Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remote monitoring and control by embedded database design and web server implementation using SQLite database and Boa web server

This paper describes the design of embedded system that enables the remote access of database by the implementation of web server. Porting of Linux to ARM9 is carried out to enable further porting of embedded webserver (BOA server) and SQLite database. The ported database is implemented by creating a table, storing the data into the database and retrieving the same. An application is developed for displaying the data entered into the database in a specific format. BOA web server is ported to home gateway platform and implemented in order to enable further enhancements such as remote monitoring of data stored in the database. The web server is implemented by displaying the web page stored in the server, when the concerned server address is entered into the browser. The SQLite database along with BOA web server on ARM platform can be used in industries, remote areas, even at homes for monitoring and controlling the status of appliances and machinery, by adding additional enhancements and doing slight modifications according to the application.
Evidence for nutrition transition in Kuwait: over-consumption of macronutrients and obesity

Abstract Objectives To describe nutrient intakes and prevalence of overweight and obesity in a nationally representative sample of Kuwaitis and to compare intakes with reference values. Design Cross-sectional, multistage stratified, cluster sample. Settings National nutrition survey covering all geographical areas of the country. Subjects Kuwaitis (n 1704) between 3 and 86 years of age. Results Obesity was more prevalent among women than men (50 % and 70 % for females aged 19–50 years and ≥51 years, respectively, v. 29 % and 42 % for their male counterparts). Boys were more obese than girls, with the highest obesity rate among those aged 9–13 years (37 % and 24 % of males and females, respectively). Energy intake was higher than the estimated energy requirements for almost half of Kuwaiti children and one-third of adults. The Estimated Average Requirement was exceeded by 78–100 % of the recommendation for protein and carbohydrates. More than two-thirds of males aged ≥4 years exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for Na. Conversely, less than 20 % of Kuwaitis, regardless of age, consumed 100 % or more of the Estimated Average Requirement for vitamin D, vitamin E, Ca, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. Less than 20 % of children met the recommended level for fibre. Conclusions Nutrition transition among Kuwaitis was demonstrated by the increased prevalence of obesity and overweight, increased intakes of energy and macronutrients and decreased intakes of fibre and micronutrients. Interventions to increase awareness about healthy foods combined with modifications in subsidy policies are clearly warranted to increase consumption of low-energy, nutrient-dense foods.
Noise Reduction in the Simplified Reference Tissue Model for Neuroreceptor Functional Imaging

The Simplified Reference Tissue Model (SRTM) produces functional images of receptor binding parameters using an input function derived from a reference region and assuming a model with one tissue compartment. Three parameters are estimated: binding potential (BP), relative delivery (R1), and the reference region clearance constant k′2 Since k′2 should not vary across brain pixels, the authors developed a two-step method (SRTM2) using a global value of k′2. Whole-brain simulations were performed using human input functions and rate constants for [18F]FCWAY, [11C]flumazenil, and [11C]raclopride, and parameter SD and bias were determined for SRTM and SRTM2. The global mean of k′2 was slightly biased (2% to 6%), but the median was unbiased (<1%) and was used as the global value. Binding potential noise reductions with SRTM2 were 4% to 14%, 20% to 53%, and 10% to 30% for [18F]FCWAY, [11C]flumazenil, and [11C]raclopride, respectively, with larger reductions for shorter scans. R1 noise reduction was larger than that of BP. Simulations were also performed to assess bias when the reference and/or tissue regions followed a two-tissue compartment model. Owing to the constrained k′2, SRTM2 showed somewhat larger biases due to violations of the one-compartment model assumption. These studies demonstrate that SRTM2 should be a useful method to improve the quality of neuroreceptor functional images.
Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: the PHQ primary care study. Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Patient Health Questionnaire.

CONTEXT The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) was developed as a screening instrument but its administration time has limited its clinical usefulness. OBJECTIVE To determine if the self-administered PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) has validity and utility for diagnosing mental disorders in primary care comparable to the original clinician-administered PRIME-MD. DESIGN Criterion standard study undertaken between May 1997 and November 1998. SETTING Eight primary care clinics in the United States. PARTICIPANTS Of a total of 3000 adult patients (selected by site-specific methods to avoid sampling bias) assessed by 62 primary care physicians (21 general internal medicine, 41 family practice), 585 patients had an interview with a mental health professional within 48 hours of completing the PHQ. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient Health Questionnaire diagnoses compared with independent diagnoses made by mental health professionals; functional status measures; disability days; health care use; and treatment/referral decisions. RESULTS A total of 825 (28%) of the 3000 individuals and 170 (29%) of the 585 had a PHQ diagnosis. There was good agreement between PHQ diagnoses and those of independent mental health professionals (for the diagnosis of any 1 or more PHQ disorder, kappa = 0.65; overall accuracy, 85%; sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 90%), similar to the original PRIME-MD. Patients with PHQ diagnoses had more functional impairment, disability days, and health care use than did patients without PHQ diagnoses (for all group main effects, P<.001). The average time required of the physician to review the PHQ was far less than to administer the original PRIME-MD (<3 minutes for 85% vs 16% of the cases). Although 80% of the physicians reported that routine use of the PHQ would be useful, new management actions were initiated or planned for only 117 (32%) of the 363 patients with 1 or more PHQ diagnoses not previously recognized. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that the PHQ has diagnostic validity comparable to the original clinician-administered PRIME-MD, and is more efficient to use.
Piezoelectric Transducers Assessed by the Pencil Lead Break for Impedance-Based Structural Health Monitoring

