Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gait classification based on micro-Doppler features

This paper focuses on the classification of human gaits based on micro-Doppler signatures. The micro-Doppler signatures can represent detailed information about the human gaits, which helps in judging the threat of a personnel target. The proposed method consists of three major steps. Firstly, the micro-Doppler signatures are obtained by performing time-frequency analysis on the radar data. Then two micro-Doppler features are extracted from the time-frequency domain. Finally, the one-versus-one support vector machine (SVM) is used to realize multi-class classification. Experiments on real data show that, with the selected features, high classification accuracy of the human gaits of interest can be achieved.
Multiple courses of high-dose ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide with peripheral-blood progenitor cells and filgrastim for small-cell lung cancer: A feasibility study by the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

PURPOSE To determine the feasibility and safety of multiple sequential courses of high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral-blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) administered in a multicenter setting to patients with small-cell lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-nine patients (limited disease, n = 30; extensive disease, n = 39) treated at 15 European centers were scheduled to receive three courses of high-dose chemotherapy with ifosfamide 10 g/m(2), carboplatin 1200 mg/m(2), and etoposide 1200 mg/m(2) (ICE) divided over 4 days at 28-day intervals. PBPCs were harvested before treatment and mobilized with epirubicin 150 mg/m(2) administered via an intravenous bolus divided over 2 days and filgrastim 5 microg/kg/d administered subcutaneously. RESULTS The performed leukaphereses (one to five per patient) yielded a median of 16.6 x 10(6)/kg (range, 1.0 to 96.6 x 10(6)/kg) CD34(+) cells, which was sufficient for three reinfusions. Fifty patients (72%) completed the treatment according to schedule. Nine patients completed two courses, and six patients completed one course of treatment. The increase in dose-intensity was 290% that of a standard ICE regimen. The median duration of myelosuppression was similar between courses, namely 4 days (range, 1 to 12 days) for leukocytes less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L and 4 days (range, 0 to 22 days) for thrombocytes less than 20 x 10(9)/L. Febrile neutropenia developed in 66% of courses, severe diarrhea in 14%, mucositis in 10%, and nausea and vomiting in 21% of courses. There were six cases of toxic death (9%), most of which occurred in the first year of accrual and thus were attributable to the learning curve. The antitumor effect of the regimen was reflected in an 86% remission rate (95% confidence interval [CI], 74% to 93%), with 51% of patients achieving a complete response (95% CI, 38% to 63%). Median overall survival was 18 months for patients with limited disease and 11 months for patients with extensive disease. CONCLUSION This multiple sequential high-dose ICE regimen could be safely administered on a multicenter basis to patients with small-cell lung cancer. The dose-intensity could be increased to 290% that of standard ICE regimen. The benefit of this approach is currently being tested in a randomized trial that aims to double the long-term rate of survival for patients with small-cell lung cancer.
Cost–Benefit Analysis: Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring in Spinal Surgeries

Purpose: To construct a cost–benefit model for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) in spinal surgeries. Methods: Decision model was based on sensitivity, specificity, IOM cost, prevention rate given an IOM alert, and spinal procedure neurologic complication rates in pooled estimates from the published literature with outcome of lifetime costs after neuromonitored versus unmonitored spinal surgeries. Lifetime cost of neurologic injury was the sum of direct health care costs and lost wages and benefits. Results from Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 replications were analyzed for cost outcomes and relationship of input variables to outcomes. Results: IOM saved $23,189 (P < 0.001) for the reference case of 50-year-olds with neurologic complication rate of 5%, 2009 Medicare reimbursement of IOM at $1,535 per operation, 52.4% prevention rate given an IOM alert at 94.3% sensitivity and 95.6% specificity, assuming incomplete (nonplegic) motor injury. The baseline risk of surgery, lifetime costs after neurologic deficit, and ability to prevent neurologic deficits after an IOM alert were most correlated with cost outcomes. In linear prediction models, IOM remained cost-saving when neurologic complication rate from surgery exceeded 0.3% (P < 0.001) and prevention rate after IOM alert was greater than 14.2%(P = 0.02). Conclusions: Intraoperative monitoring is cost-saving for spinal surgeries in a theoretical model based on the current published literature.
Three-level Generalized Discontinuous Pulse-width Modulation Strategy Considering Neutral Point Potential Balance

