Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The optimal timing of blood collection during the menstrual cycle for the assessment of endogenous sex hormones: can interindividual differences in levels over the whole cycle be assessed on a single day?

The objective of this study was to identify the optimal timing of sampling during the menstrual cycle for assessment of interindividual variation in exposure to endogenous sex hormones, including estradiol, progesterone, and the free androgen index. Twenty-four healthy premenopausal women with regular periods were recruited, and alternate day venous blood samples were taken in the morning throughout one menstrual cycle. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were calculated for the estimates of average hormone levels (based on area under the curve) over one menstrual cycle against values on single days within that cycle. Days within the menstrual cycle were identified that provided the best assessment of interindividual differences. The most consistent correlation for estradiol was seen between days 9 and 11 (e.g., r = 0.53 and P = 0.01, day 10), the most consistent correlation for progesterone was seen between days 17 and 21 (e.g., r = 0.80 and P < 0.001, day 20), and the most consistent correlation for free androgen index was seen between days 12 and 15 (e.g., r = 0.90 and P < 0.001, day 15). Post hoc analysis of estradiol and progesterone levels on days counted back from the start of the next menstrual cycle identified marginally stronger associations. On repeat hormone measurements (not done for progesterone) on days 10 and 15, two to five menstrual cycles later, correlation coefficients with the original hormone levels remained reasonable (> or =0.55) for most. In conclusion, a reasonable characterization of interindividual differences in premenopausal estradiol, androgen, and progesterone levels may be achieved with single blood samples taken on specific days. This provides a useful approach for future epidemiological studies.
Electromagnetic and Optical Methods for Measurements of Salt Concentration of Water

Sensors for monitoring the salinity of water are useful tools in both environmental sciences and chemical engineering. Sensors based on a large variety of principles have been developed. Here we describe the design and testing of two different, noninvasive measurement methods for monitoring the salt concentration of water. The first method is based measurements of the refractive index using a folded-path optical refractometer, while the second utilizes an electromagnetic resonator, consisting of a magnetic coil and a capacitor, which is brought to resonance by an external magnetic field source. It is demonstrated that the folded-path optical refractometer allows one to monitor changes in salt concentration down to 1 mM in the range between 0 and 0.7 M, whereas the electromagnetic resonator has the capability of monitoring concentration changes as small as 0.3 mM over the more limited range between 0 and 5 mM.
Automatically-retargetable model-driven tools for embedded code inspection in SoCs

SoC design asks for tools to inspect embedded code and to pinpoint its bugs. Since design exploration may require that the code execute in distinct candidate processors, inspection tools must be retargeted. Besides, the time-to-market pressure makes automatic retargeting mandatory. This can be accomplished through tool generation from a formal model of each target processor, written in some architecture description language (ADL). This work extends a binary utility generator based upon the ArchC ADL by providing a technique for automatically retargeting disassemblers and debuggers. For experimental validation, we relied on the well-known MiBench and Dalton benchmarks. The results obtained from our retargeted tools and those from native tools were compared for distinct RISC and CISC architectures (i8051, MIPS, SPARC and PowerPC).
Surface chemistry effects of topographic modification of titanium dental implant surfaces: 2. In vitro experiments.

PURPOSE To determine, in vitro, cytotoxicity and cell adhesion on 3 different implant surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS All samples had machined surfaces, but they were subjected to different cleaning procedures, which produced 3 different surface chemistries. One of the samples was "as-produced" from the machining tools. The other samples were subjected to partial and total cleaning routines. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using mouse fibroblast cultures, and cell adhesion was evaluated with osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. RESULTS The "as-produced" sample showed a pronounced surface contamination by lubricating oils. For partially and totally cleaned samples, an increasing amount of titanium and a decreasing carbon/titanium ratio was observed as cleaning became more complete. DISCUSSION Differences in surface chemistry such as those normally found on titanium implant surfaces (see part 1 of this series) can lead to those same effects which, in in vitro experiments, are normally accounted for in terms of surface topography alone. CONCLUSION Effects related to surface chemistry can operate over and above surface topography, making it impossible, without proper characterization, to make definite statements about the role of topography alone.
Transferred Tumor suppressor BLU inhibits proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by regulation of cell cycle , JNK and cyclin D 1 promoters

