Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term ozone exposure and mortality.

BACKGROUND Although many studies have linked elevations in tropospheric ozone to adverse health outcomes, the effect of long-term exposure to ozone on air pollution-related mortality remains uncertain. We examined the potential contribution of exposure to ozone to the risk of death from cardiopulmonary causes and specifically to death from respiratory causes. METHODS Data from the study cohort of the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II were correlated with air-pollution data from 96 metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. Data were analyzed from 448,850 subjects, with 118,777 deaths in an 18-year follow-up period. Data on daily maximum ozone concentrations were obtained from April 1 to September 30 for the years 1977 through 2000. Data on concentrations of fine particulate matter (particles that are < or = 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter [PM(2.5)]) were obtained for the years 1999 and 2000. Associations between ozone concentrations and the risk of death were evaluated with the use of standard and multilevel Cox regression models. RESULTS In single-pollutant models, increased concentrations of either PM(2.5) or ozone were significantly associated with an increased risk of death from cardiopulmonary causes. In two-pollutant models, PM(2.5) was associated with the risk of death from cardiovascular causes, whereas ozone was associated with the risk of death from respiratory causes. The estimated relative risk of death from respiratory causes that was associated with an increment in ozone concentration of 10 ppb was 1.040 (95% confidence interval, 1.010 to 1.067). The association of ozone with the risk of death from respiratory causes was insensitive to adjustment for confounders and to the type of statistical model used. CONCLUSIONS In this large study, we were not able to detect an effect of ozone on the risk of death from cardiovascular causes when the concentration of PM(2.5) was taken into account. We did, however, demonstrate a significant increase in the risk of death from respiratory causes in association with an increase in ozone concentration.
Linkage and association analysis of hyperthyrotropinaemia in an Alpine population reveal two novel loci on chromosomes 3q28-29 and 6q26-27

Background Thyroid hormones have important roles in growth, development and control of metabolism, and their dysregulation can lead to disease. Objectives To identify genes contributing to hyperthyrotropinaemia. Design, setting, participants Linkage and association analyses using 1258 individuals from three Alpine villages. Outcome measures The study applied two different upper limits of the reference range (URR) for serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) values (TSH ≥4.6 mU/l and TSH >3.0 mU/l), along with normal or low fT4 (free thyroxine) values or thyroid medical treatment to define two groups of individuals for analysis: one hyperthyrotropinaemic or high-TSH (H-TSH) (TSH ≥4.6 mU/l) group; and a larger group (TSH >3.0 mU/l) called hyperthyrotropinaemic and upper reference range TSH (H+URR-TSH). Results Non-parametric genome-wide linkage analysis was performed on pedigrees generated from the two groups. Linkage analysis in the H+URR-TSH group revealed a significant peak on chromosome 3q28-q29 (LOD 3.34) and a suggestive linkage peak on chromosome 6q26-27 (LOD 2.66). Analysis in the smaller hyperthyrotropinaemic (H-TSH) group supported linkage to chromosome 6q26-27. Single SNP and gene based SNP association analyses under the linkage peaks identified the PDE10A and DACT2 genes as candidates at the chromosome 6 locus. Conclusions PDE10A or DACT2 were identified as candidate genes contributing to hyperthyrotropinaemia (and possibly hypothyroidism) in this sample. Studies in additional populations support association of variants at this locus with TSH values, especially in the PDE10A gene. Genetic linkage in families with hyperthyrotropinaemia suggests the presence of functional variants that contribute to pathological disruption of the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid axis.
The Relationship Between Child Maltreatment and Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among College Students