Traditional discontinuous pulse width modulation (DPWM) cannot be efficiently used in some inverters like active power filters (APFs) whose currents are difficult to predict. Therefore, this paper proposes a new generalized discontinuous pulse width modulation (GDPWM) strategy considering neutral point potential balance for neutral-point clamped (NPC) three-level inverters. The core of the proposed strategy is the optimal efficiency modulation strategy. The optimal efficiency modulation strategy determines the clamp mode in real time based on the current flowing through the converter. This strategy minimizes switching losses by clamping the converter to the phase with the largest absolute value of current. At the same time, according to the neutral point potential shift, the neutral point balance strategy and the optimal efficiency modulation strategy are switched to achieve the balance between the switching loss and the neutral point potential. The proposed strategy can be efficiently applied in NPC three-level APFs to minimize the switching losses without the need of predicting the currents and to make neutral point potential balance. In this paper, the proposed modulation strategy is theoretically analyzed, and simulation and experimental verification are carried out.
Academic research in iSchools: state and implications

As the information field rapidly evolves, so do the academic research programs in Information Schools (iSchools). In this paper, we examine the current academic research state of iSchools through quantitative study of publically-available online data related to the educational background, research interests, publications, research funding, and collaborations. Some important findings in our study include that iSchools are appropriate institutions for integrating researchers from diverse disciplines; the intersection of information, technology, and users has been established as the core research focus of iSchools; iSchools are developing ways to understand, integrate, and model the interaction among related disciplines; iSchools are attracting external support from a diverse group of funding agencies; and iSchools have forged strong connections and collaborations in order to build one discipline.
A bacteriophage T4 gene which functions to inhibit Escherichia coli Lon protease

A bacteriophage T4 gene which functions to inhibit Escherichia coli Lon protease has been identified. This pin (proteolysis inhibition) gene was selected for its ability to support plaque formation by a lambda Ots vector at 40 degrees C. Southern blot experiments indicated that this T4 gene is included within the 4.9-kilobase XbaI fragment which contains gene 49. Subcloning experiments showed that T4 gene 49.1 (designated pinA) is responsible for the ability of the Ots vector to form plaques at 40 degrees C. Deficiencies in Lon protease activity are the only changes known in E. coli that permit lambda Ots phage to form plaques efficiently at 40 degrees C. lon+ lysogens of the lambda Ots vector containing pinA permitted a lambda Ots phage to form plaques efficiently at 40 degrees C. Furthermore, these lysogens, upon comparison with similar lysogens lacking any T4 DNA, showed reduced levels of degradation of puromycyl polypeptides and of canavanyl proteins. The lon+ lysogens that contained pinA exhibited other phenotypic characteristics common to lon strains, such as filamentation and production of mucoid colonies. Levels of degradation of canavanyl proteins were essentially the same, however, in null lon lysogens which either contained or lacked pinA. We infer from these data that the T4 pinA gene functions to block Lon protease activity; pinA does not, however, appear to block the activity of proteases other than Lon that are involved in the degradation of abnormal proteins.
Dietary A1 β-casein affects gastrointestinal transit time, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 activity, and inflammatory status relative to A2 β-casein in Wistar rats

Abstract We compared the gastrointestinal effects of milk-based diets in which the β-casein component was either the A1 or A2 type in male Wistar rats fed the experimental diets for 36 or 84 h. Gastrointestinal transit time was significantly greater in the A1 group, as measured by titanium dioxide recovery in the last 24 h of feeding. Co-administration of naloxone decreased gastrointestinal transit time in the A1 diet group but not in the A2 diet group. Colonic myeloperoxidase and jejunal dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 activities were greater in the A1 group than in the A2 group. Naloxone attenuated the increase in myeloperoxidase activity but not that in DPP-4 activity in the A1 group. Naloxone did not affect myeloperoxidase activity or DPP-4 activity in the A2 group. These results confirm that A1 β-casein consumption has direct effects on gastrointestinal function via opioid-dependent (gastrointestinal transit and myeloperoxidase activity) and opioid-independent (DPP-4 activity) pathways.
[Laparoscopic liver surgery for metastases of colorectal cancer: analysis of a monocentric experience].