Background: Tumor suppressor genes are often engaged in signaling pathways to regulate proliferation so as to block growth of tumor cells. To explore the mechanism underlying the tumor suppression activity of BLU/ZMYND10 gene on a frequently lost human chromosomal region, adenoviral vector with BLU cDNA insert was constructed. Methods: BLU gene was re-expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by transfection or viral infection. Clonogenic growth was assayed; cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry-based DNA content detection; JNK and cyclin D1 promoter activities were measured by reporter gene assay, and phosphorylation was measured by immunoblotting. The data of each pair of groups were compared with Student t test. Results: BLU inhibits clonogenic growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, arrests cell cycle at G1 phase, downregulates JNK and cyclin D1 promoter activities, and inhbits phosphorylation of c-Jun molecule. Conclusion: BLU inhibits growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by regulation of JNK-cyclin D1 axis to exert tumor suppression.
A new SVM-based voltage balancing method for five-level NPC inverter

This paper presents a new voltage-balancing method of five-level neutral-point clamped inverter, based on space-vector modulation redundant switching states. The proposed method uses measurement of DC-link capacitors and output phase currents in order to determine the best fitted redundancies. Due to its severe approach, the proposed method provides relatively low voltage ripples using low-capacitance DC-link capacitors. This advantage leads to reduction in size of the inverter and cost of manufacturing. Finally, some simulations in MATLAB/Simulink environment have been done in order to validate the dynamic performance of the proposed method.
Epidemic cutaneous sporotrichosis: Report of 16 cases in Queensland due to mouldy hay

We report an epidemic of sporotrichosis in a south‐east Queensland rural community. Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection due to the organism Sporothrix schenckii, typically presenting with cutaneous lesions. Sixteen cases of cutaneous sporotrichosis were seen over a 9 month period in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. All patients had had contact with a batch of mouldy hay presumed to be contaminated by Sporothrix schenckii. Nine of 16 patients were male; the youngest patient was aged 11 and the oldest was 67 years of age. Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis was seen in 50% of patients; the rest demonstrated the fixed cutaneous form. No cases of disseminated cutaneous or systemic sporotrichosis were seen. One case demonstrated lymphangitis related to sporotrichosis. No apparent difference in the duration to diagnosis was demonstrated to exist between lymphocutaneous or fixed cutaneous types.
Analytical mode-dependent rate and distortion models for H.264/SVC coarse grain scalability

This paper presents analytical rate and distortion models to estimate the rate-distortion (R-D) behavior of different coding modes for H.264/SVC coarse grain scalability (CGS) by jointly considering the effects of quantization, motion-compensated prediction, and motion partitioning structures. Based on the forward channel model and two statistical signal models, we first derive a pair of mode-dependent rate and distortion models for coding modes in base layer. Then these models are extended to account for the coding modes with inter-layer residual prediction in enhancement layer, especially for CGS. Preliminary results show that the proposed rate and distortion models for both layers have the potentiality to estimate the R-D behavior of real data.
Practical stability of discrete-time switched affine systems

This paper addresses stability analysis of switched affine systems in discrete-time domain. The stability conditions are obtained by taking into account that the state trajectories are globally attracted to an ellipsoidal convergence region X containing the desired equilibrium point. Two globally stabilizing switching functions are provided such that the volume of the convergence region is minimized. They are based on different proposals for the set of attainable equilibrium points and are numerically and theoretically compared. The conditions are well adapted to treat sampled-data control systems with uncertain sampling periods. Numerical examples illustrate the validity of the results and are used for comparison with recent techniques available in the literature.
A remote image collecting to create initiative database with indexing and querying for enhance face recognition

