Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fc epsilon R1-beta polymorphism and total serum IgE levels in endemically parasitized Australian aborigines.

Endemic helminthic infection is a major public-health problem and affects a large proportion of the world's population. In Australia, helminthic infection is endemic in Aboriginal communities living in tropical northern regions of the continent. Such infection is associated with nonspecific (polyclonal) stimulation of IgE synthesis and highly elevated total serum IgE levels. There is evidence that worm-infection variance (i.e., human capacity of resistance) and total serum IgE levels may be related to the presence of a major codominant gene. The beta chain of the high-affinity IgE receptor, Fc epsilon R1-beta, has been previously identified as a candidate for the close genetic linkage of the 11q13 region to IgE responses in several populations. We show a biallelic RsaI polymorphism in Fc epsilon R1-beta to be associated with total serum IgE levels (P = .0001) in a tropical population of endemically parasitized Australian Aborigines (n = 234 subjects). The polymorphism explained 12.4% of the total residual variation in serum total IgE and showed a significant (P = .0000) additive relationship with total serum IgE levels, across the three genotypes. These associations were independent of familial correlations, age, gender, racial admixture, or smoking status. Alleles of a microsatellite repeat in intron 5 of the same gene showed similar associations. The results suggest that variation in Fc epsilon R1-beta may regulate IgE-mediated immune responses in this population.
Ground target track bias estimation using opportunistic road information

Track-to-track fusion is widely used by large-scale distributed surveillance systems to integrate multisensor tracking data. A critical step prior to track-to-track fusion is track-to-track assignment. However, when ground targets are tracked by airborne sensors, the target tracks contain not only tracking sensor errors but also navigation errors of the sensor platforms. If the errors are not compensated for properly, biased tracks create false assignments and lead to erroneously fused tracks. In this paper, track biases produced by individual trackers are characterized in terms of translation and rotation (and to a lesser extent by scaling) with respect to the common reference frame in which the track-to-track fusion will take place. Opportunistic information about the roads on which ground targets are moving is explored to estimate the track biases, akin to a system calibration, which can be used not only to remove biases from past and present tracks but also to provide corrections for future estimates. The proposed bias estimate method is based on binary image matching to estimate rotation and translation. A two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D FFT) is used to implement 2D search and correlation efficiently. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the proposed opportunistic road information based bias estimation (ORIBE) method and its performance as a function of target track accuracy and spatial resolution in forming track and road map images.
Critical Oropharyngocutaneous Fistulas after Microsurgical Head and Neck Reconstruction: Indications for Management Using the “Tissue-Plug” Technique

Despite advances in head and neck reconstruction with free-tissue transfer techniques, oropharyngocutaneous fistulas continue to present challenging and potentially lethal complications. The authors present a system for prioritizing these fistulas and the surgical management of nine patients in whom critical fistulas developed after microsurgical head and neck reconstruction. The indications for aggressive management of these fistulas were primarily dependent on their location. Three peristomal and six midneck fistulas were considered critical because of the risk of aspiration pneumonia and carotid artery blowout, respectively. Fistulas located in the submental and/or submandibular region were considered noncritical and were managed conservatively. Using the concept of a “tissue plug” for fistula repair, a dermal component (i.e., a deltopectoral or pectoralis major pedicled flap) is guided through the fistula, and with external traction the tissue “plugs” the tract. No sutures are placed directly in the surrounding friable tissue. There were no partial or total flap losses. There were two fistula recurrences in patients who had received postoperative radiation therapy. One of these recurrences was due to tumor recurrence within the previous fistula and was managed with palliative measures. The other fistula recurrence was closed with a local-flap procedure on an outpatient basis. All patients resumed oral feeding, except for the patient in whom tumor recurrence was suspected. This tissue-plug technique can be used in the management of critical peristomal and/or midneck oropharyngocutaneous fistulas not only to obliterate the tract but also to augment volume and vascularity in already damaged, ischemic, and deficient tissue.
Persistent Hyperalgesia in the Cisplatin-Treated Mouse as Defined by Threshold Measures, the Conditioned Place Preference Paradigm, and Changes in Dorsal Root Ganglia Activated Transcription Factor 3: The Effects of Gabapentin, Ketorolac, and Etanercept

