive dual caster action is proposed to improve the maneuverability of the system. Multiple DR helpers could transport a single object in cooperation with a human based on the operator's intentional force/moment. Experiments using multiple DR helpers will illustrate the validity of the proposed control system.
Immediacy through Interactivity: Online Analysis of Run-time Behavior

Visualizations of actual run-time data support the comprehension of programs, like examples support the explanation of abstract concepts and principles. Unfortunately, the required run-time analysis is often associated with an inconvenient overhead that renders current tools impractical for frequent use. We propose an interactive approach to collect and present run-time data. An initial shallow analysis provides for immediate access to visualizations of run-time information. As users explore this information, it is incrementally refined on-demand. We present an implementation that realizes our proposed approach and enables developers to instantly explore run-time behavior of selected code entities. We evaluate our interactive approach by measuring time and memory overhead in the context of ten different-sized projects. Our empirical results show that run-time data for an initial overview can be collected in less than 300 milliseconds for 95% of cases.
Supporting Quality-Based Image Retrieval Through User Preference Learning

It is common for modern geospatial libraries to contain multiple datasets that cover the same area but differ only in some specific quality attributes (e.g., resolution and precision). This is affecting the concept of content-based geospatial queries, as simple coverage-based query mechanisms (e.g., declaring a specific area of interest) as well as theme-based query mechanisms (e.g., requesting a black and white aerial photo or multispectral satellite imagery) are rendered inadequate to identify and access specific datasets in such collections. In this paper we introduce a novel approach to handle data quality attributes in geospatial queries. Our approach is characterized by the ability to model and learn user preferences, thus establishing user profiles that allow us to customize image queries for improving their functionality in a constantly diversifying geospatial user community.
MARKERLESS MODEL BASED SURFACE MEASUREMENT AND MOTION TRACKING

A vision based method to track and recover 3-D shape and motion information from video sequences is presented. Although video sequences acquired from multiple static synchronized CCD cameras have been used as a tool for 3-D reconstruction of the shape and the movement of a human body before, the precision and reliability remain as concerning issues, which are addressed in this paper. The difference between the previous work and our approach is the use of an approximate model of a human body by an articulated soft object structure. After the system is initialized manually with the help of a graphical user interface, the articulated soft objects are the approximations for the following constrained least squares matching procedure. Additionally, the least squares matching algorithm takes into account the one to one relationship of a 3-D point to a corresponding limb, described as a quadric primitive, and therefore adds a topological information to every point. In between key frames, the frame to frame human motion tracking algorithm leads to reliable and accurate results. Graphical results for the 3-D motion capture data and the 3-D surface measurements will be presented.
Nonlinear Dynamic Projection for Noise Reduction of Dispersed Manifolds

The search for a low-dimensional structure in high-dimensional data is one of the fundamental tasks in machine learning and pattern recognition. Manifold learning algorithms have recently emerged as alternatives to traditional linear dimension reduction techniques. In this paper, we propose a novel projection method that can be combined with any manifold learning methods to improve their dimension reduction performance when applied to high-dimensional data with a high level of noise. The method first builds a dispersion function that describes the distribution of dispersed manifold where the data lie. It then projects the noisy data onto a region wrapping the true manifold sufficiently close to it by applying a dynamical projection system associated with the constructed dispersion function. The effectiveness of the proposed projection method is validated by applying it to some real-world data sets with promising results.
A Portable Smart-Phone Readout Device for the Detection of Mercury Contamination Based on an Aptamer-Assay Nanosensor

The detection of environmental mercury (Hg) contamination requires complex and expensive instruments and professional technicians. We present a simple, sensitive, and portable Hg2+ detection system based on a smartphone and colorimetric aptamer nanosensor. A smartphone equipped with a light meter app was used to detect, record, and process signals from a smartphone-based microwell reader (MR S-phone), which is composed of a simple light source and a miniaturized assay platform. The colorimetric readout of the aptamer nanosensor is based on a specific interaction between the selected aptamer and Hg2+, which leads to a color change in the reaction solution due to an aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The MR S-phone-based AuNPs-aptamer colorimetric sensor system could reliably detect Hg2+ in both tap water and Pearl River water samples and produced a linear colorimetric readout of Hg2+ concentration in the range of 1 ng/mL–32 ng/mL with a correlation of 0.991, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.28 ng/mL for Hg2+. The detection could be quickly completed in only 20 min. Our novel mercury detection assay is simple, rapid, and sensitive, and it provides new strategies for the on-site detection of mercury contamination in any environment.
Measuring the quality needs of an organization's software