Face recognition is the personal identification method that gaining the attention and popularity for many years. It can be seen from an increasing of applications and researches in this field. The user's face database is a very important part for enhancing the face recognition when it was applied in the actual system. Thus, the study focused on the method for collecting user images by using web application with WebRTC technology that helps the system to be able to use with any platforms without the additional installation. Additionally, XML is used to index the images and query them back by using Path_MD algorithm to make the system be more efficiency. The system implementation result shows that remote collecting images, image indexing with XML, and image querying using Path_MD algorithm are effective and can be developed in further studies.
Placebo Improvement in Pharmacologic Treatment of Menopausal Hot Flashes: Time Course, Duration, and Predictors

Objectives To characterize the time course, duration of improvement, and clinical predictors of placebo response in treatment of menopausal hot flashes. Methods Data were pooled from two trials conducted in the Menopausal Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers to Symptoms and Health network, providing a combined placebo group (n = 247) and a combined active treatment group (n = 297). Participants recorded hot flash frequency in diaries twice daily during treatment (Weeks 0–8) and subsequent follow-up (Weeks 9–11). The primary outcome variable was clinically significant improvement, defined as a 50% or greater decrease in hot flash frequency from baseline and calculated for each week in the study. Subgroups were defined a priori using standard clinical definitions for significant improvement and partial improvement. Clinical and demographic characteristics of the participants were evaluated as predictors of improvement. Results Clinically significant improvement with placebo accrued each treatment week, with 33% significantly improved at Week 8. Of placebo responders who were improved at both Weeks 4 and 8, 77% remained clinically improved at Week 11 after treatment ended. Independent predictors of significant placebo improvement in the final multivariable model were African American race (odds ratio [OR] = 5.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.41–13.07, p < .001), current smokers (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.05–5.06, p = .038), and hot flash severity in screening (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.00–2.10, p = .047). Conclusions Clinically significant improvement with placebo accrued throughout treatment with a time course similar to improvement with active drug. A meaningful number of participants in the placebo group sustained a clinically significant response after stopping placebo pills. The results suggest that nonspecific effects are important components of treatment and warrant further studies to optimize their contributions in clinical care.
THE HERSCHEL EXPLOITATION OF LOCAL GALAXY ANDROMEDA (HELGA). II. DUST AND GAS IN ANDROMEDA

We present an analysis of the dust and gas in Andromeda, using Herschel images sampling the entire far-infrared peak. We fit a modified-blackbody model to ∼4000 quasi-independent pixels with spatial resolution of ∼140 pc and find that a variable dust-emissivity index (β) is required to fit the data. We find no significant long-wavelength excess above this model, suggesting there is no cold dust component. We show that the gas-to-dust ratio varies radially, increasing from ∼20 in the center to ∼70 in the star-forming ring at 10 kpc, consistent with the metallicity gradient. In the 10 kpc ring the average β is ∼1.9, in good agreement with values determined for the Milky Way (MW). However, in contrast to the MW, we find significant radial variations in β, which increases from 1.9 at 10 kpc to ∼2.5 at a radius of 3.1 kpc and then decreases to 1.7 in the center. The dust temperature is fairly constant in the 10 kpc ring (ranging from 17 to 20 K), but increases strongly in the bulge to ∼30 K. Within 3.1 kpc we find the dust temperature is highly correlated with the 3.6 μm flux, suggesting the general stellar population in the bulge is the dominant source of dust heating there. At larger radii, there is a weak correlation between the star formation rate and dust temperature. We find no evidence for “dark gas” in M31 in contrast to recent results for the MW. Finally, we obtained an estimate of the CO X-factor by minimizing the dispersion in the gas-to-dust ratio, obtaining a value of (1.9 ± 0.4) × 1020 cm−2 [K km s−1]−1.
Local Binary Pattern for automatic detection of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is caused due to increase in number of abnormal lymphocyte cells in blood or bone marrow. This paper presents a methodology for automatic detection of the abnormal lymphocytes in a given image of the blood sample. We have used Local Binary Pattern (LBP) features for classifying the lymphocyte cell as blast or normal. LBP texture features of blood nucleus are investigated for the detection of ALL. We have also used shape features for classification and a comparative analysis of both the features is performed. It is seen that the LBP features provide reasonably good accuracy in classification.
Use of pressurised aerosols by asthmatic patients.

