Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Building cognition method based on human images cognition mechanism in high resolution PolSAR images

PolSAR images have been used extensively for various surface features recognition and buildings recognition is an important research topic of PolSAR image interpretation. Traditional methods are only based on PolSAR image characteristics and lack subjective knowledge of human image cognition, making low target recognition rate and algorithm redundancy. To overcome this shortcoming, based on human image cognition mechanism, a new method for buildings recognition in PolSAR images is proposed in this paper. The proposed method utilizes hierarchical cognition model to identify buildings: the first layer is visual cognition and the second layer is logical cognition. In visual cognition, visual sensitive features are extracted and integrated under the guidance of a priori knowledge to derive preliminary recognition results. In logical cognition, based on the results from first process, fuzzy logic theory and Neural Network Model are both utilized to identify buildings precisely. The whole cognition procedure is guided by the knowledge, which is represented in accordance with production rules. Experiments are conducted over the EMISAR L-band PolSAR data, the E-SAR L-band PolSAR data and Convair-SAR C-band PolSAR data. The results show that the proposed method can identify buildings from PolSAR images effectively and precisely.
Measuring the evolution of femtosecond pulses in fibre optic tapers by interferometric reflectometry

In order to understand the interaction between femtosecond pulses and complex fiber optic taper profiles, measurement of the transmission alone is insufficient. We have developed a new technique that measures the wavelength spectrum, phase and intensity of the reflected femtosecond pulse as a function of position along the fiber optic taper, with a sub-millimeter resolution.
Integrated Production and Maintenance Policies in Produce-to-Stock Systems with Information Sharing

We study the optimal integrated production/inventory policy in a two-echelon supply chain with one manufacturer and one retailer. The manufacturer produces items in her production facility and keeps the Þnished goods in inventory. The manufacturers production facility deteriorates with usage and is subject to failure. Under the assumption that the manufacturer has on-line access to the retailers inventory information, we formulate the manufacturers integrated decisions on maintenance and production using a Markov Decision Process. The optimal dynamic policy is shown to have a rather complex structure which leads us to consider more implementable policies. We present the modiÞed echelon-stock policy as a substitute for the optimal policy, and develop exact models for evaluating the performance of this policy. A detailed numerical study demonstrates that the proposed policy performs extremely well. Finally, we present insights into the value of information when maintenance operation is and is not preemptable.
Lipopolysaccharide induced conversion of recombinant prion protein

The conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to the β-rich infectious isoform PrPSc is considered a critical and central feature in prion pathology. Although PrPSc is the critical component of the infectious agent, as proposed in the “protein-only” prion hypothesis, cellular components have been identified as important cofactors in triggering and enhancing the conversion of PrPC to proteinase K resistant PrPSc. A number of in vitro systems using various chemical and/or physical agents such as guanidine hydrochloride, urea, SDS, high temperature, and low pH, have been developed that cause PrPC conversion, their amplification, and amyloid fibril formation often under non-physiological conditions. In our ongoing efforts to look for endogenous and exogenous chemical mediators that might initiate, influence, or result in the natural conversion of PrPC to PrPSc, we discovered that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of gram-negative bacterial membranes interacts with recombinant prion proteins and induces conversion to an isoform richer in β sheet at near physiological conditions as long as the LPS concentration remains above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). More significant was the LPS mediated conversion that was observed even at sub-molar ratios of LPS to recombinant ShPrP (90–232).
Structural Basis for Interactions Between Contactin Family Members and Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type G in Neural Tissues*