Partner violence is a pervasive public health concern that has received significant attention over the past three decades. Although a number of studies have reported that college students who are Deaf or hard of hearing are at an increased risk of experiencing partner violence compared with their hearing counterparts, little is known about partner violence perpetration among college students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Furthermore, beyond disability, studies examining partner violence among students with disabilities tend to ignore other potential risk factors that may increase the risk of partner violence as a victim and/or a perpetrator. This exploratory study examines the extent of partner violence among male and female college students by auditory status and the relationship between experiencing and perpetrating partner abuse (i.e., physical abuse and psychological abuse) and child maltreatment (i.e., witnessing abuse and experiencing child physical abuse). The study also examines gender differences in the relationship between child maltreatment and physical and psychological abuse victimization and perpetration. Data were collected from a sample of approximately 680 college students at a northeastern university. Findings indicate that having witnessed interparental abuse as a child was only significant for being an adult victim of physical abuse. Having been a child victim of parental abuse was not significant for any of the abuse measures. Gender was only significant for being an adult victim of physical abuse. Deaf students were significantly more likely to report all abuse measures. Implications and directions for further research are discussed.
Configurable Solution for Object Recognition and Localization based on Features in YUV Color Space

this paper, a practicable robot vision solution is presented for multiple kinds of object recognition and localization. The proposed solution generalizes and extends simplicity driven algorithms for recognition and localization of fruits under harvesting environment. In the proposed solution, fruits with shape of quasi round such as oranges, apricots and apples on the tree are segmented from complicated real background with one dimensional V computing in YUV. Further object recognition algorithms are applied to recognize and compute each qualified fruit's localization. For a study of generality, the original solution is extended from fruit recognition to logistics and production industry. One is for recognition and localization of mixed kinds of cookies on conveyor belt in packaging line. Another one is for recognition of parts in warehouse or production place with a synthetic color labeling methods. V-U difference is used to enhance the difference among different kinds of objects. By a certain feature of one- dimension, multiple kinds of objects are distinguished from each other. Based on reconfigurable modeling, the recognition of multiple kinds of objects is realized on a single system.
A band-notched UWB antenna using uni-planar EBG structure

In this paper, a notch in a UWB antenna using uni-planar electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure is presented. A one dimensional EBG structure coupled with microstrip line provides a narrow bandgap which is used in obtaining a notch in the ultra wideband (UWB) antenna. The effect of the meander line and the inter-digital capacitor of the unit cell are studied. A band notched UWB antenna is designed and fabricated giving a notch at 5.2 GHz WLAN frequency.
Vitamin D Receptor Activation Enhances Benzo[a]pyrene Metabolism via CYP1A1 Expression in Macrophages

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) activates the aryl hydrocarbon (AHR) and induces the expression of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, including CYP1A1. CYP1A1 is involved not only in BaP detoxification but also in metabolic activation, which results in DNA adduct formation. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) belongs to the NR1I subfamily of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which also regulates expression of xenobiotic metabolism genes. We investigated the cross-talk between AHR and VDR signaling pathways and found that 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], a potent physiological VDR agonist, enhanced BaP-induced transcription of CYP1A1 in human monocytic U937 cells and THP-1 cells, breast cancer cells, and kidney epithelium-derived cells. 1,25(OH)2D3 alone did not induce CYP1A1, and 1,25(OH)2D3 plus BaP did not increase CYP1A2 or CYP1B1 mRNA expression in U937 cells. The combination of 1,25(OH)2D3 and BaP increased CYP1A1 protein levels, BaP hydroxylation activity, and BaP-DNA adduct formation in U937 cells and THP-1 cells more effectively than BaP alone. The combined effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 and BaP on CYP1A1 mRNA expression in U937 cells and/or THP-1 cells was inhibited by VDR knockdown, VDR antagonists, and α-naphthoflavone, an AHR antagonist. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that VDR directly bound to an everted repeat (ER) 8 motif in the human CYP1A1 promoter. Thus, CYP1A1 is a novel VDR target gene involved in xenobiotic metabolism. Induction of CYP1A1 by the activation of VDR and AHR may contribute to BaP-mediated toxicity and the physiological function of this enzyme.
The Evaluation of Bimaterial Specimen with FDM 3D Printing Technology by Infrared Thermography

