Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of sparse signal recovery algorithms based on minimization norms

In conventional sensing modality, Nyquist sampling theorem is followed as the minimum sampling rate. However, due to constraints e.g. slow sampling process, limited memory, and sensors cost, in some applications Nyquist sampling rate is difficult to achieve. When sampling rate is less than Nyquist sampling rate, aliasing artifacts occur in the recovered signal. Compressed Sensing (CS) is a modern sampling technique, where signal can be recovered faithfully even from fewer samples if signal/image of interest is sparse, which true as most signals/images are sparse in appropriate domain i.e. Wavelet transform, finite difference. Recovering sparse signal efficiently from compressively sampled data can be most challenging part in CS. The recovery problem is highly ill-posed underdetermined system of linear equations, so additional regularization constraints are required. As there can be infinite many solutions, therefore, finding best solution from few measurements becomes an optimization problem, where cost function is minimized. There are several reconstruction methods that exist in literature. These methods can be classified, based on the norms that are used in minimizing the objective function. This paper presents a comparati ve study of modern sparse signal recovery algorithms using different norms. Sparse signal recovery algorithms presented in this paper are Smoothed l0, l1 magic and mixed l1l2 norm based Iterative Shrinkage Algorithms (ISA) e.g. SSF, IRLS and PCD. All algorithms are tested for the recovery of sparse image. The performance measures used for objectively analysing the efficiency of algorithms are mean square error, correlation and computational time.
Diet and physical activity in patients with colorectal adenomas: directions for intervention programmes.

BACKGROUND Screening programmes provide an opportunity to combine early detection programmes with prevention strategies for chronic disease risk reduction. The aim of the current exploratory research was to identify diet and activity habits in adults diagnosed with colorectal adenomas on screening colonoscopy in order to inform the development of an intervention study in this patient group. METHODS Participants were recruited from colonoscopy clinics and completed a 7-day food diary and physical activity record. RESULTS Valid food diaries were completed by 32 participants. Mean daily intake of nonstarch polysaccharide was estimated at 14.2 (SD 4.2) g per day and fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) at 3.6 (SD 1.9) portions. The highest quartile of FVI consumers reported greater consumption of fruit (on any occasion) and vegetables (at evening meal) compared with low FVI consumers. Physical activity records (n = 36) indicated that walking was the most common method of activity with few indications of leisure time sport. Overall, 37% of participants failed to meet minimum recommend activity levels. CONCLUSION The magnitudes of change in activity and diet required to conform with current guidelines were estimated. Food habits that were pertinent to the population were identified and help to provide goal-based guidance for intervention design.
Enkephalin action on the mesolimbic system: a dopamine-dependent and a dopamine-independent increase in locomotor activity.

Enkephalin has been identified by immunohistochemistry to be present in the vicinity of mesolimbic dopaminergic perikarya in the ventral tegmental area and axonal terminals in the nucleus accumbens. To evaluate the possibility that endogenous enkephalin may physiologically modulate the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system, the effect of microinjection of the peptidase-resistant enkephalin analog, D-Ala2-Met5-enkephalinamide (DALA), in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens was examined. Locomotion and rearing behavior and alteration in concentration of DA and its metabolites in mesolimbic terminal areas were used to evaluate mesolimbic dopaminergic function. Microinjection of DALA into the ventral tegmental area produced a dose-dependent increase in locomotion and rearing which was antagonized by neuroleptic administration in the nucleus accumbens. Inasmuch as DALA administration into the ventral tegmentum was additive with a subthreshold dose of DA injected into the nucleus accumbens and produced a dose-related increase in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/DA ratio, these data are consistent with the postulate that this treatment with DALA activates the mesolimbic DA system. DALA microinjection into the nucleus accumbens also produced a dose-dependent increase in locomotion and rearing. However, this behavioral effect was shown to be independent of the mesolimbic DA system because neither neuroleptic injection into the nucleus accumbens nor destruction of the mesolimbic DA system with 6-hydroxydopamine blocked the behavioral response produced by this treatment. Furthermore, DALA injection into the nucleus accumbens did not alter nucleus accumbens levels of DA or its metabolites at 15, 30 or 60 min after injection. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Tolerability and efficacy of abatacept in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a phase I study

ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerability of single and multiple doses of abatacept in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Secondary objectives included evaluating its pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, and efficacy.MethodsThis dose-escalation, single- and multiple-dose, multicenter, open-label study was conducted at nine sites in Japan. Seven patients were enrolled at each of three dose levels (2, 8 and 16 mg/kg) and received a single intravenous dose of abatacept on day 1 of the single-dose phase. The multiple-dose phase, at the same dose, started once the patients had completed the single-dose phase and when it was confirmed that there were no safety issues.ResultsTwenty patients started the single-dose phase. Single and multiple doses of abatacept were well tolerated, and adverse events were of mild to moderate intensity. There were no discontinuations or deaths due to adverse events. The pharmacokinetics of abatacept were linear, with no notable accumulation. There were no immunogenic effects on the safety, efficacy, or pharmacokinetics of abatacept. Multiple doses of abatacept improved individual items of the American College of Rheumatology core set.ConclusionSingle and multiple doses of abatacept showed favorable tolerability and efficacy in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Three Different Bradycardic Agents, Zatebradine, Diltiazem and Propranolol, Distinctly Modify Heart Rate Variability and QT-Interval Variability

Zatebradine, diltiazem and propranolol are all antiarrhythmic agents, and all induce bradycardia, but each is known to have a different initial molecular mechanism: zatebradine is a channel blocker of the hyperpolarization-activated inward current (If ); diltiazem is a blocker of the L-type Ca2+ channel (ICaL), and propranolol is a β-blocker. To further investigate the mechanisms underlying their clinical effects, we studied their effects on heart rate variability (HRV) and QT-interval variability (QTV). To this end, guinea pigs were treated with either zatebradine (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.), diltiazem (40 mg/kg, i.p.) or propranolol (20 mg/kg, i.p.). A dose of each agent that decreased HR by 20–22% was used in this study. HRV and QTV were analyzed by a fast Fourier and/or a wavelet transform algorithm. Zatebradine, an If channel blocker, had no significant effect on HRV and QTV. Diltiazem, a non-dihydropyridine ICaL blocker, increased high frequency (HF) power and decreased the power ratio of the low frequency (LF) range to the HF range (L/H) in HRV, and increased QTV. Propranolol, a non-selective β-antagonist, decreased LF power and L/H ratios in HRV, and appreciably reduced QTV. These differences in pharmacological action may help us better understand the antiarrhythmic and/or proarrhythmic actions of these agents when they are used clinically for reducing HR.
Average Case Complete Problems

Many interesting combinatorial problems were found to be NP-complete. Since there is little hope to solve them fast in the worst case, researchers look for algorithms which are fast just “on average,” This matter is sensitive to the choice of a particular NP-complete problem and a probability distribution of its instances. Some of these tasks are easy and some not. But one needs a way to distinguish the “difficult on average” problems. Such negative results could not only save “positive” efforts but may also be used in areas (like cryptography) where hardness of some problems is a frequent assumption. It is shown in [1] that the Tiling problem with uniform distribution of instances has no polynominal “on average” algorithm, unless every NP-problem with every simple probability distribution has it.
Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of L-659,989: an extremely potent, selective and competitive receptor antagonist of platelet-activating factor.