Aerosolised bronchodilator drugs in pressurised canisters delivering metered doses are widely used, easy to carry, and apparently easy to operate. The instructions with each canister are reasonably clear, stating that each puff must be deeply inhaled and the breath held afterwards. Since the drug intake depends mostly on the patient's ability to follow the instructions, we thought it was important to find out whether asthmatics used their aerosols correctly.
MID-INFRARED IMAGING OF THE TRANSITIONAL DISK OF HD 169142: MEASURING THE SIZE OF THE GAP

The disk around the Herbig Ae star HD 169142 was imaged and resolved at 18.8 and 24.5 μm using Subaru/COMICS. We interpret the observations using a two-dimensional radiative transfer model and find evidence for the presence of a large gap. The mid-infrared images trace dust that is emitted at the onset of a strong rise in the spectral energy distribution (SED) at 20 μm, and are therefore very sensitive to the location and characteristics of the inner wall of the outer disk and its dust. We determine the location of the wall to be 23+3− 5 AU from the star. An extra component of hot dust must exist close to the star. We find that a hydrostatic optically thick inner disk does not produce enough flux in the near-infrared, and an optically thin, geometrically thick component is our solution to fit the SED. Considering the recent findings of gaps and holes in a number of Herbig Ae/Be group I disks, we suggest that such disk structures may be common in group I sources. Classification as group I should be considered a strong case for classification as a transitional disk, though improved imaging surveys are needed to support this speculation.
Telefongestützte Verhaltenstherapie als niedrigschwellige Intervention bei Depression: Ein Behandlungsprogramm für den deutschen Sprachraum

Hintergrund: Telefongestützte Psychotherapie (TPT) bei Depression kann als alleinige niedrigschwellige Behandlung z.B. im Rahmen eines Stepped-Care-Behandlungsansatzes, in Kombination mit Psychopharmaka oder als Überbrückung bis zum Beginn einer Face-to-Face-Psychotherapie eingesetzt werden. Erste internationale Studien weisen auf die Wirksamkeit von TPT hin. Material und Methoden: Dieser Beitrag gibt eine Übersicht zur bisherigen Umsetzung und Evidenz von TPT und stellt ein telefongestütztes, manualisiertes verhaltenstherapeutisches Interventionsprogramm für depressive Störungen für den deutschen Sprachraum vor. Ergebnisse: Das Programm besteht aus einem persönlichen Vorgespräch und 8-12 etwa 30-minütigen Telefonsitzungen über 3-5 Monate. Ein dazugehöriges Therapeutenmanual und Patientenarbeitsbuch wurden aus dem US-Amerikanischen übersetzt und vor allem in kultureller Hinsicht adaptiert. Schlussfolgerungen: Es werden Besonderheiten des Settings, klinische und organisatorische Implikationen sowie Voraussetzungen und Rahmenbedingungen für die Implementierung im deutschen Gesundheitssystem diskutiert.
Quantization of the three-dimensional Sinai billiard.

