Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of some processing parameters on mechanical and image texture properties of fried carrot

In this study, potential application of image texture analysis as a non-destructive method for automation and prediction of mechanical properties of carrot chips was investigated. Samples were fried at different processing conditions and moisture content, colour parameters (i.e. L*, a*, b* and E) and mechanical properties (i.e. hardness and apparent modulus) were determined. Hardness and apparent modulus increased by increasing frying temperature and time. Four image texture features namely contrast, correlation, energy and homogeneity were calculated using gray level co-occurrence matrix. The results showed contrast and energy of gray level images were well correlated with hardness of fried samples in compression and puncture tests. Correlation coefficients of 0.97 and 0.98 between four image texture features and hardness were obtained in compression and puncture tests, respectively. Results indicate that image texture analysis can be successfully applied as a non-destructive method for estimation of mechanical properties of carrot.
The effect of amplitude modulation on subharmonic imaging with chirp excitation

Subharmonic generation from ultrasound contrast agents depends on the spectral and temporal properties of the excitation signal. The subharmonic response can be improved by using wideband and long-duration signals. However, for sinusoidal tone-burst excitation, the effective bandwidth of the signal is inversely proportional to the signal duration. Linear frequency-modulated (LFM) and nonlinear frequencymodulated (NLFM) chirp excitations allow independent control over the signal bandwidth and duration; therefore, in this study LFM and NLFM signals were used for the insonation of microbubble populations. The amplitude modulation of the excitation waveform was achieved by applying different window functions. A customized window was designed for the NLFM chirp excitation by focusing on reducing the spectral leakage at the subharmonic frequency and increasing the subharmonic generation from microbubbles. Subharmonic scattering from a microbubble population was measured for various excitation signals and window functions. At a peak negative pressure of 600 kPa, the generated subharmonic energy by ultrasound contrast agents was 15.4 dB more for NLFM chirp excitation with 40% fractional bandwidth when compared with tone-burst excitation. For this reason, the NLFM chirp with a customized window was used as an excitation signal to perform subharmonic imaging in an ultrasound flow phantom. Results showed that the NLFM waveform with a customized window improved the subharmonic contrast by 4.35 ± 0.42 dB on average over a Hann-windowed LFM excitation.
On Weaving Aspects

Acidic polysaccharides of the type obtainable by microbial fermentation of an organic material such as a carbohydrate (e.g., xanthan gum) form novel amine salts with aliphatic or alicyclic polyamines having at least three amino nitrogen atoms and a molecular weight of at least 150. The amine salts may be used for isolation of the microbial polysaccharide from its fermentation broth by a process comprising the steps of acidifying, forming the amine salt by adding the amine or a salt thereof, and reducing the inorganic salt concentration as necessary (e.g., by dilution).
An Approximate Likelihood Perspective on ABC Methods

We are living in the big data era, as current technologies and networks allow for the easy and routine collection of data sets in different disciplines. Bayesian Statistics offers a flexible modeling approach which is attractive for describing the complexity of these datasets. These models often exhibit a likelihood function which is intractable due to the large sample size, high number of parameters, or functional complexity. Approximate Bayesian Computational (ABC) methods provides likelihood-free methods for performing statistical inferences with Bayesian models defined by intractable likelihood functions. The vastity of the literature on ABC methods created a need to review and relate all ABC approaches so that scientists can more readily understand and apply them for their own work. This article provides a unifying review, general representation, and classification of all ABC methods from the view of approximate likelihood theory. This clarifies how ABC methods can be characterized, related, combined, improved, and applied for future research. Possible future research in ABC is then suggested.
Efficacy and prognosis of surgery combined with 125I seed implantation in treatment of recurrent glioma