L-659,989 [trans-2-(3-methoxy-5-methylsulfonyl-4-propoxy-phenyl)-5-(3,4,5- trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran] is a p.o. active and extremely potent, selective and competitive platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist. It inhibited [3H]PAF binding to either rabbit platelet or rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte membranes with an equilibrium inhibition constant (Kl) of 1.1 nM; whereas in human platelet, human polymorphonuclear leukocyte or human lung membranes, L-659,989 was about 10 times less potent with a Kl of 14.3 nM. The structural specificity of L-659,989 was demonstrated by the low activity of its cisisomer which was about 100 to 200 times less potent, also the (-)-L-659,989 was found to be 20- to 30-fold more potent than (+)-L-659,989. In both [3H]PAF binding and PAF-induced platelet aggregation inhibition, L-659,989 was found to be a competitive inhibitor with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KB) of 1.5 and 1.7 nM, respectively, in rabbit platelets. Even up to 6 microM concentration, L-659,989 showed no inhibition on the aggregation of rabbit platelets in plasma induced by ADP, arachidonic acid, collagen or thrombin. In an in vivo model, it inhibited guinea pig bronchoconstriction induced by i.v. infusion of 75 ng/kg of PAF with ED50 values of 13 micrograms/kg i.v. and 0.5 mg/kg p.o.
Long-acting progestin-only contraceptives enhance human endometrial stromal cell expressed neuronal pentraxin-1 and reactive oxygen species to promote endothelial cell apoptosis.

CONTEXT Despite the absence of progesterone receptor protein in human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs), endometria of women receiving long-acting progestin-only contraceptives (LAPCs) display reduced uterine blood flow, elevated reactive oxygen species generation, increased angiogenesis, and irregularly distributed, enlarged, fragile microvessels resulting in abnormal uterine bleeding. OBJECTIVE We propose that paracrine factors from LAPC-treated human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) impair HEEC functions by shifting the balance between HEEC viability and death in favor of the latter. DESIGN AND SETTING Proliferation, apoptosis, and transcriptome analyses were performed in HEECs treated with conditioned medium supernatant (CMS) derived from HESCs treated with estradiol (E2) ± medroxyprogesterone acetate or etonogestrel under normoxia or hypoxia. Mass spectrometry interrogated the CMS secretome while immunostaining for neuronal pentraxin-1 (NPTX1), cleaved caspase-3, and cytochrome c was performed in cultured HEECs and paired endometria from women using LAPCs. MAIN OUTCOME HEEC apoptosis and its underlying mechanism. RESULTS HESC CMS from E2 + medroxyprogesterone acetate or E2 + etonogestrel incubations under hypoxia induced HEEC apoptosis (P < .05), whereas mass spectrometry of the CMS revealed increased NPTX1 secretion (P < .05). Endothelial cleaved caspase-3 and stromal NPTX1 immunoreactivity were significantly higher in LAPC-treated endometria (P < .001). Transcriptomics revealed AKT signaling inhibition and mitochondrial dysfunction in HEECs incubated with HESC CMS. In vitro analyses proved that CMS decreased HEEC AKT phosphorylation (P < .05) and that recombinant NPTX1 (P < .05) or NPTX1 + H2O2 (P < .001) increase HEEC apoptosis and cytosolic cytochrome c levels. CONCLUSIONS LAPC-enhanced NPTX1 secretion and reactive oxygen species generation in HESCs impair HEEC survival resulting in a loss in vascular integrity, demonstrating a novel paracrine mechanism to explain LAPC-induced abnormal uterine bleeding.
Radio source calibration for the Very Small Array and other cosmic microwave background instruments at around 30 GHz

Accurate calibration of data is essential for the current generation of cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments. Using data from the Very Small Array (VSA), we describe procedures which will lead to an accuracy of 1 per cent or better for experiments such as the VSA and CBI. Particular attention is paid to the stability of the receiver systems, the quality of the site and frequent observations of reference sources. At 30 GHz the careful correction for atmospheric emission and absorption is shown to be essential for achieving 1 per cent precision. The sources for which a 1 per cent relative flux density calibration was achieved included Cas A, Cyg A, Tau A and NGC 7027 and the planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. A flux density, or brightness temperature in the case of the planets, was derived at 33 GHz relative to Jupiter which was adopted as the fundamental calibrator. A spectral index at similar to 30 GHz is given for each. Cas A, Tau A, NGC 7027 and Venus were examined for variability. Cas A was found to be decreasing at 0.394 ± 0.019 per cent yr^(-1) over the period 2001 March to 2004 August. In the same period Tau A was decreasing at 0.22 ± 0.07 per cent yr^(-1). A survey of the published data showed that the planetary nebula NGC 7027 decreased at 0.16 ± 0.04 per cent yr^(-1) over the period 1967-2003. Venus showed an insignificant (1.5 ±1.3 per cent) variation with Venusian illumination. The integrated polarization of Tau A at 33 GHz was found to be 7.8 ± 0.6 per cent at position angle =148° ± 3°.
The use of Z‐scores in the analysis of fetal cardiac dimensions