BACKGROUND:Painful neuropathy is a dose-limiting side effect in cancer chemotherapy. To characterize this phenomenon, we examined pain behavior and analgesic actions in a mouse model of cisplatin polyneuropathy. METHODS:Male C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal cisplatin or saline (2.3 mg/kg/d) every other day 6 times over 2 weeks for a total dose of 13.8 mg/kg. Thermal escape latencies, mechanical allodynia using von Frey hairs, and observation of behavior/morbidity and body weights were assessed. After onset of allodynia, we examined the actions of intraperitoneal gabapentin (100 mg/kg), etanercept (20 and 40 mg/kg), ketorolac (15 mg/kg), and morphine (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg). Additionally, using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, we examined the effects of gabapentin and ketorolac on the presumed pain state initiated by cisplatin. Additionally, we examined the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of cisplatin-treated mice. RESULTS:Cisplatin, but not saline treatment, produced persistent hindpaw tactile allodynia, which persisted 46 days with no effect on thermal escape. Gabapentin and morphine, but neither etanercept nor ketorolac, produced a complete but transient (2-hour) reversal of the allodynia. Etanercept (40 mg/kg) pretreatment resulted in a delay in onset of mechanical allodynia. Using CPP, gabapentin, but not ketorolac, in cisplatin animals resulted in a significant preference for the drug-associated treatment compartment. There was no place preference in non–cisplatin-treated (nonallodynic) mice after gabapentin injection. Immunohistochemistry in cisplatin-treated mice showed no change in glial fibrillary acidic protein (astrocyte) or Iba1 (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1) (microglia) activation states, but a significant increase in activated transcription factor 3 was observed in the DRG. CONCLUSIONS:Cisplatintreated mice display allodynia and an activation of DRG activated transcription factor 3, which is paralleled by its effects on behavior in the CPP system, wherein gabapentin, but not ketorolac, in the presence of the cisplatin polyneuropathy, is positively rewarding, confirming that this neuropathy is an aversive (painful) state that is ameliorated by gabapentin.
Sensitivity of volumetric modulated arc therapy patient specific QA results to multileaf collimator errors and correlation to dose volume histogram based metrics.

PURPOSE This study investigates the impact of systematic multileaf collimator (MLC) positional errors on gamma analysis results used for quality assurance (QA) of Rapidarc treatments. In addition, this study evaluates the relationship of these gamma analysis results and clinical dose volume histogram metrics (DVH) for Rapidarc treatment plans. METHODS Five prostate plans were modified by the introduction of systematic MLC errors. The MLC shifts to each individual active leaf introduced were 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mm. All QA verification plans were delivered and estimated 3D patient dose or high density phantom dose were obtained based on the ArcCHECK measurement files. QA gamma analysis of 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm were implemented and relationships to dose differences in DVH metrics encountered due to MLC errors were determined. Tolerances of 3% and 5% for DVH metric were implemented to determine the sensitivity of gamma analysis to MLC errors. A calculation of sensitivity was determined from the number of incidences of false negative and false positive cases in gamma analysis results. RESULTS The sensitivity of global gamma analysis for criteria of 3%/3 mm was 0.78 and for 2%/2 mm was 0.82. A number of instances occurred for an acceptable VMAT QA gamma index which did not indicate a DVH metric dose error greater than 5%. The correlation between global gamma analysis using criteria 3%/3 mm and DVH metric dose error were all <0.8 indicating less than a strong correlation. CONCLUSIONS There is a greater sensitivity for detection of dosimetric errors occurring in a Rapidarc plan using gamma criteria of 2%/2 mm than 3%/3 mm. However, there is lack of consistently strong correlation between global gamma indexes and clinical DVH metrics for PTV and bladder and rectum for Rapidarc plans. It is recommended that the sole use of gamma index for Rapidarc QA plan evaluation could be insufficient and a methodology for evaluation of delivered dose to patient is required.
40-Gb/s RZ transmission over a transoceanic distance in a dispersion managed standard fiber using a modified inline synchronous modulation method

This paper analyzes in detail numerically a 40-Gb/s return-to-zero (RZ) transmission system over a transoceanic distance in a strongly dispersion managed line composed of standard single-mode fiber (SMF) and dispersion compensation fiber (DCF). We derived a periodically steady-state pulse (a DM soliton) in a DM line. Since the pulse width of a steady-state pulse is too broad for a 40 Gb/s system, the conventional in-line synchronous modulation technique cannot greatly improve the transmission quality. However, we found that the modified inline synchronous modulation technique, which is reported as the black-box optical regenerator, can effectively extend the transmission distance even in such a strongly DM line. We discuss the mechanism of the modified synchronous modulation technique with respect to a steady-state pulse in a transmission line, and show that a 40-Gb/s RZ signal can be transmitted over 20 000 km.
Study on frequent term set-based hierarchical clustering algorithm