This study evaluated the efficacy of surgery combined with 125I seed implantation in the treatment of recurrent glioma, and analyzed prognosis-influencing factors. A total of 66 patients with recurrent gliomas in Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang were enrolled in the study from April, 2011 to March, 2014. Patients were randomly divided into a control and an observation group, with 33 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with surgery alone, and those in the observation group received surgery combined with 125I seed implantation. Short-term curative effects in the two groups were compared using evaluation criteria for solid tumors. The comparison included the postoperative adverse reactions, the life quality (using the Karnofsky Performance Status or KPS), the survival time and prognostic factors (using the Kaplan-Meier survival, log-rank test and Cox regression analyses). Our results showed the objective response and disease control rates in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). While no significant differences in postoperative adverse reactions were found between the two groups (P>0.05). The KPS score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group at different time points after surgery (P<0.05). The survival rate and overall survival time of those in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the patients in the control group (P<0.05). The univariate analysis showed that preoperative KPS score, tumor pathological grade and degree of tumor resection were adverse factors influencing the prognosis of the patients (P<0.05). Also, multivariate Cox regression showed that preoperative KPS score, tumor pathological grade, and degree of tumor resection were independent risk factors of prognosis. Based on our findings, surgery combined with 125I seed implantation can improve the survival rate of patients with recurrent glioma and prolong their survival time. Tumor pathological grade, degree of tumor resection and KPS score are the most important factors influencing the prognosis.
Transformation Optics Inspired Multibeam Lens Antennas for Broadband Directive Radiation

Recent advancements in transformation optics (TO) and metamaterials have inspired tremendous interest in the electromagnetic community, creating a variety of novel antennas with enhanced performance, such as broad bandwidth, large gain, and high polarization efficiency. Although there could be infinitely many transformations for designing a given device, most of them result in rather complicated material compositions. This paper compares two recently introduced TO techniques, both of which lead to much simpler material requirements. In particular, a linear geometrical transformation or a quasi-conformal mapping was employed to design multi-beam collimating lenses, which possess either homogeneous or isotropic constituent materials. A systematic comparison is made for the first time between these two TO design approaches for a specific example of a quad-beam focusing lens, where the advantages and disadvantages of each method are clearly identified. Full-wave numerical simulations were performed to demonstrate the well-collimated beams produced by the TO lenses designed by either transformation. The characteristics of the two lens antennas, such as radiation pattern and bandwidth, were contrasted, providing valuable guidance on design tradeoffs for a specific application.
Predicting and Treating Coagulopathies After Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Children

Coagulopathies in children after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are complex.There are very limited data correlating coagulation tests with postoperative bleeding. We evaluated coagulation changes after CPB and after the administration of coagulation products to 75 children. Baseline coagulation tests were obtained and repeated after protamine administration, after transfusion of individual coagulation products, and on arrival in the intensive care unit (ICU). Regression analysis demonstrated no baseline coagulation test to predict postoperative chest tube drainage. Weight and duration of CPB were determined to be the only predictors of bleeding. Further analyses demonstrated that children <8 kg had more bleeding and required more coagulation products than children >8 kg. Postprotamine platelet count and fibrinogen level correlated independently with 24-h chest tube drainage in children <8 kg, whereas postprotamine platelet count and thrombelastographic values did so in patients weighing >8 kg. Platelet administration alone was found to restore effective hemostasis in many patients. With ongoing bleeding, cryoprecipitate improved coagulation parameters and limited blood loss. Fresh-frozen plasma administration after platelets worsened coagulation parameters and was associated with greater chest tube drainage and more coagulation product transfusions in the ICU. Objective data to guide post-CPB component therapy transfusion in children are suggested. Implications: Children <8 kg can be expected to have more severe coagulopathies, require more coagulation product transfusions, and bleed more after cardiopulmonary bypass. Correlations between coagulation tests and postoperative chest tube drainage are defined. Platelets and, if necessary, cryoprecipitate optimally restore hemostasis. Fresh-frozen plasma offers no benefits in correcting postcardiopulmonary bypass coagulopathies in children. (Anesth Analg 1997;85:1196-202)
Hyponatremia predicts right heart failure and poor survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