In the mid 1980s real-time directed M-mode ultrasonography was used to examine the transverse dimensions of the ventricular chambers, ventricular wall thickness, excursion of the mitral and tricuspid valves, and the diameter of the outflow tracts in normal fetuses and those with pathology1–8. The problem with M-mode ultrasonography was that the cardiac structures to be examined had to be perpendicular to the ultrasound beam in order for the examiner to obtain the proper images for evaluation1–8. During the 1990s several investigators reported using realtime B-mode ultrasonography, which overcame the angle dependency of M-mode ultrasonography, to measure the dimensions of cardiac chambers and the outflow tracts9,10. In early 1992 Sharland and Allan reported results from measuring several ventricular chamber dimensions and the diameters of the outflow tracts (Table 1)9. They found that quadratic polynomial regression equations best described the distribution of cardiac measurements and provided a graphical display of the mean and 95% confidence intervals for each measurement as a function of gestational age. In late 1992 Tan et al. reported results from their study that included more measurements than that of Sharland and Allan (Table 1)10. They reported their results using linear and quadratic regression equations and computed the mean and the standard error of the estimate, using gestational age as the independent variable10. In
Behaviour in Children with Language Development Disorders

Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the univariate and multivariate differences in behavioural problems among children with disorders in expressive or mixed receptive–expressive language development and children with unimpaired language development. Method: Ninety-four children with language development disorders (LDD) between the ages of 4 and 6 years and 94 children (matched by age and sex) without disorders of language development were compared concerning behavioural problems, as measured by the German version of the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18. Results: Thirty-two children (34%) with LDD showed behavioural problems in the clinical range, whereas only 6 control subjects (6%) had scores in this range. Univariate group comparisons between patients and control subjects showed significant differences in all 8 syndromes and the scale “other problems,” with patients having higher scores. Multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis showed a significant discriminant function by the scales “other problems,” “social problems,” “anxious–depressed,” “thought problems,” “attention problems,” and “delinquent problems. ” Conclusions: In general, our results agree with several studies that report that children with speech and language disorders are at special risk for developing behavioural problems. Neurodevelopmental immaturity may be one factor underlying both the disorder in language development and the behavioural problems.
Dimethyl(4-methylphenyl)ammonium naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate dihydrate

The asymmetric unit of the organic–inorganic hybrid salt, 2C9H14N+·C10H6O6S2 2−·2H2O, consists of one dimethyl(4-methylphenyl)ammonium cation, one half of a naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate anion lying on a crystallographic centre of inversion, and one water molecule. In the crystal, O—H⋯O(S) and N—H⋯OH2 hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions forming ring motifs.
Ziprasidone Augmentation of Escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder: Efficacy Results From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE The authors sought to test the efficacy of adjunctive ziprasidone in adults with nonpsychotic unipolar major depression experiencing persistent symptoms after 8 weeks of open-label treatment with escitalopram. METHOD This was an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial conducted at three academic medical centers. Participants were 139 outpatients with persistent symptoms of major depression after an 8-week open-label trial of escitalopram (phase 1), randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive adjunctive ziprasidone (escitalopram plus ziprasidone, N=71) or adjunctive placebo (escitalopram plus placebo, N=68), with 8 weekly follow-up assessments. The primary outcome measure was clinical response, defined as a reduction of at least 50% in score on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). The Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale (HAM-A) and Visual Analog Scale for Pain were defined a priori as key secondary outcome measures. RESULTS Rates of clinical response (35.2% compared with 20.5%) and mean improvement in HAM-D total scores (-6.4 [SD=6.4] compared with -3.3 [SD=6.2]) were significantly greater for the escitalopram plus ziprasidone group. Several secondary measures of antidepressant efficacy also favored adjunctive ziprasidone. The escitalopram plus ziprasidone group also showed significantly greater improvement on HAM-A score but not on Visual Analog Scale for Pain score. Ten (14%) patients in the escitalopram plus ziprasidone group discontinued treatment because of intolerance, compared with none in the escitalopram plus placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Ziprasidone as an adjunct to escitalopram demonstrated antidepressant efficacy in adult patients with major depressive disorder experiencing persistent symptoms after 8 weeks of open-label treatment with escitalopram.
Intake of Nutrients, Fiber, and Sugar in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Comparison to Healthy Individuals