This paper, we present a text-clustering algorithm of Frequent Term Set-based Clustering (FTSC), which uses frequent term sets for texts clustering. This algorithm can reduce the dimensionality of the text data efficiently, thus it can improve accurate rate and running speed of the clustering algorithm. The results of clustering texts by the FTSC algorithm cannot reflect the overlap of texts' classes. Based on the FTSC algorithm, its improved algorithm—Frequent Term Set-based Hierarchical Clustering algorithm (FTSHC) is given. This algorithm can determine the overlap of texts' classes by the overlap of frequent words sets, and provide an understandable description of the discovered clusters by the frequent terms sets. The experiment results prove that FTSC and FTSHC algorithms are more efficient than K-Means algorithm in the performance of clustering.
Normal oxygen saturation values in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES To determine normal oxygen saturation (OSAT) values in infants and children measured by pulse oximetry METHODS Infants and children admitted to a children's hospital for elective surgery from 11/20/2000 to 3/30/2002 underwent surgical clearance screens consisting of illness symptoms, vital signs and OSAT in room air Based on the presence of respiratory infection (RI) symptoms, a "normal" patient was defined as one without respiratory symptoms and who was not scheduled for surgery involving the airway pulmonary or cardiovascular systems (APC). RESULTS Of the 3600 forms collected, 2069 were completely filled out and for elective surgery. For all age groups combined, the percent of patients undergoing APC surgery or with RI symptoms for each OSAT were as follows (OSAT: %patients APC/RI): 100%: 13%, 99%-99.5%: 15%, 98%-98.5%: 14%, 97%-97.5%: 18%, 96%-96.5%: 38%, 95%-95.5%: 29%, and <95%: 0%. CONCLUSIONS Although OSAT of 95% and 96% are adequate (i.e., not requiring acute oxygen therapy), these values are associated with higher rates of APC/RI involvement and thus should be considered potentially abnormal. OSAT of 97% is on the border of normal. Normal OSATs can occur with APC/RI conditions, but an OSAT less than 97% is associated with a higher risk of an APC/RI condition.
A Fairness-Aware Pricing Methodology for Revenue Enhancement in Service Cloud Infrastructure

Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) cloud providers sell their resources as different types of virtual machines (VMs) called instances. Any resource is limited in capacity, so is the resource in cloud. Pricing models can be used as a tool for cloud providers not only to cover their costs and realize a profit but also to encourage cloud tenants to use cloud resources efficiently and achieve high utilization. In this paper, we propose a new pricing methodology that encourages cloud tenants, whose requested VMs can be allocated easily and fairly, to use more cloud service by offering them lower prices, while discouraging cloud tenants, whose requested VMs are difficult to allocate, from using cloud service by charging them higher prices, while enhancing the revenue that a cloud provider receives. We perform a case study with a multiresource allocation fairness algorithm, i.e., the dominant resource sharing algorithm. Then, we further conduct case studies with two ways of price calculation: the total unit price redistribution and total revenue redistribution. Evaluation results show that the proposed pricing model with total unit price redistribution and total revenue redistribution can increase the overall revenue of cloud providers by up to 11.60% and 11.18%, respectively.
Films, Affective Computing and Aesthetic Experience: Identifying Emotional and Aesthetic Highlights from Multimodal Signals in a Social Setting

Over the last years affective computing has been strengthening its ties with the humanities, exploring and building understanding of people's responses to specific artistic multimedia stimuli. 'Aesthetic experience' is acknowledged to be the subjective part of some artistic exposure, namely, the inner affective state of a person exposed to some artistic object. In this work we describe ongoing research activities for studying the aesthetic experience of people when exposed to movie artistic stimuli. To do so, this work is focused on the definition of emotional and aesthetic highlights in movies and studies the people responses to them using physiological and behavioural signals, in a social setting. In order to examine the suitability of multimodal signals for detecting highlights we initially evaluate a supervised highlight detection system. Further, in order to provide an insight on the reactions of people, in a social setting, during emotional and aesthetic highlights, we study two unsupervised systems. Those systems are able to (a) measure the distance among the captured signals of multiple people using the dynamic time warping algorithm and (b) create a reaction profile for a group of people that would be indicative of whether that group reacts or not at a given time. The results indicate that the proposed systems are suitable for detecting highlights in movies and capturing some form of social interactions across different movie genres. Moreover, similar social interactions during exposure to emotional and some types of aesthetic highlights, such as those corresponding to technical or lightening choices of the director, can be observed. The utilisation of electrodermal activity measurements yields in better performances than those achieved when using acceleration measurements, whereas fusion of the modalities does not appear to be beneficial for the majority of the cases.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Spiggin

