Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mean Hand Grip Strength and Cut-off Value for Sarcopenia in Korean Adults Using KNHANES VI

The purpose of this study was to report age- and gender-specific distribution of the hand grip strength (HGS) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI-3 (2015) survey and determine cut-off values for low muscle strength of HGS of Koreans. Of a total of 7,380 participants, 4,553 were subjected to measurements of HGS, including 1,997 men and 2,556 women with a mean age of 49.3 years (range, 19–80 years). The mean ages of men and women were 49.0 and 49.5 years, respectively. HGS was measured using a digital hand dynamometer. It was defined as maximal measured grip strength of the dominant hand. The cut-off value for low muscle strength was defined as the lower 20th percentile of HGS of the study population. Maximum grip strength of men was significantly higher than that of women (40.2 kg in men vs. 24.2 kg in women, P < 0.001). The mean HGS was increased from the age of 19 to 39 years. It was peaked in the age of 35 to 39 years range for both men and women. It was then decreased after 39 years. The cut-off values of HGS in male and female elderly healthy populations were 28.6 and 16.4 kg, respectively. These data might be used as reference values when evaluating sarcopenia and assessing hand injuries.
Frequent Heterogeneous Missense Mutations of GGAP2 in Prostate Cancer: Implications for Tumor Biology, Clonality and Mutation Analysis

Prostate cancer is the most common visceral malignancy in Western men and a major cause of cancer deaths. Increased activation of the AKT and NFkB pathways have been identified as critical steps in prostate cancer initiation and progression. GGAP2 (GTP-binding and GTPase activating protein 2) is a multidomain protein that contains an N-terminal Ras homology domain (GTPase), followed by a PH domain, a C-terminal GAP domain and an ankyrin repeat domain. GGAP2 can directly activate signaling via both the AKT and NFkB pathways and acts as a node of crosstalk between these pathways. Increased GGAP2 expression is present in three quarters of prostate cancers. Mutations of GGAP2 have been reported in cell lines from other malignancies. We therefore analyzed 84 prostate cancer tissues and 43 benign prostate tissues for somatic mutations in GGAP2 by direct sequencing of individual clones derived from the GAP and GTPase domains of normal and tumor tissue. Overall, half of cancers contained mutant GAP domain clones and in 20% of cancers, 30% or more of clones were mutant in the GAP domain. Surprisingly, the mutations were heterogeneous and nonclonal, with multiple different mutations being present in many tumors. Similar findings were observed in the analysis of the GTPase domain. Mutant GGAP2 proteins had significantly higher transcriptional activity using AP-1 responsive reporter constructs when compared to wild-type protein. Furthermore, the presence of these mutations was associated with aggressive clinical behavior. The presence of high frequency nonclonal mutations of a single gene is novel and represents a new mode of genetic alteration that can promote tumor progression. Analysis of mutations in cancer has been used to predict outcome and guide therapeutic target identification but such analysis has focused on clonal mutations. Our studies indicate that in some cases high frequency nonclonal mutations may need to be assessed as well.
Performance Evaluation of on demand and Table driven Protocol for Wireless Ad hoc Network

Mobile Adhoc Network is a wireless network without infrastructure.It is a kind of wireless adhoc network,and is a self configuring network of mobile routers connected by wireless links.The routers are free to move randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily,thus the network's wireless topology may change rapidly and unpredictably. Such a network may operate in a standalone fashion,or may be connected to the larger Internet.There are various routing protocols available for MANET.The most popular ones are DSR,AODV and DSDV.This paper examines two routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks :the Destination Sequenced Distance Vector,the table driven protocol and the Ad hoc On Demand Distance Vector routing,an On Demand protocol and evaluates both protocols based on packet delivery fraction, average end to end delay,throughput and routing overhead while varying pause time.The performance evaluation has been done by using simulation tool NS2 which is the main simulator, NAM(Network Animator)and excel graph which is used for preparing the graphs from the trace files.Simulation revealed that although DSDV perfectly scales to small networks with low node speeds,AODV is preferred due to its more efficient use of bandwidth.
A Consumption Model for Targeted Electronic Advertising

Information distribution networks will give consumers access to rich media-based electronic content in both business and home settings. Electronic advertising will become an integral component of such networks, subsidizing consumption while providing a new service for consumers without invading their personal space. The consumption model presented in this article explains how consumer-driven advertising might develop-and why it probably won't be soon. >
Equilibrium Conformations of Concentric-tube Continuum Robots