RATIONALE Hyponatremia is associated with decompensated heart failure and poor prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. OBJECTIVES We sought to determine if hyponatremia is associated with right heart failure and worse prognosis in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). METHODS We prospectively followed 40 patients with PAH and examined the relationship between serum sodium and right heart function as well as survival. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Subjects with hyponatremia (Na < or = 136 mEq/L) were more symptomatic (11/13 World Health Organization [WHO] class III/IV vs. 12/27 WHO class III/IV; P = 0.02), had more peripheral edema (69 vs. 26%; P = 0.009), and had higher hospitalization rates (85 vs. 41%; P = 0.009) than normonatremic subjects. Hyponatremic subjects had higher right atrial pressure (14 +/- 6 vs. 9 +/- 3 mm Hg; P < 0.001), lower stroke volume index (21 +/- 7 vs. 32 +/- 10 ml/m(2); P < 0.01), larger right ventricular:left ventricular area ratio (1.8 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.4; P < 0.001), and lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (1.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.6 cm; P = 0.001), despite similar mean pulmonary artery pressure (49 +/- 10 vs. 47 +/- 12 mm Hg; P = 0.60). The 1- and 2-year survival estimates were 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73-98%) and 85% (95% CI, 65-94%), and 38% (95% CI, 14-63%) and 15% (95% CI, 2-39%) for normonatremic and hyponatremic subjects, respectively (log-rank chi(2) = 25.19, P < 0.001). The unadjusted risk of death (hazard ratio) in hyponatremic compared with normonatremic subjects was 10.16 (95% CI, 3.42-30.10, P < 0.001). Hyponatremia predicted outcome after adjusting for WHO class, diuretic use, as well as right atrial pressure and cardiac index. CONCLUSIONS Hyponatremia is strongly associated with right heart failure and poor survival in PAH.
Increased 18F-FDG uptake is predictive of rupture in a novel rat abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture model.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) micro-positron emission tomography (micro-PET) can predict abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture. BACKGROUND An infrarenal AAA model is needed to study inflammatory mechanisms that drive rupture. F-FDG PET can detect vascular inflammation in animal models and patients. METHODS After exposing Sprague-Dawley rats to intra-aortic porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) (12 U/mL), AAA rupture was induced by daily, subcutaneous, β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN, 300 mg/kg, N = 24) administration. Negative control AAA animals (N = 15) underwent daily saline subcutaneous injection after PPE exposure. BAPN-exposed animals that did not rupture served as positive controls [nonruptured AAA (NRAAA) 14d, N = 9]. Rupture was witnessed using radiotelemetry. Maximum standard uptakes for F-FDG micro-PET studies were determined. Aortic wall PAI-1, uPA, and tPA concentrations were determined by western blot analyses. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and MIP-2 were determined by Bio-Plex bead array. Neutrophil and macrophage populations per high-power field were quantified. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities were determined by zymography. RESULTS When comparing ruptured AAA (RAAA) to NRAAA 14d animals, increased focal F-FDG uptakes were detected at subsequent sites of rupture (P = 0.03). PAI-1 expression was significantly less in RAAA tissue (P = 0.01), with comparable uPA and decreased tPA levels (P = 0.02). IL-1β (P = 0.04), IL-6 (P = 0.001), IL-10 (P = 0.04), and MIP-2 (P = 0.02) expression, neutrophil (P = 0.02) and macrophage presence (P = 0.002), and MMP9 (P < 0.0001) activity were increased in RAAA tissue. CONCLUSIONS With this AAA rupture model, increased prerupture F-FDG uptake on micro-PET imaging was associated with increased inflammation in the ruptured AAA wall. F-FDG PET imaging may be used to monitor inflammatory changes before AAA rupture.
Design and performance analysis of a noncoherent code tracking loop with variable loop bandwidth