The pencil lead break (PLB) is a well-known method for characterizing acoustic emission sensors. In this paper, we analyze the effectiveness of this method in characterizing piezoelectric transducers for structural health monitoring (SHM) systems based on the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique. Tests were carried out on aluminum beams of different sizes, and two types of transducers were considered: lead zirconate titanate ceramics and macrofiber composite devices. The experimental results indicate a clear relationship between the variation in the electrical impedance signature of the transducer and power spectral density obtained with the PLB method. Therefore, the PLB can be a simple and effective method for assessing the sensitivity of transducers for damage detection in SHM systems based on the EMI technique.
Reweighted Low-Rank Matrix Recovery and its Application in Image Restoration

In this paper, we propose a reweighted low-rank matrix recovery method and demonstrate its application for robust image restoration. In the literature, principal component pursuit solves low-rank matrix recovery problem via a convex program of mixed nuclear norm and ℓ1 norm. Inspired by reweighted ℓ1 minimization for sparsity enhancement, we propose reweighting singular values to enhance low rank of a matrix. An efficient iterative reweighting scheme is proposed for enhancing low rank and sparsity simultaneously and the performance of low-rank matrix recovery is prompted greatly. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed method both on numerical simulations and real images/videos restoration, including single image restoration, hyperspectral image restoration, and background modeling from corrupted observations. All of these experiments give empirical evidence on significant improvements of the proposed algorithm over previous work on low-rank matrix recovery.
Over-reaction and under-reaction in climate policy: an institutional analysis

ABSTRACT In what circumstances do organizations react to changes in their operating environment by adopting proportionate policy responses? And drawing on institutional theory, what expectations can we formulate in relation to the proportionality of policy responses to climate change? These two research questions frame this article, which seeks to make new connections between the emerging perspective of proportionality in policy-making and existing institutional theories. We find that institutional theories are well suited to formulating expectations concerning the (dis)proportionality of policy responses, but their explanatory power can be further improved by taking the characteristics of specific climate policy problems into account. While there are many different problems nested in the ‘meta’ problem of climate change, we find that most of them have characteristics which suggest that policy under-reactions are more, not less likely. Amongst institutional theories, rational choice institutionalism provides the clearest expectation that proportionate policy responses are unlikely. Policy entrepreneurship is identified as one obvious way in which to stimulate proportionate policy responses, through fostering new ways of thinking within organizations.
Maternal plasma cellular fibronectin concentrations in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies: a longitudinal study for early prediction of preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine cellular fibronectin levels throughout normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies and to analyze its predictive value for the detection of preeclampsia within the second trimester of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN Blood samples were collected at 4-week intervals from 378 healthy, nulliparous women who were recruited before 16 weeks of gestation. Preeclampsia developed in 26 patients; 52 normotensive control subjects were matched from the same cohort. Plasma samples were assayed for ED-B fibronectin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Trends were compared between groups. Predictive values were determined with the use of second trimester assessments. RESULTS In both groups, fibronectin levels rose as pregnancy advanced, but in women with preeclampsia, this increase was significantly higher (94.5% vs 31.8%; P =.006). Throughout pregnancy, patients with preeclampsia exhibited significantly higher fibronectin levels than did control subjects. As early as 9 to 12 weeks of gestation, a difference was established (preeclampsia, 3.72 +/- 0.21; control, 2.94 +/- 0.22 microg/mL [mean +/- SEM]; P =.008). The best cutoff point and time interval to calculate predictive values were 3.8 microg/mL and 22 to 26 weeks of gestation, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 73%, 87%, 29%, and 98%, respectively; the odds ratio was 16.1 (95% CI, 8.6-30.2). CONCLUSION In women in whom clinical preeclampsia developed, endothelial damage seemed to be present since early gestation. Cellular fibronectin levels of >or=3.8 microg/mL within 22 to 26 weeks of gestation may help in the early detection of preeclampsia in healthy nulliparous women.
Therapeutic intervention in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by administration of uric acid precursors

