Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical Semantic Classification of Crisis Information

The rise of social media as an information channel during crisis has become key to community response. However, existing crisis awareness applications, often struggle to identify relevant information among the high volume of data that is generated over social platforms. A wide range of statistical features and machine learning methods have been researched in recent years to automatically classify this information. In this paper we aim to complement previous studies by exploring the use of semantics as additional features to identify relevant crisis in- formation. Our assumption is that entities and concepts tend to have a more consistent correlation with relevant and irrelevant information, and therefore can enhance the discrimination power of classifiers. Our results, so far, show that some classification improvements can be obtained when using semantic features, reaching +2.51% when the classifier is applied to a new crisis event (i.e., not in training set).
Analysis of radiation coupling from via in multilayer printed circuit board traces

This paper considers a multi-layer PCB containing three traces on the top, one middle trace at the centre and a ground plane on the bottom. The centre trace on the top connects with the middle trace through a cylindrical via. The traces are terminated by 50 ohm loads. The centre trace is excited by rf current. A via is used to connect signal path from the top centre trace to immediate bottom middle trace. The paper described analytically the coupling of signal from the centre trace to the adjacent side traces due to radiated signal from the via. The problem also modeled and simulated using HFSS software tool to find the cross talks.
Appendicitis After Blunt Abdominal Trauma: Cause or Coincidence?

The association of appendicitis and blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is an exceptionally rare occurrence with a few case reports in the literature. The main question whether this association is a result of causative or coincidental relationship has not been evaluated among children. A retrospective clinical study was performed to clarify the pathogenesis, incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of appendicitis diagnosed in children during the hospitalization period following blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). The records of 554 patients with BAT who were admitted to our unit between 1979 and 1993 inclusive were reviewed. Five patients (0.90%), 3 males and 2 females, with a mean age of 9.4 +/- 1.4 were found to have appendicitis. None of these patients had any signs or symptoms related to appendicitis prior to BAT. Bruising and rupture of the mesoappendix were noted in 3 patients while edema and hematoma of appendix and terminal ileum were found in two. Full recovery was achieved in all patients following appendicectomy. Our incidence of 0.90% is statistically significantly higher than the highest incidence rate of appendicitis stated in the literature during childhood (t-test for population proportion, t = 2.892; p < 0.05). We emphasise the possibility of a causative relationship between appendicitis and BAT depending on the clinical characteristics, operative findings, statistically significant high incidence rate and literature review.
Estimating the Longitudinal Prevalence of Diarrhea and Other Episodic Diseases: Continuous Versus Intermittent Surveillance

Background: Longitudinal prevalence (ie, the proportion of time with the disease) is used to describe morbidity from diarrhea and other episodic conditions. The aim of this analysis was to compare estimates of longitudinal prevalence based on intermittent sampling at regular intervals with 24- or 48-hour recall, with estimates based on continuous surveillance. Methods: Based on 2 real datasets from Brazil and Guatemala, we developed a simulated dataset representing the diarrhea morbidity of 10,000 individuals followed over 365 days. Results: Both the model and the real datasets showed that the standard deviation of the longitudinal prevalence increases with decreasing numbers of days sampled, so that a study sampling only a fraction of days would require a larger sample size. However, due to the correlation of diarrhea between consecutive days, sampling at 7- to 14-day intervals results in relatively small loss of precision and power compared with daily morbidity records, especially when the average diarrheal episode is long. A study based on morbidity data for every seventh day may require only a 5%-24% larger sample size than a study with daily records, depending on the average duration of episodes. Using a recall period of 48 hours instead of 24 hours increases power if the average episode is short. Conclusions: The results question the necessity of continuous surveillance to estimate longitudinal prevalence. In addition to savings in cost and staff time, intermittent sampling of morbidity may improve validity by minimizing recall error and reducing the influence of surveillance on participants' behavior.
The energy security of Japan: Causality analyses

ABSTRACT Energy is one of the important elements in the production of goods and satisfies the required services. The economy of Japan is basically dependent on imported energy resources for 97% of its total domestic energy consumption per year, the highest percentage of any major industrialized nations. Thus, reducing dependency and import expenditures are always main issues in the energy policy of Japan. In this study, four indices are constructed to measure Energy Supply Security: Dependency Index, Intensity Index, Local Production Index, and Composite Index. This paper investigates the causal relationship between aggregated and disaggregated levels of energy supply security indices and the input parameters that are: petroleum prices, total primary energy supply, energy consumption per capita, share of renewable energy sources, carbon dioxide emissions, human development index, and the mean of democracy indices of energy supplier countries of Japan for the period of 1975–2007.
Unusual fatty acid substitution in lipids and lipopolysaccharides of Helicobacter pylori