For the first time a three--dimensional (3D) chaotic billiard -- the 3D Sinai billiard -- was quantized, and high--precision spectra with thousands of eigenvalues were calculated. We present here a semiclassical and statistical analysis of the spectra, and point out some of the features which are genuine consequences of the three dimensionality of this chaotic billiard.
APR: A Novel Parallel Repacking Algorithm for Efficient GPGPU Parallel Code Transformation

General-purpose graphics processing units (GPGPU) brings an opportunity to improve the performance for many applications. However, exploiting parallelism is low productive in current programming frameworks such as CUDA and OpenCL. Programmers have to consider and deal with many GPGPU architecture details; therefore it is a challenge to trade off the programmability and the efficiency of performance tuning. Parallel Repacking (PR) is a popular performance tuning approach for GPGPU applications, which improves the performance by changing the parallel granularity. Existing code transformation algorithms using PR increase the productivity, but they do not cover adequate code patterns and do not give an effective code error detection. In this paper, we propose a novel parallel repacking algorithm (APR) to cover a wide range of code patterns and improve efficiency. We develop an efficient code model that expresses a GPGPU program as a recursive statement sequence, and introduces a concept of singular statement. APR building upon this model uses appropriate transformation rules for singular and non-singular statements to generate the repacked codes. A recursive transformation is performed when it encounters a branching/loop singular statement. Additionally, singular statements unify the transformation for barriers and data sharing, and enable APR to detect the barrier errors. The experiment results based on a prototype show that out proposed APR covers more code patterns than existing solutions such as the automatic thread coarsening in Crest, and the repacked codes using the APR achieve effective performance gain up to 3.28X speedup, in some cases even higher than manually tuned repacked codes.
Performance of the DVB-T2 system in a Single Frequency Network: Analysis of the distributed alamouti scheme

The last wireless broadcast systems, like DVB-T2, have reached performances close to the Shannon limit and there remain few solutions to further increase them. One of these solutions is the use of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) techniques. In this article, we evaluate the performances of DVBT2 in a Single Frequency Network (SFN). DVB-T2 is the first broadcast standard which provides the possibility to use some Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) technique. Our study will focus on a system with two transmit antennas and one receive antenna with power imbalance between the two resulting links. We will compare the influence of this power imbalance in two configurations (MISO distributed Alamouti scheme and SISO SFN) and show the benefit brought by the use of a MISO technique in a Single Frequency Network.
Percutaneous Nailing and Cementoplasty for Palliative Management of Supra-Acetabular Iliac Wing Metastases: A Case Report

Case: A 48-year-old woman was unable to walk due to an extensive osteolytic supra-acetabular iliac wing metastatic lymphoma involving the arcuate line. A minimally invasive technique that combined percutaneous nailing of the iliac bone with a customized nail and cementoplasty (intraosseous injection of polymethylmethacrylate) was performed. At the 1-year follow-up, she was able to walk without crutches, and computed tomography (CT) showed a stable iliac bone fixation. Conclusion: Osteolytic metastasis is a common cause of bone weakening, especially in load-bearing areas. With osteolytic metastases involving the acetabulum, intraosseous injection of bone cement into the weakened acetabulum may reduce pain and prevent fracture. Nailing combined with cementoplasty may be proposed for extensive destruction of the iliac bone involving the arcuate line to relieve pain and allow for resumed walking.
Assessment of Future Workshop’s Usefulness as an Ergonomics Tool

This study was carried out to assess Future Workshop (FW) regarding its usefulness as a participatory ergonomics method, using a descriptive evaluation design analysed by phenomeno graphical approach. The study was conducted among professional cleaners, health care personnel and miners, with a sample of 105 participating subjects in 8 different FWs. Multiple methods, giving a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data, were used for data collection. Good involvement of participants was observed during workshops. Evaluations immediately after FWs and 3 months later showed a strong relationship with high correlation, indicating that the perception of FW participants was very positive. Interviews revealed conformity between developed problem identification and proposed changes. Participants’ own perceptions of FW，s influence on creativity depict their belief of developed ideas and solutions in order to identify and solve workplace problems. FW is considered to be a useful ergonomics tool, and its qualities are related to structure and practical performance.