Investments in information systems and the annual costs of running the systems are considerable. The utility of information systems thus becomes the ultimate quality requirement from the organization's point of view. Quality models are used to support the management of quality. Such models describe the characteristics of products and services and of processes. The measurement of quality is a means of controlling quality. The problem that organizations face when they become interested in improving and controlling the quality of their information systems is twofold: there are many quality models and measurement is considered difficult. We address this issue by linking a basic quality model with existing software metrics. We use a quality model, the SOLE model, which covers the interests of all the stake-holders in an organization. We show how to adapt the model to the specific needs of an organization, how to identify their special quality factors and break these down to the metrics level. The general input-process-output (IPO) method from system theory is applied in the construction process. We propose a do-it-yourself approach which offers organizations the flexibility to construct quality models to meet their own needs. The construction process is the emphasis of this paper, rather than a complete quality model. A fictive case study is used to illustrate the construction process. We have chosen project management as the problem area of our "case" organization and adopt the waterfall model for the systems development process.
Word level confidence annotation using combinations of features

This paper describes the development of a word-level confidence metric suitable for use in a dialog system. Two aspects of the problems are investigated: the identification of useful features and the selection of an effective classifier. We find that two parse-level features, Parsing-Mode and SlotBackoff-Mode, provide annotation accuracy comparable to that observed for decoder-level features. However, both decoderlevel and parse-level features independently contribute to confidence annotation accuracy. In comparing different classification techniques, we found that Support Vector Machines (SVMs) appear to provide the best accuracy. Overall we achieve 39.7% reduction in annotation uncertainty for a binary confidence decision in a travel-planning domain.
Feedback Stabilization for Multiinput Switched Nonlinear Systems: Two Subsystems Case

In this note, based on the control Lyapunov function approach, a new method for solving the feedback stabilization problem of switched systems that are switching arbitrarily between two multiinput nonlinear subsystems is introduced. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of globally uniformly asymptotically stabilizing state feedback controllers are derived. Additionally, a universal formula for constructing implementable stabilizing controllers is given when the presented conditions hold. One numerical example is given to illustrate the results.
Non-WSSUS vehicular channel characterization in highway and urban scenarios at 5.2GHz using the local scattering function

The fading process in high speed vehicular traffic telematic applications at 5 GHz is expected to fulfill the wide-sense stationarity uncorrelated scattering (WSSUS) assumption for very short time-intervals only. In order to test this assumption we apply the concept of a local time- and frequency-variant scattering function, which we estimate from measurements of vehicle-to-vehicle wave propagation channels by means of a multi-window spectrogram. The obtained temporal sequence of local scattering functions (LSF) is used to calculate a collinearity measure. We define the stationarity time as the support of the region where the collinearity exceeds a certain threshold. The stationarity time is the maximum time duration over which the WSSUS assumption is valid. Measurements from an highway with vehicles driving in opposite directions show stationarity times as small as 23 ms whereas vehicles driving in the same direction show stationarity times of 1479 ms.
Towards a verification of the rule-based expert system of the IBM SA for OS/390 Automation Manager