One of the most definitive examples of a vertebrate extraorganismal structural protein can be found in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). In the breeding male the kidney hypertrophies and synthesizes an adhesive protein called “spiggin,” which is secreted into the urinary bladder from where it is employed as a structural thread for nest building. This paper describes the first molecular characterization of spiggin and demonstrates that this adhesive is a protein complex assembled from a potential of three distinct subunits (α, β, and γ). These subunits arise by alternative splicing, and 11-ketoandrogens induce their expression in stickleback kidneys. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of each subunit reveals a modular organization whose structural elements display a similarity to the multimerization domains found within von Willebrand Factor-related proteins. These results implicate that spiggin utilizes a conserved multimerization mechanism for the formation of a viscous agglutinate from its constituent subunits in the urinary bladders of male sticklebacks. This novel extraorganismal structural protein is therefore ideally suited to its function as an adhesive thread.
On the Enforceability of EU Agencies’ Soft Law at the National Level: The Case of the European Securities and Markets Authority

The delegation of more and more soft regulatory powers to EU agencies occurs in an increasing number of policy areas, e.g. aviation, medicines and financial services. Although the growing scope of the delegation of public authority to agencies is said to be necessary to enhance the effectiveness of EU policies, it raises doubts concerning the legitimacy of agencies and their decisions at the same time. This article aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion on EU agencies’ regulatory powers by uncovering the problematic aspects which the application and enforcement of soft law rules of EU agencies may induce at the national level. Furthermore, it adds new elements to the wider reflection on the function and status of soft law within the EU. Ultimately, it argues that further procedural and good governance guarantees are required in order to ensure both the legitimacy and effectiveness of the soft regulatory powers of EU agencies. It does so by taking one of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), namely the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), as an illustrative example of how the establishing regulations of newer EU agencies proceed in the direction of the institutionalisation and proceduralisation of soft law rule-making.
Plant Community Dynamics, Nutrient Cycling, and Alternative Stable Equilibria in Peatlands

Although observational data and experiments suggest that carbon flux and storage in peatlands are controlled by hydrology and/or nutrient availability, we lack a rigorous theory to account for the roles that different plant species or life‐forms, particularly mosses, play in carbon and nutrient flux and storage and how they interact with different hydrologic sources of nutrients. We construct and analyze a model of peatlands that sheds some light on this problem. The model is a set of six coupled differential equations that define the flow of nutrients from moss and vascular plants to their litters, then to peat, and finally to an inorganic nutrient resource pool. We first analyze a simple version of this model (model 1) in which all nutrient input is from precipitation and enters the moss compartment directly, mimicking the dynamics of ombrotrophic bogs. There is a transcritical bifurcation that results in a switch of stability between two equilibrium bog communities: a moss monoculture and a community where mosses and vascular plants coexist. The bifurcation depends on the magnitudes of the input/output budget of the peatland and the life‐history traits of the plants. We generalize model 1 to model 2 by dividing nutrient inputs between precipitation and groundwater, thus also allowing the development of minerotrophic fens that receive nutrient subsidies from both groundwater and precipitation and adding intraspecific competition (self‐limitation) terms for both moss and vascular plants. Partitioning precipitation inputs between moss and the nutrient pool resulted in the greatest changes in model behavior, including the appearance of a lake and a vascular plant monoculture as well as the moss monoculture and coexistence equilibrium. As with model 1, these solutions are separated by transcritical bifurcations depending on critical combinations of parameters determining the input‐output budget of the peatland as well as the life‐history characteristics of the plant species. Model 2 also allowed for an early transient spike in vascular plant dominance followed by approach to near moss monoculture and then eventual approach to coexistence equilibrium. This generalized model mimics the broad features of successional development of peatlands from fens to bogs often found in the paleorecords of peat cores.
Simultaneous navigation state and sea current estimation through augmented state Unscented Kalman Filter

An Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) to simultaneously estimate the navigation state of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and the sea current, a priori unknown, is proposed. The filter is the result of a modification of an UKF developed in the past by the authors for the sole purpose of navigation state estimation. The new algorithm has been obtained by integrating the vehicle model with a contribution due to a constant sea current and by augmenting the state vector dimension including the North and the East components of the current itself. The resulting algorithm has been validated offline exploiting the signals of the Typhoon AUV on-board sensors collected during a sea experimental campaign.
Robot-play therapy for improving prosocial behaviours in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Playing with Robot has become an effective therapy method for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In this study, we explore the prosocial behaviour of children with ASD through a musical play with a humanoid robot, NAO. The children participated in two different play platforms, Touch Body and Dancing with Me. The game scores and close proximity are measured to assess their understanding and prosocial behaviours. As merging the musical therapy into social robot system, children with ASD could show more playful and positive results in the therapy and promote prosocial behaviours.