Robots consisting of several concentric, preshaped, elastic tubes can work dexterously in narrow, constrained, and/or winding spaces, as are commonly found in minimally invasive surgery. Previous models of these “active cannulas” assume piecewise constant precurvature of component tubes and neglect torsion in curved sections of the device. In this paper we develop a new coordinate-free energy formulation that accounts for general preshaping of an arbitrary number of component tubes, and which explicitly includes both bending and torsion throughout the device. We show that previously reported models are special cases of our formulation, and then explore in detail the implications of torsional flexibility for the special case of two tubes. Experiments demonstrate that this framework is more descriptive of physical prototype behavior than previous models1 it reduces model prediction error by 82% over the calibrated bending-only model, and 17% over the calibrated transmissional torsion model in a set of experiments.
Local and global cerebral blood flow and glucose utilization in the α‐galactosidase A knockout mouse model of Fabry disease

Fabry disease is an X‐linked lysosomal disorder characterized by deficient α‐galactosidase A activity and intracellular accumulations of glycosphingolipids, mainly globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). Clinically, patients occasionally present CNS dysfunction. To examine the pathophysiology underlying brain dysfunction, we examined glucose utilization (CMRglc) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) globally and locally in 18 brain structures in the α‐galactosidase A gene knockout mouse. Global CMRglc was statistically significantly reduced by 22% in Fabry mice (p < 0.01). All 18 structures showed decreases in local CMRglc ranging from 14% to 33%. The decreases in all structures of the diencephalon, caudate‐putamen, brain stem, and cerebellar cortex were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Global cerebral blood flow (CBF) and local CBF measured in the same 18 structures were lower in Fabry mice than in control mice, but none statistically significantly. Histological examination of brain revealed no cerebral infarcts but abundant Gb3 deposits in the walls of the cerebral vessels with neuronal deposits localized to the medulla oblongata. These results indicate an impairment in cerebral energy metabolism in the Fabry mice, but one not necessarily due to circulatory insufficiency.
The analysis of multi-phase current feedforward type-III constant on-time control with ultrafast load transient response for voltage regulator modules

This paper presents a new method of addressing the constant on time and minimal off time limitation of widely used COT variable frequency control. This is done by means of estimated capacitor current feedforward method. Ultrafast transient response is achieved with a new COT controller reacting much faster to output caps charge and discharge currents following a load transient step. A new output caps current estimator circuit is presented that accurately models a complex output filter network, including effective series inductance. System frequency response with combined output cap current estimator circuit and a type-II error amplifier shows a voltage mode type-III compensator. New compensator enables higher BW with sufficient phase margin limits. Dynamic performance of 4 phase, 3MHz and 16A load step at 3uSec slew rate show superior transient response in both voltage deviation and recovery time. Integrated controller is implemented in a 0. 18μm Tower Jazz process. ASIC performance closely matches target design specs.
Proteins and chemical chaperones involved in neuronal nicotinic receptor expression and function: an update

Neuronal nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) are a family of ACh‐gated cation channels, and their homeostasis or proteostasis is essential for the correct physiology of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The proteostasis network regulates the folding, assembly, degradation and trafficking of nAChRs in order to ensure their efficient and functional expression at the cell surface. However, as nAChRs are multi‐subunit, multi‐span, integral membrane proteins, the folding and assembly is a very inefficient process, and only a small proportion of subunits can form functional pentamers. Moreover, the efficiency of assembly and trafficking varies widely depending on the nAChR subtypes and the cell type in which they are expressed. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the functional expression of nAChRs in neurons and non‐neuronal cells is therefore important. The purpose of this short review is to describe more recent findings concerning the chaperone proteins and target‐specific and target‐nonspecific pharmacological chaperones that modulate the expression of nAChR subtypes, and the possible mechanisms that underlie the dynamic changes of cell surface nAChRs.
Cancer/Testis Antigen MAGE-C1/CT7: New Target for Multiple Myeloma Therapy

Cancer/Testis Antigens (CTAs) are a promising class of tumor antigens that have a limited expression in somatic tissues (testis, ovary, fetal, and placental cells). Aberrant expression of CTAs in cancer cells may lead to abnormal chromosome segregation and aneuploidy. CTAs are regulated by epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation and acetylation of histones) and are attractive targets for immunotherapy in cancer because the gonads are immune privileged organs and anti-CTA immune response can be tumor-specific. Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy, and several CTAs have been detected in many MM cell lines and patients. Among CTAs expressed in MM we must highlight the MAGE-C1/CT7 located on the X chromosome and expressed specificity in the malignant plasma cells. MAGE-C1/CT7 seems to be related to disease progression and functional studies suggests that this CTA might play a role in cell cycle and mainly in survival of malignant plasma cells, protecting myeloma cells against spontaneous as well as drug-induced apoptosis.
GPfit: An R Package for Fitting a Gaussian Process Model to Deterministic Simulator Outputs