BACKGROUND Advances in laparoscopic techniques, refinements of instruments and growth of practical experience in liver surgery during the last decade have prompted some surgeons to develop the laparoscopic approach for hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer (MCRC). AIMS Primary end points of this clinical study were safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic hepatectomy for MCRC, including early postoperative results and long-term outcomes (overall survival and disease-free survival). DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data (clinicopathologic, operative, perioperative ad late results) collected in a prospective database. PATIENTS Between January 1997 and December 2004, 37 non-consecutive (selected) patients underwent curative laparoscopic hepatic resection (n = 42) for MCRC at Montsouris Institut of Paris. Resection was considered when all liver metastases can be totally removed with clear margins, and in absence of nonresectable extrahepatic diseases. Among them were 24 males and 13 females with average ages of 63.4 years (range, 42-78). RESULTS Metastases were metachronous in 18, multiple in 21, bilateral in 12, and <5 cm in diameter in 30. There were 21 major hepatectomies (n = 3 Couinaud's segments or more), 4 anatomical minor resections, and 12 wedge resections. Mean operative time was 324 +/- 105 mins. Conversion to laparotomy was necessary in 6 patients (16%), due to massive intractable bleeding in 3 patients, multiples adhesions in 1 patient, technical reasons (location of the lesion) in 1 patient, and for presence of localized carcinosis in 1 patient. Portal triad clamping was performed in 6 patients. Mean operative blood loss was 797 +/- 645 ml, and transfusions were required in 4 patients (11%). Clear resection margins (> 5 mm) were observed in 94%. Postoperative mortality was nil. The overall morbidity rate was 35%, with 2 early reoperations due to hemorrhage and postoperative ileus. Overall and disease free survival at 36 months were 87% and 55%, respectively. Five patients who had a recurrence of metastatic liver disease were referred to a second laparoscopic resection. CONCLUSION This clinical study suggests that laparoscopic liver surgery for metastatic colorectal cancer can be accomplished safely, in selected patients and by experienced surgeons, with good early results and without detrimental consequences on survival.
Some experiments in discrete utterance recognition

This paper is concerned with the following three aspects of the discrete utterance recognition problem: utterance normalization, dynamic programming algorithm implementation, and boundary error effects. Performance sensitivity as a function of each aspect of the problem is comparatively studied utilizing several available alternatives and significant conclusions are drawn regarding each of them. The concept of proportional normalizing is introduced as an effective method of handling the utterance normalization problem. A database consisting of the utterances of the alpha-digit vocabulary produced by several male and female speakers is used to conduct all the experiments.
Differentiating Malingering from Genuine Cognitive Dysfunction Using the Trail Making Test-Ratio and Stroop Interference Scores

Patterns of test performance that are inconsistent with knowledge of brain dysfunction can potentially differentiate between malingering and true impairment among litigants with low scores on neuropsychological tests. In this study possible malingerers (n = 41), impaired (30) or cognitively normal (17) litigants were compared on the Trail Making Test B:A ratio score and Stroop Interference. The majority of possible malingerers had a low TMT-ratio (<2.5) and an inverted Stroop effect, whereas the majority of impaired subjects had a high TMT-ratio and specific Stroop interference. Sensitivity to malingering was 61 and 68 percent, and specificity was 57 and 59 percent. This is too low for valid classification of individuals. However, the combination of both measures increases predictability. The clinician is advised to look for other evidence of malingering in cases of simultaneous low TMT-ratio and inverted Stroop. Patients with high TMT-ratio and Stroop interference, should be thoroughly examined for indications of brain disease.
Monitoring Indirect Contagion