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase receptor type G (RPTPγ/PTPRG) interacts in vitro with contactin-3–6 (CNTN3–6), a group of glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored cell adhesion molecules involved in the wiring of the nervous system. In addition to PTPRG, CNTNs associate with multiple transmembrane proteins and signal inside the cell via cis-binding partners to alleviate the absence of an intracellular region. Here, we use comprehensive biochemical and structural analyses to demonstrate that PTPRG·CNTN3–6 complexes share similar binding affinities and a conserved arrangement. Furthermore, as a first step to identifying PTPRG·CNTN complexes in vivo, we found that PTPRG and CNTN3 associate in the outer segments of mouse rod photoreceptor cells. In particular, PTPRG and CNTN3 form cis-complexes at the surface of photoreceptors yet interact in trans when expressed on the surfaces of apposing cells. Further structural analyses suggest that all CNTN ectodomains adopt a bent conformation and might lie parallel to the cell surface to accommodate these cis and trans binding modes. Taken together, these studies identify a PTPRG·CNTN complex in vivo and provide novel insights into PTPRG- and CNTN-mediated signaling.
Embolization of a cavernous carotid fistula through the vein of Labbé: a new alternative transvenous access route

Endovascular treatment of carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs) via a transvenous approach is standard, but in rare cases this approach is challenging due to absence or thrombosis of the commonly used venous routes. A 61-year-old woman presented with a symptomatic CCF with all but one of the venous access routes to the CCF thrombosed, leaving an engorged superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV) as the only venous outflow from the cavernous sinus. Access to the CCF was made possible after careful navigation of the sigmoid sinus, the vein of Labbé and the SMCV, bypassing the need for surgical access to the SMCV or for a direct transorbital puncture. The CCF was completely occluded by coiling and Onyx embolization. The patient made an uneventful recovery, with resolution of her symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this access route has not been previously reported in the treatment of CCFs.
ATP-dependent cadmium transport by the cadA cadmium resistance determinant in everted membrane vesicles of Bacillus subtilis

Resistance to cadmium conferred by the staphylococcal plasmid pI258 occurs by means of energy-dependent efflux, resulting in decreased intracellular accumulation of cadmium. Recent sequence information suggested that efflux is mediated by a P-type ATPase. The cadA gene was previously expressed in Bacillus subtilis, conferring resistance to cadmium. Everted membrane vesicles were prepared from B. subtilis cells harboring either a plasmid containing the cadA system or the vector plasmid alone. 109Cd2+ transport into the everted membranes was measured in the presence of various energy sources. Cadmium transport was detected only in the presence of ATP as an energy source. The production of an electrochemical proton gradient (delta mu H+) by using NADH or phenazine methosulfate plus ascorbate was not able to drive transport. Reagents which dissipate delta pH abolished calcium transport due to the Ca2+/H+ antiporter but only partially inhibited cadmium transport. Inhibition of transport by the antibiotic bafilomycin A1 occurred at concentrations comparable to those which inhibit P-type ATPases. A band corresponding to the cadA gene product was identified on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and antibodies to the protein were prepared.
Changes in Peritoneal Dialysis Practices in Canada 1996 – 1999

← Objective Over the past decade, clinical studies and clinical practice guidelines have suggested the use of higher small solute clearance targets for patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study asks whether these recommendations have translated into changes in clinical prescription of PD. ← Study Design Data were collected annually from 1996 to 1999 on all prevalent dialysis patients in 24 Canadian centers, accounting for approximately 40% of the Canadian chronic dialysis population. Approximately a third of these patients were on PD. Full details of each patient's prescription were recorded, with particular attention to dwell volumes and frequency of exchanges for continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) and to total treatment volumes and day dwells for automated PD (APD). The most recent Kt/V and creatinine clearance values available were recorded for each patient and the overall results for each year were compared to present treatment recommendations. ← Setting 24 university- and community-based hospitals. ← Results From 1996 to 1999, the use of APD, relative to CAPD, grew from 14% to 28% of all PD patients. Among CAPD patients, the proportion using dwell volumes greater than 2 L rose from 14% to 32%, and the proportion doing more than 4 dwells per day rose from 16% to 28%. The mean daily volume of prescribed fluid for CAPD patients increased from 8.3 to 9.1 L. As a result, the proportion of patients achieving a weekly Kt/V above 2.0 rose from 54% to 72%, and those receiving a Kt/V less than 1.7 fell from 22% to 10%. For creatinine clearance, those exceeding 60 L per week rose from 63% to 73%. For APD, the mean treatment volume rose from 11.8 L in 1996 to plateau at about 13.4 L in 1998 and 1999. However, the proportion of patients receiving more than 1 day dwell grew from 31% in 1998 to 40% in 1999, and the proportion that were “day dry” fell from 25% to 17%. For APD, the proportion of patients with a Kt/V above 2.0 rose from 67% to 77%, and with a creatinine clearance above 60 L, from 62% to 70%. The proportion with no recent clearance value recorded fell during the course of the study, from 45% to 27%. ← Conclusion There was a marked change in PD prescription practices in Canada during the second half of the 1990s. This occurred in response to clinical studies and publication of guidelines. There is room for further improvement, especially with respect to the proportion of patients that did not have regular clearance measurements made.
The Interferon-inducible Ubiquitin-protein Isopeptide Ligase (E3) EFP Also Functions as an ISG15 E3 Ligase*