The evaluation of temperature variation is very important issue relations in the fields of mechanical design, maintenance and advanced material. Development of carbon fiber or variable composites material is increasingly used in novel material especially aerospace field. One of the key factors in developing novel materials is finding alternative sources of power. Recent research trend is to develop self-actuating device from natural source. The main example is shape memory alloys(SMA), shape memory polymer(SMP) and etc. To develop the SMA or SMP, Thermal properties of material are important. Then the use of nondestructive testing(NDT) techniques is useful to get thermal data about novel materials. Infrared thermography(IRT) is convenient and useful method of NDT technique. However, IRT require various variables to get a proper data. In this research, we trying to reduce the number and find the emissivity of variables on bimaterial from 3D printing.
Progesterone Profiles in the Caudal Vena Cava and Jugular Vein in Response to Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Stimulation Induced by GnRH Treatment During the Mid-luteal Phase in Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine whether increased frequency of luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses influences luteal progesterone (P4) secretion by measuring progesterone concentrations at the secreted (caudal vena cava) and circulating levels (jugular vein) in lactating dairy cows. Cows received six intravenous administrations of 2.5 μg of GnRH (gonadorelin acetate, n=4) or 2 ml saline (n=3) at 1-h intervals on 12.4 ± 0.4 (mean ± SE) days after ovulation. Blood samples were collected from the caudal vena cava and jugular vein every 12 min for 12 h (6 h before and after treatment). During the 6 h after treatment, frequency of LH pulses (5.3 ± 0.3 and 3.0 ± 0.0 pulses/6 h) and mean LH concentration (0.50 ± 0.06 and 0.38 ± 0.05 ng/ml) were greater (P<0.05) in GnRH-treated cows than in saline-treated cows. Mean P4 concentration and amplitude of P4 pulses in the caudal vena cava during the 6 h after treatment were greater (P<0.05) in GnRH-treated cows than in saline-treated cows, but the frequency of P4 pulses was not different between the groups. Mean P4 concentration in the jugular vein during the 6 h after treatment was also higher (P<0.05) in GnRH-treated cows than in saline-treated cows (7.0 ± 1.3 and 5.4 ± 0.9 ng/ml). These results indicate that the increased frequency of LH pulses stimulates progesterone secretion from the functional corpus luteum and brings about higher P4 concentrations in the circulating blood in lactating dairy cows.
Traffic model for HTTP-based adaptive streaming

The amount of video traffic on the Internet has seen a tremendous increase over the past few years. In 2020, it is predicted to account for 85% of the total Internet consumer traffic. Due to this dominant role, streaming traffic has to be considered by workload models used to evaluate the performance of networking systems. A de facto standard technology for Internet-based Video on Demand (VoD) services is HTTP-Based Adaptive Streaming (HAS), which is also increasingly used for live streaming. Unfortunately, HAS clients produce a very specific workload pattern that is not appropriately represented by traditional HTTP traffic models. In the present work, we propose a stochastic model accurately describing such traffic, along with a methodology to generate synthetic traffic using functionality provided by commonly available numerical/scientific software libraries. We perform a proof of concept by fitting the model to a data set collected in a residential Wi-Fi environment, and generating synthetic traffic matching the characteristics of the traffic in the collected data set.
DOES DOWNLINK NULLING MAKE SENSE FOR COMBINED PACKET/CIRCUIT SWITCHED WIRELESS SYSTEMS?

Downlink beamforming is the limiting factor in the application of adaptive antennas in cellular mobile communication systems. Directing nulls of the antenna pattern to active mobiles in the downlink will be impractical in the case of packet data transmission. But in the evolution of 2 nd generation mobile communication systems packet switched data transmission (e.g. GPRS/EGPRS in GSM Phase 2+) and circuit switched speech communication will be used in parallel. We show by link level simulations that also in combined packet/circuit switched mobile communication systems "gentle" downlink interferer nulling leads to performance and capacity improvements.
Optimisation of Extrusion for Enhancing the Nutritive Value of Palm Kernel Cake Using Response Surface Methodology