In this paper, the performance of a noncoherent DLL code tracking loop with a variable loop bandwidth is analyzed in detail and some practical design issues for loop filter are discussed. First, an analytical closed-form expression on steady-state jitter variance is derived as a function of a pulse-shaping filter, timing offset, signal-to-interference ratio, and a loop bandwidth. A noncoherent code tracking loop with a variable loop bandwidth is then designed for application to WCDMA mobile stations and its performance is verified by computer simulation.
A low-area and high-throughput intra prediction architecture for a multi-standard HEVC and H.264/AVC video encoder

This paper describes a low-area and high-throughput hardware architecture for the intra prediction coding of today's most important video coding standards - the state of the art HEVC and its predecessor H.264/AVC. In order to reduce control complexity, memory accesses and total area, our design works with a subset of the prediction modes and possible block sizes. The multi-standard strategy is desirable because most devices produced prior the HEVC release may only have H.264/AVC accelerators (most of handheld devices, digital TVs, and set-top-boxes). The architecture was fully described in VHDL and synthesized targeting an Altera Stratix V FPGA device. The architecture is capable of processing 2560×1600 videos at 33 frames per second when operating in HEVC mode, and 3840×2160 videos at 45 frames per second in H.264/AVC mode. The cost and performance results achieved are very satisfactory when compared to related works in the literature.
Gene methylation and silencing of SOCS3 in mantle cell lymphoma

The significance of loss of SOCS3, a negative regulator of signalling pathways including those of STAT3 and NF‐κB, was examined in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The protein expression and gene methylation status of SOCS3 were detected using immunohistochemistry/Western blots and methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction, respectively. To evaluate its functional importance, SOCS3 was restored in two SOCS3‐negative MCL cell lines using a lentiviral vector. Loss of SOCS3 protein expression was found in 3/4 MCL cell lines and 18/33 (54·5%) tumours. SOCS3 was found consistently methylated in cell lines (3/4) and tumours (7/7) negative for SOCS3, and was unmethylated in all SOCS3‐positive cell line (1/1) and tumours (5/5) examined. Treatment of all three SOCS3‐negative cell lines with 2′‐deoxy‐5‐azacytidine restored SOCS3 expression. SOCS3 is biologically important in MCL, as lentiviral transfer of SOCS3 in SOCS3‐negative cell lines increased their apoptotic activity, downregulated nuclear factor (NF)‐κB‐p65, cyclin D1 (CCND1), BCL2 and BCL‐XL (BCL2L1), and substantially dampened interleukin 10‐induced STAT3 activation. In 19 patients aged ≤69 years at time of diagnosis, we found that those that carried SOCS3‐negative tumours showed a trend toward a worse outcome (P = 0·1, log‐rank).
Risk of Sharps Injuries to Home Care Nurses and Aides: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To evaluate all available literature and develop a pooled estimate of the risk of sharps injuries (SI) among home care (HC) nurses and aides. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted and relevant articles were reviewed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Primary outcome data from studies identified by the systematic review were pooled using a random effects model to calculate a summary measure of SI risk for nurses and for aides. Results: Five articles were included in the final analysis. Nurses had a 5.25% weighted average risk of experiencing at least one SI in the past year while working in HC (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.11% to 7.40%); aides pooled SI risk was 1.74% (95% CI: 0.72% to 2.77%). Conclusions: Combining findings of all available studies demonstrates that there is a serious risk of SI among both the HC nurses and aides.
Dictionary learning for image super-resolution

Recently, single image super-resolution reconstruction via sparse representation has attracted increasing interest. In this paper, we propose a new method for image super-resolution using a local sparse model on image patches. We introduce a new dictionary training formulation, which enforces that the sparse representation of a low-resolution image patch can well reconstruct its underlying high-resolution image patch, and we adopt an effective stochastic gradient algorithm to solve the corresponding optimization problem. Considering the scale of the recovered high-resolution image patch has been altered in sparse recovery, we introduce an efficient method to find its correct scale. Moreover, the high-resolution deficiency image is reconstructed by the proposed super-resolution method and compensated to better preserve the high-frequency details of images. Compared with the recently proposed joint dictionary learning method for image super-resolution, the experimental results of our method show visual, PSNR and SSIM improvements.
Transport and Metabolism of the Essential Vitamin Pantothenic Acid in Human Erythrocytes Infected with the Malaria ParasitePlasmodium falciparum *