The expression of the ubiquitin-like protein ISG15 and protein modification by ISG15 (ISGylation) are strongly activated by interferons. Accordingly, ISG15 expression and protein ISGylation are strongly activated upon viral and bacterial infections and during other stress conditions, suggesting important roles for the ISG15 system in innate immune responses. Here, we report the identification of the ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase (E3) EFP (estrogen-responsive finger protein) as the ISG15 E3 ligase for 14-3-3σ protein. Like other known components of the protein ISGylation system (ISG15, UBE1L, UBP43, and UBC8), EFP is also an interferon-inducible protein. Expression of EFP small interfering RNA decreased the ISGylation of 14-3-3σ in the 293T cell ISGylation system as well as in MCF-7 cells upon interferon treatment. Furthermore, the ISGylation enzyme activity of EFP was RING domain-dependent. These findings indicate that EFP is an ISG15 E3 ligase for 14-3-3σ in vivo. The fact that both UBC8 and EFP are common components in the ubiquitin and ISG15 conjugation pathways suggests a mechanism whereby a limited set of enzymes accomplishes diverse post-translational modifications of their substrates in response to changes in environmental stimulations.
TM Transmission Through Dielectric-Filled Slots in a Conducting Cylindrical Shell of Arbitrary Cross Section

A simple moment solution is summarized for the problem of electromagnetic transmission through dielectric-filled slots in a conducting cylindrical shell of arbitrary cross section. The system is excited by a plane-wave polarized transverse electric (TE) to the axis of the shell. The equivalence principle is used to replace the shell and the dielectric by equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents radiating into an unbounded medium. Two different sets of coupled integral equations involving the surface currents are obtained by enforcing the boundary conditions on the tangential components of the total electric and magnetic fields. The method of moments is used to solve the integral equations. Pulses are used for both expansion and testing functions. Special attention is paid to circular and rectangular shells. Results for shell surface current, the internal field, and the aperture field are presented. For the case of air dielectric filling, the results computed using the electric field and/or the magnetic field formulation are in very good agreement with published data. In general, it is observed that the effect of filling a slot with a dielectric is not predictable from a simple theory. >
Relationship of histopathologic features to survival and relapse in nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease. A study of 1659 patients

Nodular sclerosing (NS) Hodgkin's disease (HD) with extensive areas of lymphocyte depletion or with numerous anaplastic Hodgkin's cells, termed Grade II NS, is associated with a poor response to initial therapy, an increased relapse rate, and decreased survival when compared with other NS variants, termed Grade I NS. The histopathologic subdivision of NS HD into Grade I and Grade II is easy to perform and provides essential prognostic information that is independent of stage. Patients with Grade II NS HD may require more aggressive initial therapy if their survival is to be improved.
Milnacipran, a new serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor: an overview of its antidepressant activity and clinical tolerability