Cellular fatty acids, phospholipid fatty acids, and lipopolysaccharide fatty acids of four strains of Helicobacter pylori were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The presence of myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, 19-carbon cyclopropane fatty acid, beta-hydroxypalmitic acid, and beta-hydroxystearic acid was confirmed. In phospholipids, myristic acid and 19-carbon cyclopropane fatty acid were the major fatty acids. Hydroxy fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids were not detected or occurred only in small amounts. The major fatty acids of lipopolysaccharides were stearic acid, beta-hydroxypalmitic acid, and beta-hydroxystearic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids and 19-carbon cyclopropane fatty acid were not found. The unusual compositions of H. pylori phospholipid and lipopolysaccharide fatty acids may have important implications for the taxonomy, physicochemical membrane properties, and biological activity of lipopolysaccharides.
[Prevalence and associated factors of anger post stroke: a systematic review].

INTRODUCTION Stroke is one of the main causes of death and disability and has a high economic cost. Anger after stroke is common and worsens functionality and quality of life. The study of this comorbidity has been hampered by the lack of standardization in anger's evaluation. AIM To show the current evidence of anger's prevalence and anger's associated factors after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medline systematic review of original papers studying prevalence and associated factors of anger after stroke. RESULTS Post-stroke anger has a high prevalence (15-57.2%). Most studies have found a lack of association between irritability and sex, age, type, size, laterality and severity of the stroke and functionality. Occasionally anger has been associated with frontal infarcts and aphasia. Data regarding the association between anger and motor deficits and cognitive impairment has been inconclusive while the association between anger and psychiatric history, post stroke emotional incontinence and post stroke depression has been widely replicated. Environmental factors have been difficult to study but may be relevant. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of anger post stroke. Psychiatric factors have been associated to it, while other associations are less conclusive. To improve anger knowledge and management, it would be necessary to improve its definition and assessment.
What the Story Is About: Carver, Lish, and The Editorial Process

A close reading of Raymond Carver’s stories, interviews, essays, and letters explores aspects of his relationships with his father, his teacher John Gardner, and in particular his influential editor, Gordon Lish, as they relate to his writing and to his development as a writer. It is proposed that the internalization of aspects of these relationships, along with the collaborative and symbolizing process of authorship—providing both self-exposition and screen—helped Carver move beyond his need for subjugated masochistic attachment and forge a path toward greater creative autonomy.
An evaluation of farmers’ willingness to pay for efficient irrigation for sustainable usage of resources: the GAP-Harran Plain case, Turkey

Abstract We evaluated farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for efficient irrigation and improved water productivity with the economic benefits of sustainable use of resources in the long-run, while reducing irrigation-related problems in the GAP-Harran Plain, Turkey. The data come from a sample of 21,094 farmers; 461 of them were chosen via simple random sampling method and interviewed face to face. The Tobit regression model was used for analysis. The results indicate that the average WTP value is $133.7 per hectares comprising 8.87% of net income of farmers, whilst the total amount derived from the WTP was around 20.05 million for Harran Plain. Explanatory factors such as primary school graduates, users of modern irrigation technologies, a crop pattern involving large areas of cotton and wheat increase the WTP by 4.4, 4.3 and 3.8%, respectively. On the other hand, married farmers, property owners, gravity irrigation users and one of the index variables (indexb, measuring farmers’ perceptions about natural resources) lower the WTP by 9.3, 3.3, 13.7 and 0.9%, respectively. These results have valuable and important implications for decision makers to draw better sustainable natural resources policies in future for the good in question.
Flavonols reduce aortic atherosclerosis lesion area in apolipoprotein E deficient mice: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Diets rich in flavonoids have been reported to have beneficial effects in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events. There are limited data, however, on the cardiovascular benefits of purified flavonoids. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the reported effects of isolated flavonoids on aortic atherosclerosis in a mouse model. Medline, Pubmed, Science direct and Web of Science were searched to identify studies which examined the effect of isolated flavonoids on aortic atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E deficient mice. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the overall effect of the flavonoids, and sub-analyses were performed to compare the effects of the flavonols and flavan-3-ols. Eleven studies, which examined a total of 208 mice receiving a flavonoid and 126 control mice, were included. Overall the flavonoids significantly reduced aortic atherosclerosis (SMD 1.10, 95% CI 0.69, 1.51). Of the 18 flavonoid interventions examined 12 were flavonols and 3 were flavan-3-ols. Sub-analyses suggested that the flavonols (SMD 1.31, 95% CI 0.66, 1.91) but not the flavan-3-ols (SMD 0.33, 95% CI -0.19, 0.85) significantly decreased atherosclerosis area. Of the eleven studies, only one examined histological markers of atherosclerosis plaque stability. Most studies did not report blinding of outcome assessors or reproducibility of the primary outcome, and did not justify the sample size used and flavonoid dose administered. Based on the included studies, the flavonols appear to be the most effective flavonoids for reducing aortic atherosclerotic lesion area in apolipoprotein E deficient mice.
Respective effects of end-expiratory and end-inspiratory pressures on alveolar recruitment in acute lung injury*