Abstract We propose two indicators for quantifying the potential exposure of financial institutions to indirect contagion arising from deleveraging of assets in stress scenarios. The first indicator, the Endogenous Risk Index (ERI) captures spillovers across portfolios arising from deleveraging in stress scenarios. The second indicator, the Indirect Contagion Index (ICI) measures the systemic importance of a bank by quantifying the loss its distressed liquidation would inflict on other institutions. Both are computable from portfolio holdings of financial institutions and measures of market depth for the assets held in the portfolio. We discuss the micro-foundation of these indicators and apply them to the analysis of the vulnerability of the European banking system to indirect contagion. Using data on portfolio holdings of European banks, we show that our indicators correlate to the magnitude of fire-sales losses in simulated stress scenarios, thus providing a simple to compute proxy for the outcome of stress tests. We also show that the information provided by our indicators on the systemic importance of banks is different from indicators based on size, thereby providing a measure of interconnectedness complementary to those currently used by supervisors.
An Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm for the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem

The capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP) is one of the combinatorial optimization problems with the most widespread applications in practice. Because of the intrinsic computational complexity, the approximate algorithms are commonly employed to solve the CVRP rather than the exact algorithms. In this research, the artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC), derived from the swarm intelligence, is adapted to handle the CVRP. The application of the ABC algorithm in solving the CVRP exploited the inherent features of the swarm intelligence. More importantly, a routing directed ABC algorithm (RABC) is further proposed consisting of numerous improvements in order to enhance the capability of the diversified search and intensified search of the conventional ABC algorithm, which incorporates the useful information from the routing as well. The RABC algorithm is examined with different benchmark test instances. The experimental results show that the RABC algorithm excels the conventional ABC algorithm significantly. Moreover, the application of the RABC algorithm in solving the CVRP can provide practical insights for the implementation of swarm intelligence in solving other combinatorial optimization problems.
A Novel Planar Reconfigurable Monopulse Antenna for Indoor Smart Wireless Access Points’ Application

In this paper, a novel planar reconfigurable monopulse antenna with compact size is proposed and studied for indoor smart wireless access points (WAPs) application. Circular polarization is achieved by using a dual-mode substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) slot antenna. Two diagonal ports are individually used to excite the SIW element antenna to achieve a 180° phase-shifting excitation. A reconfigurable 2×2 prototype is developed with the proposed element antenna, and it uses eight PIN diodes as four switches to implement the reconfiguration. Sum beams, difference beams in azimuth and elevation planes, and bidifference beams are generated. Measurement results verify the designed prototype, showing that the antenna has a null depth of over 30 dB and a peak sum beam gain of 12.29 dBi. The measured 10-dB return loss bandwidths are 5.72-5.96, 5.75-5.95, 5.73-5.97, and 5.76-5.94 GHz for the sum, elevation difference, azimuth difference and bidifference beams, respectively. And their measured 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths are 5.84-5.88, 5.86-5.90, 5.85-5.9, 5.85-5.9, and 5.84-5.91 GHz. The capability of reconfigurable monopulse beams ensures that the proposed antenna is a good candidate for smart WAP applications.
&bgr;2-Adrenergic Receptor Gene Delivery to the Endothelium Corrects Impaired Adrenergic Vasorelaxation in Hypertension