Milnacipran (Ixel®) is a new antidepressant with essentially equal potency for inhibiting the reuptake of both serotonin and noradrenaline. with no affinity for any neurotransmitter receptor studied. A review of the studies comparing milnacipran. placebo and active comparator antidepressants provides clear-cut evidence of its efficacy in both severe and moderate depression in hospitalized and community settings. Meta-analyses of the original data of controlled trials involving 1032 patients, comparing milnacipran with imipramine or selective serotonin reuplake inhibitors (SSRIs), show that milnacipran provides antidepressant efficacy similar to that of imipramine and significantly superior to that of the SSRIs. An analysis of a database of over 3300 patients shows that both the general and cardiovascular tolerability of milnacipran are superior to those of the tricyclic antidcpressanls (TCAs) with fewer cholinergic side-effects. The tolerahility of milnacipran was comparable to that of the SSRIs, with a higher incidence of dysuria with milnacipran, and a higher frequency of nausea and anxiety with the SSRIs. Milnacipran is a new therapeutic option in depression, which offers a clinical efficacy in the range of the TCAs combined with a tolerability equivalent to that of the SSRIs.
Incapability of Drilling With a High-Power-Density Beam

This paper theoretically identifies the factors affecting the keyhole collapse during drilling with a high-power density laser or electron beam from fundamental principles of thermal physics. Laser drilling is widely used in components, packaging, and manufacturing technologies. The approach adapted in this paper is to probe the quasi-steady 1-D supersonic or subsonic flow behavior of the two-phase vapor-liquid dispersion in a vertical keyhole of varying cross section, paying particular attention to the transition between the annular and slug flows. Drilling with a pulsed laser beam can evidently change Mach number, ejected mass flux at the keyhole base, energy absorption and evolution in the keyhole, drilling speed, and surrounding pressure. The results find that thermal drilling is susceptible to becoming incapable for higher absorbed energy, drilling velocity, and Mach number, ejected mass flux at the keyhole base, and lower surrounding pressure resulting in a shock wave for a supersonic flow in the keyhole. A subsonic flow usually gives rise to keyhole collapse. The predicted results agree with physical intuition and exact closed-form solutions derived in the absence of friction, entrainment and energy absorption. Controlling the factors to enhance efficiency and quality of drilling is therefore provided in this paper.
Tumor and bone marrow uptakes on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography predict prognosis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma receiving rituximab-containing chemotherapy

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the relevance of standardized uptake value (SUV) on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), focusing on tumor and bone marrow, to disease outcomes based on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) receiving rituximab-containing chemotherapy. We reviewed the records of patients with DLBCL who were diagnosed between September 2009 and January 2013 and underwent pretreatment whole-body FDG PET/CT scans. All patients received rituximab-containing chemotherapy. The maximal SUV of tumor (SUVt) and maximal SUV of sternum (SUVst) were measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the prognostic significance of SUVt, SUVst, gender, age, clinical stage, international prognostic index (IPI), and laboratory tests. There were total 70 patients enrolled in this study. The median follow-up time was 36 months. An SUVt cut-off value of ≥19 had the best discriminative yield for PFS (P = .04). An SUVst cut-off value of ≥1.6 had the best discriminative yield for OS. The 3-year OS rates for patients with maximal SUVst < 1.6 and for those with maximal SUVst ≥1.6 were 74.8% and 57.1%, respectively (P = .04). Further forward, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model revealed that maximal SUVst (hazard ratio: 2.62; 95% confidence interval: 1.10–6.28; P = .03) and IPI were significant factors affecting OS. In patients with DLBCL receiving rituximab-containing chemotherapy, elevated maximal SUVt ≥19 was an independent predictor for shorter PFS, and maximal SUVst ≥1.6 was an independent predictor for shorter OS. It adds the value of pretreatment FDG PET/CT scans.
Exploring the pattern and neural correlates of neuropsychological impairment in late-life depression