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the world. Although some studies have been conducted about dietary intakes of these patients, but the results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to survey all macronutrients and micronutrients included in dietary intake of these patients for better understanding the factors influencing this disease. Methods: The present study is a case-control conducted in Isfahan city, Iran. The cases were recently diagnosed patients with NAFLD who identified by ultrasonography. The case (159) and control (158) individuals were matched in age and gender. Data of general characteristics and physical activity of individuals were collected through questionnaire. Dietary intake was also collected using 24 h dietary recall questionnaire. Results: Waistline and body mass index for the case group were more than the control group (P < 0.05). Physical activity level in healthy individuals was more than patients with NAFLD. Dietary intake of saturated fatty acids and sugar in patients with NAFLD was more than healthy individuals (P < 0.05). Intake of total dietary fiber, folic acid, Vitamin D, zinc, and potassium in healthy individuals was more than patients with NAFLD (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In total, it seems the type of dietary intake source is associated with NAFLD. Increasing saturated fatty acids and sugar and decreasing fiber, folic acid, Vitamin D, zinc, and potassium intake might play a role in the progression of this disease.
A novel QCA multiplexer design

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata is a novel nanotechnology that promises extra low-power, extremely dense and high speed structure for construction of logical circuits at a nano-scale. Moreover, multiplexer is a useful component for the design of many important circuits. This paper proposes a novel and efficient design of 2:1 multiplexer in the QCA. The proposed multiplexer has been compared to few recent designs in terms of area, speed and complexity. Comparison of results illustrates significant improvements in our design as compared to traditional approaches. Also, simulation proves that the proposed multiplexer design is completely robust and more sustainable to high input frequency, as compared to other designs. Simulations have been carried out using the QCA Designer, a layout and simulation tool for QCA.
Nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus polymerase chain reaction: a potential use in guiding antibiotic therapy for pneumonia.

CONTEXT The role at admission of nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in guiding antibiotic therapy for lower respiratory tract infection is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine whether nasal MRSA PCR at admission can predict the absence of MRSA in lower respiratory tract secretions. DESIGN We performed a retrospective study of adult patients admitted to a large urban hospital. Patients had a nasal MRSA PCR test and a lower respiratory tract culture obtained within 48 hours of admission and the culture yielded S aureus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. RESULTS Our results showed high sensitivity (93.3%) and negative predictive value (95.2%) of nasal PCR for MRSA in the lower respiratory tract. CONCLUSION With its high sensitivity and negative predictive value, a nasal MRSA PCR test performed within 48 hours of hospital admission could help guide the discontinuation of MRSA-directed empiric antibiotic therapy in patients who are unlikely to be infected with this organism. A prospective study is needed to confirm these findings.
Learning holistic transformation of HRR from examples

Holographic Reduced Representation is a representational scheme which allows for the representation of variable-sized structures in a distributed manner. It has been shown that these structures can be transformed holistically. However, in order to do so, the transformation vector was constructed by hand. In this paper we show that a simple gradient descent approach can be used to learn the holistic transformations of Holographic Reduced Representations from examples. The acquired knowledge can be generalised to structures containing unseen elements and to structures more complex than the training examples.