Gaussian process (GP) models are commonly used statistical metamodels for emulating expensive computer simulators. Fitting a GP model can be numerically unstable if any pair of design points in the input space are close together. Ranjan, Haynes, and Karsten (2011) proposed a computationally stable approach for fitting GP models to deterministic computer simulators. They used a genetic algorithm based approach that is robust but computationally intensive for maximizing the likelihood. This paper implements a slightly modified version ofthe model proposed by Ranjan et al. (2011 ) in the R package GPfit. A novel parameterization of the spatial correlation function and a clustering based multi-start gradient based optimization algorithm yield robust optimization that is typically faster than the genetic algorithm based approach. We present two examples with R codes to illustrate the usage of the main functions in GPfit . Several test functions are used for performance comparison with the popular R package mlegp . We also use GPfit for a real application, i.e., for emulating the tidal kinetic energy model for the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada. GPfit is free software and distributed under the General Public License and available from the Comprehensive R Archive Network.
Model-based approach for sensor fault-tolerant drive systems

The paper presents an approach to reliably detect and treat sensor faults in drive systems. For detecting errors in current and rotor position sensors, model-based methods (sensorless position estimation, current observers) are used. Sensor faults in the drive system may cause erroneous or oscillating torques. In vehicles with wheel hub drives on the rear axle and without additional driving safety systems, such faults could even result in driving conditions that are difficult to control. The error detection system is verified by measurements on a test bench. Vehicle tests on a test track prove the effectiveness of the procedures for in-vehicle use.
A mentalization-based approach to the understanding and treatment of functional somatic disorders

Patients with functional somatic disorders (FSD) represent a sizeable group in our health care system. FSD are associated with high health care use and considerable personal and economic costs. Evidence-based treatments for FSD are only modestly effective in a large subgroup of patients, particularly in the long run, which emphasizes the need to develop more effective treatments rooted in extant knowledge about the nature of FSD. This paper presents a contemporary psychodynamic perspective on the conceptualization and treatment of patients with FSD rooted in attachment and mentalization theory. First, we review animal and human research demonstrating the close relationships among attachment, stress regulation, and immune and pain-regulating systems. We highlight research findings concerning the high interpersonal and metabolic costs associated with the use of insecure secondary attachment strategies (i.e. attachment deactivating and hyperactivating strategies) leading to increased vulnerability for stress. Next, we review evidence for the role of impairments in (embodied) mentalization in patients with FSD both as cause and consequence of functional somatic complaints, leading to the re-emergence of so-called non-mentalizing modes, i.e. modes of subjectivity that antedate the capacity for full mentalizing. Based on these views, a novel brief psychodynamic intervention for patients with functional somatic complaints is presented.
Models for Estimating Abundance from Repeated Counts of an Open Metapopulation

Summary Using only spatially and temporally replicated point counts, Royle (2004b, Biometrics 60, 108–115) developed an N‐mixture model to estimate the abundance of an animal population when individual animal detection probability is unknown. One assumption inherent in this model is that the animal populations at each sampled location are closed with respect to migration, births, and deaths throughout the study. In the past this has been verified solely by biological arguments related to the study design as no statistical verification was available. In this article, we propose a generalization of the N‐mixture model that can be used to formally test the closure assumption. Additionally, when applied to an open metapopulation, the generalized model provides estimates of population dynamics parameters and yields abundance estimates that account for imperfect detection probability and do not require the closure assumption. A simulation study shows these abundance estimates are less biased than the abundance estimate obtained from the original N‐mixture model. The proposed model is then applied to two data sets of avian point counts. The first example demonstrates the closure test on a single‐season study of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and the second uses the proposed model to estimate the population dynamics parameters and yearly abundance of American robins (Turdus migratorius) from a multi‐year study.
Black Workers in Central African Industry: A Critical Essay on the Historiography and Sociology of Rhodesia

Settlers are said to have good reason to be proud of their economic development because, 'In passing through this development, the Rhodesians managed to avoid some of the worst evils of labour management that characterized the early stages of industrialization elsewhere. '4 The advocates of this point of view are aware that forced labour was used in the mining industry, that ruthless discipline was not unknown in the mines, and that there was a history of appalling conditions in the compounds.5 But they see this phase of the mining industry's development as being essentially nasty, brutish and short. Of the nastiness, brutishness and shortness, moreover, it is the shortness that they find most striking. Forced labour is supposed to have been restricted to 'early instances in the 1 890s'6 and other deficiencies are depicted as the 'abuses of the early days'. 7 Early blemishes are said not to detract from a fine record because
Manifold Alignment for Person Independent Appearance-Based Gaze Estimation