Background—Impaired &bgr;-adrenergic receptor (AR)–mediated vasorelaxation in hypertension plays a role in increased peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure. Because the &bgr;2AR is the most abundant vascular AR subtype, we sought to enhance &bgr;AR vasorelaxation by overexpressing &bgr;2ARs via adenoviral-mediated gene transfer (AD&bgr;2AR) to the vascular endothelium of the carotid artery. Methods and Results—In normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats, we exposed the right common carotid artery to AD&bgr;2AR in situ for 15 minutes by injection into the lumen while the blood flow was interrupted. Control carotids received an empty vector (ADempty). Three days later, transgene expression and selective endothelial localization were confirmed in infected vessels. Vasoregulation after &bgr;2AR overexpression (2-fold) was studied in isolated organ baths. AD&bgr;2AR carotid responses to &agr;1AR and &agr;2AR agonists were not affected, whereas responses to epinephrine were altered and &bgr;AR-mediated vasorelaxation was enhanced after &bgr;2AR overexpression. As expected, &bgr;AR-mediated vasodilatation in control carotids of SHR rats was significantly less than in similar control WKY carotid arteries. AD&bgr;2AR treatment enhanced &bgr;AR vasorelaxation in SHR to levels similar to those seen in AD&bgr;2AR WKY carotids. Conclusions—Our results demonstrate a critical role for the endothelium in &bgr;AR-mediated vasorelaxation and suggest that impaired &bgr;AR signaling may account for dysfunctional &bgr;AR vasorelaxation in hypertension rather than impaired endothelium-dependent nitric oxide metabolism.
The sensitivity and specificity of pain response to activity and position in categorizing patients with low back pain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purposes of this study were to develop screening tests for four low back pain (LBP) diagnoses based on patient reports concerning the severity of pain in various positions and during activities and then to examine the accuracy of these tests in assigning subjects to one of four LBP diagnostic categories. The accuracy of screening tests is determined by calculating sensitivity and specificity and is well established in epidemiology. SUBJECTS One hundred six consecutive patients who either were being treated for LBP for the first time or had not received medical care for LBP at the participating clinics within the 12 months prior to the study were recruited. METHODS Subjects completed a Pain Response to Activity and Position Questionnaire at the time of their initial clinic visit. The diagnosis of LBP was obtained from the medical record after at least 1 month of follow-up and the completion of diagnostic testing. Data analysis yielded symptom clusters that were used to produce screening tests for each of the four categories of LBP. RESULTS Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive power of the screening tests were (1) benign back disease: . 57,. 71,. 40, and . 82, (2) disk disease: . 65,. 49,. 35, and . 77, (3) spinal stenosis: . 52, . 74, . 36, and . 85, and (4) disk disease with spinal stenosis: . 81, . 54, . 24, and . 94. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION Although more than half of the subjects with a particular LBP diagnosis tested positive for that diagnosis, approximately two thirds of the subjects who tested positive for each of the diagnoses actually had another diagnosis. Negative tests may be more useful in that between 77% and 94% of the subjects without the diagnosis tested negative. Although patient reports of LBP response to position and activity are not sufficient for diagnosis, they may be useful in ruling out a particular diagnosis.
Nuclear Matrix Proteins and Osteoblast Gene Expression

The molecular mechanisms that couple osteoblast structure and gene expression are emerging from recent studies on the bone extracellular matrix, integrins, the cytoskeleton, and the nucleoskeleton (nuclear matrix). These proteins form a dynamic structural network, the tissue matrix, that physically links the genes with the substructure of the cell and its substrate. The molecular analog of cell structure is the geometry of the promoter. The degree of supercoiling and bending of promoter DNA can regulate transcriptional activity. Nuclear matrix proteins may render a change in cytoskeletal organization into a bend or twist in the promoter of target genes. We review the role of nuclear matrix proteins in the regulation of gene expression with special emphasis on osseous tissue. Nuclear matrix proteins bind to the osteocalcin and type I collagen promoters in osteoblasts. One such protein is Cbfa1, a recently described transcriptional activator of osteoblast differentiation. Although their mechanisms of action are unknown, some nuclear matrix proteins may act as “architectural” transcription factors, regulating gene expression by bending the promoter and altering the interactions between other trans‐acting proteins. The osteoblast nuclear matrix is comprised of cell‐ and phenotype‐specific proteins including proteins common to all cells. Nuclear matrix proteins specific to the osteoblast developmental stage and proteins that distinguish osteosarcoma from the osteoblast have been identified. Recent studies indicating that nuclear matrix proteins mediate bone cell response to parathyroid hormone and vitamin D are discussed.