ObjectiveA low tidal volume can induce alveolar derecruitment in patients with acute lung injury. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether this resulted mainly from the decrease in tidal volume per se or from the reduction in end-inspiratory plateau pressure and whether there is any benefit in raising the level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) while plateau pressure is kept constant. DesignProspective crossover study. SettingMedical intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital. PatientsFifteen adult patients ventilated for acute lung injury (Pao2/Fio2, 158 ± 34 mm Hg; lung injury score, 2.7 ± 0.6). InterventionsThree combinations were tested: PEEP at the lower inflection point with 6 mL/kg tidal volume, PEEP at the lower inflection point with 10 mL/kg tidal volume, and high PEEP with tidal volume at 6 mL/kg, keeping the plateau pressure similar to the preceding condition. Measurements and Main ResultsPressure-volume curves at zero PEEP and at set PEEP were recorded, and recruitment was calculated as the volume difference between both curves for pressures ranging from 15 to 30 cm H2O. Arterial blood gases were measured for all patients. For a similar PEEP at the lower inflection point (10 ± 3 cm H2O), tidal volume reduction (10 to 6 mL/kg) led to a significant derecruitment. A low tidal volume (6 mL/kg) with high PEEP (14 ± 3 cm H2O), however, induced a significantly greater recruitment and a higher Pao2 than the two other strategies. ConclusionAt a given plateau pressure (i.e., similar end-inspiratory distension), lowering tidal volume and increasing PEEP increase recruitment and Pao2.
An imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis revealed by use of 3-T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

IMPORTANCE A lack of neuroinhibitory function may result in unopposed excitotoxic neuronal damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). OBJECTIVE To determine whether there are reductions in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels and elevations in glutamate-glutamine (Glx) levels in selected brain regions of patients with ALS by use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. DESIGN Case-control study using short echo time and GABA-edited proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T with regions of interest in the left motor cortex, left subcortical white matter, and pons; data analyzed using logistic regression, t tests, and Pearson correlations; and post hoc analyses performed to investigate differences between riluzole-naive and riluzole-treated patients with ALS. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-nine patients with ALS and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. EXPOSURE Fifteen patients were taking 50 mg of riluzole twice a day as part of their routine clinical care for ALS. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Levels of GABA, Glx, choline (a marker of cell membrane turnover), creatine (a marker of energy metabolism), myo-inositol (a marker of glial cells), and N-acetylaspartate (a marker of neuronal integrity). RESULTS Patients with ALS had significantly lower levels of GABA in the motor cortex than did healthy controls (P < .01). Patients with ALS also had significantly lower levels of N-acetylaspartate in the motor cortex (P < .01), subcortical white matter (P < .05), and pons (P < .01) and higher levels of myo-inositol in the motor cortex (P < .001) and subcortical white matter (P < .01) than did healthy controls. Riluzole-naive patients with ALS had higher levels of Glx than did riluzole-treated patients with ALS (P < .05 for pons and motor cortex) and healthy controls (P < .05 for pons and motor cortex). Riluzole-naive patients with ALS had higher levels of creatine in the motor cortex (P < .001 for both comparisons) and subcortical white matter (P ≤ .05 for both comparisons) than did riluzole-treated patients with ALS and healthy controls. Riluzole-naive patients with ALS had higher levels of N-acetylaspartate in the motor cortex than did riluzole-treated patients with ALS (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There are reduced levels of GABA in the motor cortex of patients with ALS. There are elevated levels of Glx in riluzole-naive patients with ALS compared with riluzole-treated patients with ALS and healthy controls. These results point to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters as being important in the pathogenesis of ALS and an antiglutamatergic basis for the effects of riluzole, although additional research efforts are needed.
Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders: A Revisit and Reconceptualization