The palm kernel cake (PKC) inclusion level in poultry diets is limited by the high indigestible polysaccharides content. Hence, PKC was subjected to an extrusion treatment to reduce the content of these components. The effects of extrusion on the total non-starch polysaccharides (T-NSP), fibre, monosaccharides, and mannooligosaccharides contents were evaluated according to the response surface methodology (RSM) with various temperatures, screw speeds, hopper speeds, and moisture contents. The optimum conditions observed according to the RSM were a temperature of 178 °C, screw speed of 100 rpm, hopper speed of 5 Hz, and moisture content of 75%. The T-NSP content was significantly reduced (p<0.05), from 63.3 ± 1.85% to 57.6 ± 0.89%, and the crude fibre content decreased (p<0.05) from 16.7 ± 0.68% to 13.5 ± 0.99%. The mannose, glucose, and fructose contents of the PKC increased (p<0.05) 2.9-, 1.9-, and 1.4-fold, respectively. The 1,4-β-D-mannobiose, 1,4-β-D-mannotriose, 1,4-β-D-mannotetraose, and 1,4-β-D-mannopentaose increased (p<0.05) 3.7-, 3.8-, 3.5-, and 32.8-fold, respectively. This study showed that extrusion enhanced the nutritive value of PKC.
First Analysis of TerraSAR-X Along-Track InSAR-Derived Current Fields

We present the first analysis of surface current fields derived from TerraSAR-X along-track interferometric synthetic aperture radar (along-track InSAR, ATI) data. The images were acquired over the mouth of the Elbe river (Germany) during six satellite overpasses in spring and summer 2008, using the experimental "aperture switching" mode of TerraSAR-X. In this mode, the phased-array synthetic aperture radar (SAR) antenna is split into two halves for receiving, but in contrast to the "dual receive antenna" mode, which uses two independent receivers in parallel, a single receiver is multiplexed to process signals from the two antenna halves in an alternating manner at a doubled pulse repetition frequency. The effective ATI baseline is on the order of 0.8 m. The SAR/ATI raw data processing is described in another paper in this issue. This paper focuses on the conversion of the basic interferograms into line-of-sight surface current fields, which includes an elimination of ship signatures, identification, and correction (as far as possible) of imaging artifacts, additional filtering and smoothing, and a subtraction of contributions of wave motions to detected velocities according to a theoretical model. We evaluate the quality of the results by comparison with current fields from a numerical flow model and with available in situ data. The ATI performance of TerraSAR-X is found to be basically consistent with theoretical expectations. After applying the same data processing algorithms to all six images, mean differences between TerraSAR-X-derived currents and reference currents in our main test area range from -0.11 to + 0.08 m/s in five of the six cases with one outlier at +0.42 m/s. The spatial current variations within the TerraSAR-X-derived current fields are consistent with the model in three cases, but unrealistically strong variations across the images are found in the other three cases. We attribute this to shortcomings of our preliminary raw data processing algorithms, which can probably be fixed after some more detailed analysis and testing. The results obtained so far encourage us to believe that our internal performance goal of a typical current measuring accuracy of 0.1 m/s at an effective spatial resolution better than 1 km can be met.
Position control of a ferromagnetic micro-particle in a dry environment

Most of current wireless micro-robotic systems evolve in liquids, as the predominance, at this scale, of surface adhesion makes it hard to control these systems in dry environments. The purpose of this article is to propose a method to improve wireless micro-devices performances in the air, by focusing on the workspace substrate. In this work, a magnetically actuated micro-particle is described and a strategy to limit the surface forces is presented. The micro-device behavior is studied and compared on five different surfaces. We demonstrate that reducing the electrical resistivity and the roughness of the surface helps improving the particle actuation occurrence. Furthermore, to validate the proposed approach, the particle is positioned with high precision using a closed loop control based on visual feedback. The micro-particle response is identified using a statistical approach over a large micro-particle response database.
Relevance Feedback Based Query Expansion Model Using Borda Count and Semantic Similarity Approach