Background Neuropsychological impairment is a key feature of late-life depression, with deficits observed across multiple domains. However, it is unclear whether deficits in multiple domains represent relatively independent processes with specific neural correlates or whether they can be explained by cognitive deficits in executive function or processing speed. Method We examined group differences across five domains (episodic memory; executive function; language skills; processing speed; visuospatial skills) in a sample of 36 depressed participants and 25 control participants, all aged ⩾60 years. The influence of executive function and processing speed deficits on other neuropsychological domains was also investigated. Magnetic resonance imaging correlates of executive function, processing speed and episodic memory were explored in the late-life depression group. Results Relative to controls, the late-life depression group performed significantly worse in the domains of executive function, processing speed, episodic memory and language skills. Impairments in executive function or processing speed were sufficient to explain differences in episodic memory and language skills. Executive function was correlated with anisotropy of the anterior thalamic radiation and uncinate fasciculus; processing speed was correlated with anisotropy of genu of the corpus callosum. Episodic memory was correlated with anisotropy of the anterior thalamic radiation, the genu and body of the corpus callosum and the fornix. Conclusions Executive function and processing speed appear to represent important cognitive deficits in late-life depression, which contribute to deficits in other domains, and are related to reductions in anisotropy in frontal tracts.
Design of repeat-accumulate codes for iterative detection and decoding

Extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) charts are used to design systematic and nonsystematic repeat-accumulate (RA) codes for iterative detection and decoding. The convergence problems of nonsystematic RA codes are solved by introducing a biregular, or doped, layer of check nodes. As examples, such nonsystematic codes are designed for multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) fading channels and are shown to operate close to capacity.
Role of Livestock in Poverty Reduction : A Case Study of District Lasbela , Balochistan

-Study designed to know the role of livestock in poverty reduction in district Lasbela, Balochistan. In this study, farmers (n=100) from five tehsils of district Lasbela were investigated through a well-developed questionnaire. Results indicated that 58.0 % of the farmers hold the opinion that livestock is the main source of their income whilst 29 % of the farmers believe that livestock is their secondary source of income. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model indicates that high yielding animals, price of milk, use of new technologies, availability of infrastructure, accessibility to credit and health care of the animals have significant effect on households’ returns and help farmers in increasing their total income. It is concluded that the households’ participation in various livestock related activities contribute significantly in generating more income that consequently help in poverty reduction.
A novel weighted cumulative delta-check method for highly sensitive detection of specimen mix-up in the clinical laboratory

Abstract Background: We sought to detect specimen mix-up by developing a new cumulative delta-check method applicable to a mixture of test items with heterogeneous units and distribution patterns. Methods: The distributions of all test results were successfully made Gaussian using power transformation. Values were then standardized into z-score (zx) based on reference interval (RI) so that limits of RI take zx=±1.96. To find a weight for summing absolute value of delta between current and previous zx (Dz), we evaluated the distribution of Dz. Its central portion was always regarded as Gaussian despite the presence of symmetrical long tails. Thus, an adjusted SD (aSD) representing the center was estimated with an iterative method. By setting 1/aSD2 as a weight factor, we computed a weighted mean of Dz as an index for specimen mix-up (wCDI). Results: The performance of wCDI was evaluated, using a model laboratory database consisting of 32 basic test items, by a simulation study generating artificial cases of mix-up. When wCDI was computed from three commonly ordered test sets consisting of 6–9 items each, its diagnostic efficiency in detecting the artificial cases was 0.937–0.967 expressed as area under ROC curves (AUC). When the performance of wCDI was evaluated simply by the number of test items (p) included in the computation, AUC gradually increased from 0.944 (p=5) to 0.976 (p=8). However, when p≥10, AUC stayed at approximately 0.98. Conclusions: wCDI was proven to be highly effective in uncovering cases of specimen mix-up. The diagnostic efficiency of wCDI depends only on the number of test items included in the computation.