The growth of the human malaria parasite,Plasmodium falciparum, within its host erythrocyte is reliant on the uptake of a number of essential nutrients from the extracellular medium. One of these is pantothenic acid, a water-soluble vitamin that is a precursor of coenzyme A. In this study we show that normal uninfected erythrocytes are impermeable to pantothenate but that the vitamin is taken up rapidly into malaria-infected cells via a transport pathway that has the characteristics (furosemide sensitivity, nonsaturability) of previously characterized, broad specificity permeation pathways induced by the intracellular parasite in the host cell membrane. The transport of pantothenate therefore constitutes a critical physiological role for these pathways. Inside the parasitized cell pantothenate undergoes phosphorylation, the first step in its conversion to coenzyme A. Parasites within saponin-permeabilized erythrocytes were shown to take up and phosphorylate pantothenate, consistent with the intracellular parasite having both a pantothenate transporter and a pantothenate kinase. Comparisons of the rate of phosphorylation of pantothenate by lysates prepared from uninfected and infected erythrocytes revealed that the pantothenate kinase activity of the P. falciparum trophozoite is some 10-fold higher than that of its host cell and that most, if not all, of the phosphorylation of pantothenate within the malaria-infected cell occurs within the intracellular parasite. These results contrast with those of previous studies in which it was proposed that the avian malaria parasitePlasmodium lophurae lacks pantothenate kinase (as well as the other enzymes for the synthesis of coenzyme A) and is reliant upon the uptake of preformed coenzyme A from the host cell cytosol.
Piecewise-linear constrained control for timed continuous Petri nets

Timed Continuous Petri Net (TCPN) systems are piecewise linear models with input constraints that can approximate the dynamical behavior of a class of timed discrete event systems. This paper concentrates in the development of a control structure for TCPN that transfers the system from the initial state to another desired one. The resulting control law consists in a Linear Programming Problem, which is solved on-line, and a set of gain matrices, one for each configuration. This approach allows the use of any classical pole assignment technique for the computation of the gain matrices. Furthermore, convergence to the desired marking and input boundedness are demonstrated.
Hepatitis B in liver transplant recipients

Key Concepts: 1 The use of low‐dose immunosuppressive therapy along with pre‐ and posttransplantation nucleos(t)ide therapy and posttransplantation hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) has yielded marked improvements in survival. 2 Lamivudine (Epivir‐HBV), adefovir (Hepsera), entecavir (Baraclude), tenofovir (Viread), emtricitabine (Emtriva), and the combination drugs tenofovir + emtricitabine (Truvada) and abacavir + lamivudine (Epzicom) are effective nucleos(t)ide antiviral agents that, in some cases, may help reverse liver disease sufficiently to avoid transplant. 3 In posttransplantation patients, virus suppression with some combination of HBIG and the nucleos(t)ide agents may prevent graft loss and death or the need for a second transplant. 4 In both the pre‐ and posttransplantation setting, the goal of hepatitis B virus management is complete virus suppression. 5 The use of low‐dose intramuscular HBIG is evolving, with studies showing that dosing and cost can be reduced by 50–300% with a customized approach. 6 Elimination of HBIG from the treatment paradigm is currently under evaluation and may be possible with the use of newer medications that have no or low resistance rates. 7 Although there is growing evidence that some types of combination therapy may decrease the chance that drug resistance will develop and increase the likelihood of long‐term success in preventing graft loss and death, additional research will be required to determine which combinations will work well in the long term, and which will not. Liver Transpl 12:S54–S64, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.