Pseudo-Relevance Feedback (PRF) is a well-known method of query expansion for improving the performance of information retrieval systems. All the terms of PRF documents are not important for expanding the user query. Therefore selection of proper expansion term is very important for improving system performance. Individual query expansion terms selection methods have been widely investigated for improving its performance. Every individual expansion term selection method has its own weaknesses and strengths. To overcome the weaknesses and to utilize the strengths of the individual method, we used multiple terms selection methods together. In this paper, first the possibility of improving the overall performance using individual query expansion terms selection methods has been explored. Second, Borda count rank aggregation approach is used for combining multiple query expansion terms selection methods. Third, the semantic similarity approach is used to select semantically similar terms with the query after applying Borda count ranks combining approach. Our experimental results demonstrated that our proposed approaches achieved a significant improvement over individual terms selection method and related state-of-the-art methods.
Designing gestures for mobile 3D gaming

In the last years 3D is getting more and more popular. Besides the increasing number of movies for 3D stereoscopic cinemas and television, serious steps have also been undertaken in the field of 3D gaming. Games with stereoscopic 3D output are now available not only for gamers with high-end PCs but also on handheld devices equipped with 3D autostereoscopic displays. Recent smartphone technology has powerful processors that allow complex tasks like image processing, e.g. used in augmented reality applications. Moreover these devices are nowadays equipped with various sensors that allow additional input modalities far beyond joystick, mouse, keyboard and other traditional input methods. In this paper we propose an approach for sensor-based interaction with stereoscopic displayed 3D data on mobile devices and present a mobile 3D game that makes use of these concepts.
PSO Algorithm Particle Filters for Improving the Performance of Lane Detection and Tracking Systems in Difficult Roads

In this paper we propose a robust lane detection and tracking method by combining particle filters with the particle swarm optimization method. This method mainly uses the particle filters to detect and track the local optimum of the lane model in the input image and then seeks the global optimal solution of the lane model by a particle swarm optimization method. The particle filter can effectively complete lane detection and tracking in complicated or variable lane environments. However, the result obtained is usually a local optimal system status rather than the global optimal system status. Thus, the particle swarm optimization method is used to further refine the global optimal system status in all system statuses. Since the particle swarm optimization method is a global optimization algorithm based on iterative computing, it can find the global optimal lane model by simulating the food finding way of fish school or insects under the mutual cooperation of all particles. In verification testing, the test environments included highways and ordinary roads as well as straight and curved lanes, uphill and downhill lanes, lane changes, etc. Our proposed method can complete the lane detection and tracking more accurately and effectively then existing options.
Stroke Mismatch Volume with the Use of ABC/2 Is Equivalent to Planimetric Stroke Mismatch Volume

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In the clinical setting, there is a need to perform mismatch measurements quickly and easily on the MR imaging scanner to determine the specific amount of treatable penumbra. The objective of this study was to quantify the agreement of the ABC/2 method with the established planimetric method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 193) were selected from the NINDS Natural History Stroke Registry if they 1) were treated with standard intravenous rtPA, 2) had a pretreatment MR imaging with evaluable DWI and PWI, and 3) had an acute ischemic stroke lesion. A rater placed the linear diameters to measure the largest DWI and MTT lesion areas in 3 perpendicular axes—A, B, and C—and then used the ABC/2 formula to calculate lesion volumes. A separate rater measured the planimetric volumes. Multiple mismatch thresholds were used, including MTT volume − DWI volume ≥50 mL versus ≥60 mL and (MTT volume − DWI volume)/MTT volume ≥20% versus MTT/DWI = 1.8. RESULTS: Compared with the planimetric method, the ABC/2 method had high sensitivity (0.91), specificity (0.90), accuracy (0.91), PPV (0.90), and NPV (0.91) to quantify mismatch by use of the ≥50 mL definition. The Spearman correlation coefficients were 0.846 and 0.876, respectively, for the DWI and MTT measurements. The inter-rater Bland-Altman plots demonstrated 95%, 95%, and 97% agreement for the DWI, MTT, and mismatch measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The ABC/2 method is highly reliable and accurate for quantifying the specific amount of MR imaging–determined mismatch and therefore is a potential tool to quickly calculate a treatable mismatch pattern.