We show that dually supervised manifold embedding can improve the performance of machine learning based person-independent and thus calibration-free gaze estimation. For this purpose, we perform a manifold embedding for each person in the training dataset and then learn a linear transformation that aligns the individual, person-dependent manifolds. We evaluate the effect of manifold alignment on the recently presented Columbia dataset, where we analyze the influence on 6 regression methods and 8 feature variants. Using manifold alignment, we are able to improve the person-independent gaze estimation performance by up to 31.2 % compared to the best approach without manifold alignment.
Acute Kidney Injury in the Critically Ill Patient

Epidemiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) is supposedly a well-characterized topic. Large population studies developed in the 1990s demonstrated a higher incidence of AKI than previously suspected. More importantly, this incidence was higher among critically ill patients while mortality rates rose dramatically in this setting. In these studies an overall incidence of around five per cent of AKI was found in ICU with an accompanying mortality in over fifty per cent of cases.
Adaptive IIR filtering

An overview is presented of several methods, filter structures, and recursive algorithms used in adaptive infinite-impulse response (IIR) filtering. Both the equation-error and output-error formulations are described, although the focus is on the adaptive algorithms and properties of the output-error configuration. These parameter-update algorithms have the same generic form, and they are based on a prediction-error performance criterion. A direct-form implementation of the adaptive filters is emphasized, but alternative realizations such as the parallel and lattice forms are briefly discussed. Several important issues associated with adaptive IIR filtering, including stability monitoring, the SPR condition, and convergence, are addressed. <<ETX>>
Outcomes of hospitalisation for right heart failure in pulmonary arterial hypertension

The aim of this study was to examine the causes and outcomes of hospitalisation in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). 205 consecutive hospitalisations occurring between 2000 and 2009 in 90 PAH patients were studied. The leading causes for hospitalisation were right heart failure (RHF; 56%), infection (16%) and bleeding disorders (8%). For patients with RHF, in-hospital mortality was 14% overall, 46% for patients receiving inotropes and 48% for those admitted to the intensive care unit. The predictors for in-hospital mortality were the presence of connective tissue disease (CTD) (OR 4.92), systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg (OR 4.32) and Na ≤136 mEq·L−1 (OR 4.29). Mortality after discharge was 13, 26 and 35% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. World Health Organization functional class prior to admission, renal dysfunction, Charlson comorbidity index, and the presence of CTD were all predictors of mortality after discharge. Hyponatraemia and low systolic blood pressure upon admission and underlying CTD are the main prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with PAH admitted for RHF. The short-term outcomes after discharge are poor and remarkably worse in patients with underlying CTD or renal impairment. Early recognition of these factors may guide decisions regarding more aggressive therapy, including consideration for lung transplantation.
Optic Nerve Head Registration Via Hemispherical Surface and Volume Registration

We present an automated method for nonrigid registration of the optic nerve head (ONH) surfaces extracted from 3-D optical coherence tomography images to give a one-to-one correspondence between two ONH surfaces. This allows development of population-average ONH surfaces, pooling of morphometric data measured on ONH surfaces from multiple subjects into a single chosen template surface, and statistical analysis (cross sectional, or longitudinal, or both) in a common coordinate system. An application of this coordinate system to construct an average ONH shape across an illustrative dataset is demonstrated, and the impact of template selection is assessed.
Bidirectional work-family spillover and work-family balance: How are they related to personal distress and global stress?

Sixty-nine German dual-earner families participated in a study exploring the effects of bidirectional work-family spillover variables and work-family balance to predict personal distress and global stress outcomes. After controlling for the non-interdependence of dyadic data, the following results were obtained: First, the overall predictive power of several hierarchical regression models is considerably higher for global stress than personal distress. Second, the predictability of both outcomes is markedly higher for the female than the male sample. Third, by and large, the different hierarchical regression models produce similar results with respect to both outcome variables. Fourth, structural equation modelling attests to the more complex relationships among the predictors for the young working mothers as compared to their husbands. Finally, the findings and limitations of the study are discussed.
Statistical adapting RED in dynamic networks

Active Queue Management (AQM) aims to provide high link utilization and low queuing delay in communication networks. However, it is challenging to adapt AQM parameters in response to dynamic network scenarios with varying round-trip time, link capacity and traffic load. In order to maintain a stable queue with desired performance such as high link utilization and low queuing delay, this paper proposes a Statistical Adapting RED (SA-RED) to dynamically tune RED parameters based on the standard deviation of instantaneous queue size, which can be readily measured in practice. The proposed mechanism and corresponding algorithms can be implemented easily because they avoid the problem of measuring network parameters, such as the round-trip time and number of TCP flows. In addition, they are effective in achieving high performance, i.e., maintaining low queuing delay while providing the desired transient and steady-state performance under widely varying network conditions. These advantages are demonstrated by extensive NS-2 simulation experiments.