We formally verify consistency aspects of the rule-based expert system of IBM's System Automation software for IBM's e-server zSeries. Starting with a formalization of the expert system in propositional dynamic logic (PDL), we are able to encode termination and determinism properties. To circumvent direct proofs in PDL or its extension /spl Delta/PDL, we further translate versions of the occurring decision problems to propositional logic, where we can apply advanced SAT and BDD techniques. In our experiments we revealed some inconsistencies, and after correcting them, we successfully verified a non-looping property for a part of the expert system.
An Insight into the Relationships between Hepcidin, Anemia, Infections and Inflammatory Cytokines in Pediatric Refugees: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis, is increased in response to inflammation and some infections, but the in vivo role of hepcidin, particularly in children with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is unclear. We investigated the relationships between hepcidin, cytokines and iron status in a pediatric population with a high prevalence of both anemia and co-morbid infections. Methodology/Principal Findings African refugee children <16 years were consecutively recruited at the initial post-resettlement health check with 181 children meeting inclusion criteria. Data on hematological parameters, cytokine levels and co-morbid infections (Helicobacter pylori, helminth and malaria) were obtained and urinary hepcidin assays performed. The primary outcome measure was urinary hepcidin levels in children with and without iron deficiency (ID) and/or ID anaemia (IDA). The secondary outcome measures included were the relationship between co-morbid infections and (i) ID and IDA, (ii) urinary hepcidin levels and (iii) cytokine levels. IDA was present in 25/181 (13.8%). Children with IDA had significantly lower hepcidin levels (IDA median hepcidin 0.14 nmol/mmol Cr (interquartile range 0.05–0.061) versus non-IDA 2.96 nmol/mmol Cr, (IQR 0.95–6.72), p<0.001). Hemoglobin, log-ferritin, iron, mean cell volume (MCV) and transferrin saturation were positively associated with log-hepcidin levels (log-ferritin beta coefficient (β): 1.30, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.57) and transferrin was inversely associated (β: −0.12, 95% CI −0.15 to −0.08). Cytokine levels (including IL-6) and co-morbid infections were not associated with IDA or hepcidin levels. Conclusions/Significance This is the largest pediatric study of the in vivo associations between hepcidin, iron status and cytokines. Gastro-intestinal infections (H. pylori and helminths) did not elevate urinary hepcidin or IL-6 levels in refugee children, nor were they associated with IDA. Longitudinal and mechanistic studies of IDA will further elucidate the role of hepcidin in paediatric iron regulation.
Effects of viral respiratory disease education and surveillance on antibiotic prescribing.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We describe a partnership between family practice residency clinics and a state public health virology laboratory that has produced comprehensive viral respiratory disease education and surveillance. Family practice residents have been provided with education on respiratory viruses and the results of ongoing viral surveillance. The preliminary effects of this program on antibiotic prescribing by senior residents are evaluated in this paper. METHODS We used a questionnaire to assess the acceptance by family practice residents of the educational component and the utility of ongoing viral surveillance. We used chart review to evaluate rates of antibiotic prescribing and the number of patients diagnosed per year with acute upper respiratory infection and acute bronchitis by senior residents in 1992 (preexposure) and 1996 (postexposure). RESULTS By the third year of training, most residents (79%) reported receiving adequate training regarding common viral respiratory diseases. Moreover, residents reported that they were less likely to prescribe antibiotics to patients presenting with respiratory infections when provided with specific information on circulating viral pathogens. Antibiotic prescribing in the postexposure group was 68% lower for upper respiratory infection (URI) and 45% lower for a composite of URI and bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS Education and monitoring of circulating respiratory viruses can result in familiarity with common disorders in primary care and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
Pareto Optimal Allocation under Uncertain Preferences

The assignment problem is one of the most well-studied settings in social choice, matching, and discrete allocation. We consider the problem with the additional feature that agents' preferences involve uncertainty. The setting with uncertainty leads to a number of interesting questions including the following ones. How to compute an assignment with the highest probability of being Pareto optimal? What is the complexity of computing the probability that a given assignment is Pareto optimal? Does there exist an assignment that is Pareto optimal with probability one? We consider these problems under two natural uncertainty models: (1) the lottery model in which each agent has an independent probability distribution over linear orders and (2) the joint probability model that involves a joint probability distribution over preference profiles. For both of the models, we present a number of algorithmic and complexity results.
Fiber orientation development in molding of polymer composites

The hydrodynamics and heat transfer that take place during molding of short fiber polymer composites have been analyzed. Consequently, the fiber orientation development has been qualitatively modeled and the flow mechanisms that contribute to fiber orientation have been identified: 1. Spreading radial flow in the vicinity of the cavity gate, originates transverse orientation of fiber with respect to the flow direction. 2. The fountain flow in the advancing front contributes to orientation of fibers in the surface layer in the flow direction. 3. Converging type flow, as the melt front flattens, causes some alignment in the flow direction. 4. Shear flow, which in the nonisothermal case, contributes to fiber orientation in the flow direction, at some distance from the wall. As a result of these mechanisms a layered structure is formed, having distinct fiber orientations. The experimentally observed fiber distributions in injection molding of thermoplastics, transfer, and compression molding of thermosets, agree with the qualitative predictions. The suggested orientation mechanisms may guide the mold and product designers as to the effect of gate location, mold dimensions, and processing variables on the final properties of the article.