Uric acid (UA) is a purine metabolite that selectively inhibits peroxynitrite-mediated reactions implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Serum UA levels are inversely associated with the incidence of MS in humans because MS patients have low serum UA levels and individuals with hyperuricemia (gout) rarely develop the disease. Moreover, the administration of UA is therapeutic in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. Thus, raising serum UA levels in MS patients, by oral administration of a UA precursor such as inosine, may have therapeutic value. We have assessed the effects of inosine, as well as inosinic acid, on parameters relevant to the chemical reactivity of peroxynitrite and the pathogenesis of EAE. Both had no effect on chemical reactions associated with peroxynitrite, such as tyrosine nitration, or on the activation of inflammatory cells in vitro. Moreover, when mice treated with the urate oxidase inhibitor potassium oxonate were fed inosine or inosinic acid, serum UA levels were elevated markedly for a period of hours, whereas only a minor, transient increase in serum inosine was detected. Administration of inosinic acid suppressed the appearance of clinical signs of EAE and promoted recovery from ongoing disease. The therapeutic effect on animals with active EAE was associated with increased UA, but not inosine, levels in CNS tissue. We, therefore, conclude that the mode of action of inosine and inosinic acid in EAE is via their metabolism to UA.
A dynamic analysis of an integrated aircraft-floating structure-water interaction system excited by the impact of an aircraft landing

The dynamic response of an integrated aircraft-floating structure-water interaction system excited by the impact of a landing aircraft is investigated. The aircraft and the floating structure are considered 2 elastic substructures, and the water is treated as a fluid subdomain. The landing gears of the aircraft are modeled by 3 supporting systems, each consisting of a spring and a damper. A mixed finite element-boundary element approach is developed to model this complex interaction system. The solution strategies of the numerical equations are proposed. A 2-dimensional numerical example is presented to illustrate and demonstrate the mathematical model and the numerical method.
The Political Economy of Community Solar: Lessons from Minnesota

Solar energy is rapidly growing in the United States due to declining costs and favorable policy incentives at the national, state, and local levels. However, many household and business electricity consumers do not have access to solar energy due to a lack of appropriate or available rooftop space and financing constraints. To broaden access to solar energy, fifteen states (and the District of Columbia) along with an increasing number of electric utilities, have developed policies to incentivize community solar programs. Traditionally, solar energy requires either centralized planning for large, utility-scale project development or for customers to own or finance single solar projects located on their own property. In contrast to traditional models, new community solar programs allow multiple electricity consumers, often in close geographic proximity, to collectively finance a single offsite centralized solar project by purchasing shares or subscriptions to power generated by the project. Participants who finance the development of a community solar project receive bill credit for electricity generated by their share in the project. Minnesota has long been on the forefront of community solar. In the early 2010s, several of Minnesota’s electric cooperatives and municipal utilities adopted community solar programs. In this paper, we study the diversity in community solar program design and its effects on accessing the benefits of community. Our study helps illustrate how the implementation of community solar programs affects performance, offers lessons to better anticipate the potential downfalls in program design, and identify best practices to enhance equitable access to the market for solar energy. Not for Citation; Comments Welcome
Identical Expression Profiling of Human and Murine TIPE3 Protein Reveals Links to Its Functions

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein-8 like-3 (TNFAIP8L3, TIPE3) is a newly discovered member of TNFAIP8 family and regarded as a lipid second messenger transfer protein that promotes cancer. Yet the nature of the cells and tissues that express TIPE3 protein has not been determined. In this study, we examined TIPE3 expression in various murine and human tissues by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. We found that TIPE3 expression was almost identical in most organs from human and mice. TIPE3 is a cytoplasmic protein expressed preferentially in epithelial-derived cells with secretory functions. Furthermore, TIPE3 protein is highly expressed in most human carcinoma cell lines. These results suggest that TIPE3 may play important roles in carcinogenesis and cell secretion.
On-the-fly software replacement in faulty remote robots

Remote robots are too expensive to be abandoned once a fault is detected. Moreover, faults may be overcome by wireless transmission of software replacements. But improper timing and replacements could cause crash and damages rather than system recovery. We designed a dynamic software controller that tracks robot applications, builds and continuously populates relevant data structures, for posterior accurate on-the-fly component replacement. The non-invasive controller implementation and validating tests are described.
Short-term pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate administration attenuates cachexia-induced alterations to muscle and liver in ApcMin/+ mice