Disturbed sleep and psychiatric disorders are inextricably linked. Patients with virtually all psychiatric disorders complain of insomnia, daytime sleepiness, or both. Conversely, patients with sleep disorders often complain of mood and anxiety symptoms, and can even present with symptoms resembling psychosis, as in the case of sleep-related hallucinations and cataplexy in narcolepsy. Treatment of psychiatric disorders often improves sleep and vice versa, and many of the same pharmacologic agents are used for psychiatric and sleep disorders. Conversely, common treatments for psychiatric disorders, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and atypical antipsychotic drugs, may actually lead to sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome, parasomnias, and obstructive sleep apnea. For these elementary reasons, it behooves psychiatrists and mental health professionals to have a solid understanding of sleep and its disorders.
Features for Predicting Quality of Images Captured by Digital Cameras

Algorithmic image quality metrics have been based on the assumption that an image is only distorted by a single distortion type at a time. The performance of the current metrics is low if image concurrently includes more than one distortion. The aim of this study was to find efficient feature sets for predicting visual quality of real photographs which are subjected to many different distortion sources and types. Features should support each other and function with many concurrent image distortions. We used correlation based feature selector method and image database created with various digital cameras for feature selection. Based on the study the results are promising. Our general and scene-specific feature combinations correlate well with the human observations compared to the state-of-the-art metrics.
Nonlinear exhaust pressure control of an SI engine with VGT using partial model inversion

An important target for car manufacturers when developing new cars is to reduce fuel consumption. One approach to this problem is to use a downsized turbocharged engine. To fully utilize the benefits of the new hardware introduced, good control systems are needed. This paper presents a nonlinear controller for controlling the exhaust pressure in a SI engine equipped with VGT. A mapping from the states, inputs and disturbances to future outputs is formed, and inverting the input-output relation in this mapping gives a control law. An analysis shows that the controller adapts its gain to the input-output sensitivity. The controller is evaluated using both simulations and measurements on a real engine, showing the benefit of using the nonlinear controller over a corresponding linear controller.
Shiga‐toxin‐producing Escherichia coli in faeces of healthy dairy cows, sheep and goats: prevalence and virulence properties

The prevalence of Shiga‐toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in healthy dairy ruminants was investigated between 1996 and 1998 by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) technique. A total of 13 552 E. coli colonies from 726 cows, 28 sheep and 93 goats out of 112 randomly selected dairy farms in Hessia, Germany were analysed. STEC strains were recovered from 131 (18·0%) cows, nine (32·1%) sheep and 70 (75·3%) goats. Further characterization of the STEC isolates showed that 89 (0·66% of the investigated colonies) of animal field strains carried stx1 gene, 64 (0·47%) stx2 gene and 57 (0·42%) stx1 and stx2 gene. Sixty (93·8%) out of 64 stx2 field strains were harboured by cows. In contrast, 74 (83·1%) out of 89 stx1 dairy animal field strains were from ovine or caprine origin. Only 17 (8·1%) stx‐positive isolates (13 from cattle, three from sheep and only one from goat) were positive for eaeA gene. Eight (9·0%) of the stx1, five (7·8%) of the stx2 and four (7·0%) of the stx1/stx2 gene‐positive field strains carried the eaeA gene. The prevalence of EHEC‐haemolysin (EHEC‐hlyA) gene sequence was 88·8% (79 isolates) of the stx1 and 68·8% (44 isolates) of the stx2 isolates. Out of 57 stx1‐ and stx2‐positive field‐strains, 34 (59·6%) carried the EHEC‐hlyA gene. E. coli O serovars O:157 and O:111 were not found. Only one isolate was positive with O26 antiserum.
Quantitative-PCR Assessment of Cryptosporidium parvum Cell Culture Infection

ABSTRACT A quantitative TaqMan PCR method was developed for assessing the Cryptosporidium parvum infection of in vitro cultivated human ileocecal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8) cell cultures. This method, termed cell culture quantitative sequence detection (CC-QSD), has numerous applications, several of which are presented. CC-QSD was used to investigate parasite infection in cell culture over time, the effects of oocyst treatment on infectivity and infectivity assessment of different C. parvum isolates. CC-QSD revealed that cell culture infection at 24 and 48 h postinoculation was approximately 20 and 60%, respectively, of the endpoint 72-h postinoculation infection. Evaluation of three different lots of C. parvum Iowa isolate oocysts revealed that the mean infection of 0.1 N HCl-treated oocysts was only 36% of the infection obtained with oocysts treated with acidified Hanks' balanced salt solution containing 1% trypsin. CC-QSD comparison of the C. parvum Iowa and TAMU isolates revealed significantly higher levels of infection for the TAMU isolate, which agrees with and supports previous human, animal, and cell culture studies. CC-QSD has the potential to aid in the optimization of Cryptosporidium cell culture methods and facilitate quantitative evaluation of cell culture infectivity experiments.