Cancer cachexia is a complex wasting condition characterized by chronic inflammation, disrupted energy metabolism, and severe muscle wasting. While evidence in pre-clinical cancer cachexia models have determined that different systemic inflammatory inhibitors can attenuate several characteristics of cachexia, there is a limited understanding of their effects after cachexia has developed, and whether short-term administration is sufficient to reverse cachexia-induced signaling in distinctive target tissues. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a thiol compound having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can inhibit STAT3 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling in mice. This study examined the effect of short-term PDTC administration to ApcMin/+ mice on cachexia-induced disruption of skeletal muscle protein turnover and liver metabolic function. At 16 weeks of age ApcMin/+ mice initiating cachexia (7% BW loss) were administered PDTC (10mg/kg bw/d) for 2 weeks. Control ApcMin/+ mice continued to lose body weight during the treatment period, while mice receiving PDTC had no further body weight decrease. PDTC had no effect on either intestinal tumor burden or circulating IL-6. In muscle, PDTC rescued signaling disrupting protein turnover regulation. PDTC suppressed the cachexia induction of STAT3, increased mTORC1 signaling and protein synthesis, and suppressed the induction of Atrogin-1 protein expression. Related to cachectic liver metabolic function, PDTC treatment attenuated glycogen and lipid content depletion independent to the activation of STAT3 and mTORC1 signaling. Overall, these results demonstrate short-term PDTC treatment to cachectic mice attenuated cancer-induced disruptions to muscle and liver signaling, and these changes were independent to altered tumor burden and circulating IL-6.
Stereological assessment of the glial reaction to chronic deafferentation of the cochlear nuclei in the macaque monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Neurectomy of the auditory nerve produces a massive deafferentation of the cochlear nuclei (CN) in the brainstem. Degenerating primary afferents are removed in the acute phase, and this is followed by a synaptic reorganization in the CN. As part of an ongoing study on the effect and applicability of auditory brain implants in the CN of Macaca fascicularis monkeys, we studied the chronic response of astrocytes in the CN to bilateral deafferentation of the VIIIth cranial nerve. Four control and five deafferentated animals were employed. The treated animals had a bilateral extradural section of the VIIIth cranial nerve and a survival of 3 months. Animals were euthanized and perfused, and the brainstem was serially sectioned. The astrocyte population of the CN was studied by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry and quantified by unbiased stereological methods. The total length of astrocyte processes, L(proc), was estimated as the product of nuclear volume V(nuc), which was estimated by the Cavalieri method, times the ratio LV(proc, nuc) of process length to nuclear volume. Mean nuclear volume was significantly lower in deafferented animals, whereas the mean ratio LV(proc, nuc) was higher (albeit no statistical significance was reached). However, the mean total astrocytic process length was virtually the same in both groups. The absence of a length increase in the glial processes indicates a decrease of the astrocytic reaction after the acute phase. No glial scar is present in the CN of the monkey after long‐term deafferentation, so the usefulness of auditory brain implants to stimulate CN neurons directly as a means to overcome deafness resulting from direct damage to the VIIIth cranial nerve (i.e., acoustic neuromas) is plausible. J. Comp. Neurol. 414:485–494, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PHRITTS - a text-to-speech synthesizer for the German language

PHRITTS is a text-to-speech synthesizer consisting of a grapheme-to-phoneme conversion, an accentuation, a duration control, an intonation contour generator, and a speech synthesizer based on diphones. After some text preprocessing the grapheme-to-phoneme conversion performs a moiph decomposition. For the rule-based conversion of the resulting morphs a special compiler is used. A word class assignment is made for the following focus-accent-based accentuation, which provides locations for pitch accents and phrase boundaries, followed by a simple context dependent calculation of the phoneme durations. The intonation contour is calculated from the accent pattern using rules derived from natural German speech. It consists of triangular or trapezium shaped pitch moves, placed on a simple pitch declination. They are calculated by linear interpolation in the logarithmic frequency domain. The diphone synthesis is based on 1573 German diphones, extracted from nonsense words spoken with a constant monotonous pitch, which makes it possible to directly concatenate the diphones by interpolation in the time domain, after calculation of the optimal phase at diphone boundaries. Pitch and duration are manipulated using a TD-PSOLA technique. Compared to an existing LPC-based synthesizer version, TD-PSOLA results in much more natural speech. The TTS-synthesizer is written in C-Code and runs in real time on a standard 486 PC with a DSP-board for AD-conversion. Keywords: German text-to-speech synthesis, accentuation, intonation, diphone synthesis
Twelve years' experience of the mini-Bankart repair for recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder

Stabilization for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation can be achieved through either an open or arthroscopic approach. The former tends to have a lower recurrence rate but longer rehabilitation.The technique of mini-Bankart repair has been used at this establishment since 1996. We retrospectively reviewed the patients that had undergone this procedure. We describe our experience of the mini-Bankart procedure and the results in 24 patients with a mean follow-up of 56 months (range, 12-144 months). The technique is a direct mini-approach to the shoulder joint, preserving the inferior portion of subscapularis. Where present, a Bankart lesion is repaired with two GII Mitek anchors (Ethicon) and the capsule reefed. There were no incidences of repeat anterior dislocation, and the average time period taken to return to work was 8.8 weeks. We recommend this technique due to its low recurrence rate and satisfactory return to normal function.