Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative estimation of settlement density and limits based on textural measurements

This paper explores a new method for quantitative estimation of building density and settlement edges based on textural measurements. The evaluation employs an ordered multi-scale, linear regression scheme in which scale corresponds to spatial resolution and is represented by a kernel. The kernel size in the experiment described, ranges from 30 to 1000 meters for a test area of approximately 10.6×26.6 km over the city of Sana'a, Yemen. The input data is a very high resolution (VHR) satellite image, courtesy of QuickBird, and the reference data is the cadastral map of the city at scale 1∶10.000. Computing the goodness of fit measure R2 between the image-derived measurements and the reference data shows an overall performance for the settlement density of 80% at scale s = 200m and 90% at s = 1km.
Combining Resolution Decision Procedures

We present resolution-based decision procedures for the guarded, two-variable and monadic fragments without equality in a uniform way and show how they can be combined. In this way, new decidable fragments are obtained. We make use of a novel technique for describing resolution decision procedures by means of clause schemes. The scheme notation provides a convenient way of specifying decision procedures, proving their correctness and analyzing complexity of associated decision problems. We also show that many decidability results obtained in the paper cannot be extended to the case with equality.
CHANGES IN EXTRACELLULAR CONCENTRATIONS OF SOME CYTOKINES, CHEMOKINES, AND NEUROTROPHIC FACTORS AFTER INSERTION OF INTRACEREBRAL MICRODIALYSIS CATHETERS IN NEUROSURGICAL PATIENTS

OBJECTIVEThe extracellular levels of eight different inflammatory agents were analyzed during the initial 36 hours after insertion of microdialysis catheters in patients. METHODSCerebral extracellular fluid from 38 patients who were treated in a neurosurgical intensive care unit for severe brain injury was collected every 6 hours for 36 hours. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), fibroblast growth factor-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor was determined by a multiplex assay, and IL-10 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTSThis is the first report regarding the presence of IL-10, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, regulated on activation, T-cell expressed and secreted, vascular endothelial growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor-2 in the tissue level proper of the living human brain. The study also provides new information regarding the response of IL-1β and IL-6 after insertion of a microdialysis catheter. The study confirms that the intriguing patterns of interplay between different components of the inflammatory response studied in laboratory settings are present in the human brain. This was most clearly observed in the variations in response between the three different chemokines investigated, as well as in the rapid and transient response of fibroblast growth factor-2. CONCLUSIONThe data presented illustrate the opportunity to monitor biochemical events of possible importance in the human brain and indicate the potential of such monitoring in neurosurgical intensive care. The study also underlines that any analysis of events in the brain involving mechanical invasiveness needs to take into account biochemical changes that are directly related to the manipulation of brain tissue.
Gastric dysrhythmia in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND Dyspeptic symptoms are common in uremic patients receiving hemodialysis. Investigators have placed emphasis on the changes in histopathology and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. But not much data about the gastric myoelectric activity are available. The aim of this study was to assess gastric myoelectric activity in uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS Fifty-eight subjects were enrolled. They were assigned to: group I, uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis with dyspeptic complaints (n = 20); group II, non-uremic patients with matched dyspeptic complaints (n = 20); and group III, healthy volunteers without dyspeptic complaints (n = 18). Gastric myoelectric activity was measured with abdominal surface electrodes in each person. Patients in group I were measured twice, before (group Ia) and after (group Ib) hemodialysis. The data were compared between the groups. RESULTS In the prehemodialysis period there was a significantly lower percentage of normal slow-wave frequency when compared with group III (fasting, 66.54%+/-5.39% versus 84.58%+/-3.63%; P < 0.005; fed, 72.25%+/-4.16% versus 89.06%+/-2.57%; P < 0.01). In the post-hemodialysis period the difference was even more profound (fasting, 46.52%+/-4.26% versus 84.58%+/-3.63%; P < 0.001; fed, 51.49%+/-6.89% versus 89.06%+/-2.57%; P < 0.005). Yet, when compared with group II, a significant difference existed only in the post-hemodialysis period (fasting, 46.52%+/-4.26% versus 67.30%+/-3.46%; P<0.001; fed, 51.49%+/-6.89% versus 70.41%+/-4.39%; P < 0.01). Another finding is that hemodialysis decreased the gastric myoelectric activity after hemodialysis (fasting, 66.54%+/-5.39% versus 46.52%+/-4.26%; P < 0.001; fed, 72.25%+/-4.16% versus 51.49%+/-6.89%; P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis have impaired gastric myoelectric activity. Interestingly, hemodialysis seems to cause deterioration in gastric myoelectric activity.
Long-Term (10-Year) Mortality of Younger Previously Healthy Patients With Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock Is Worse Than That of Patients With Nonseptic Critical Illness and of the General Population

Objectives:Long-term (1- to 10-year) outcomes after severe sepsis in previously healthy persons are unknown. We aimed to determine the 1- to 10-year mortality rates of previously healthy patients with severe sepsis and compare these to mortality rates of patients with nonseptic critical illness and the general population. Design:A prospective cohort study of 2,289 patients from one mixed medical-surgical ICU and one cardiovascular surgery ICU. Age- and gender-comparable general British Columbia population was used as comparison. Patients were followed from the date of admission to the ICU to January 31, 2013. Provincial vital statistics were used to determine the patients’ date of death. For the general population comparison, expected survival was obtained from life tables of the population of British Columbia, Canada. Setting:A quaternary-level provincial referral hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Patients:Two thousand two hundred eighty-nine patients from one mixed medical-surgical ICU and one cardiovascular surgery ICU. Age- and gender-comparable general British Columbia population was used for comparison. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Patients with severe sepsis without comorbidities had higher mortality from 1 to 10 years than general British Columbia population (p < 0.01). Younger patients with severe sepsis (< 60 yr) had the worst 1- to 5-year and 5- to 10-year mortality (hazard ratio [95% CI], 17.8 [13.4–24.8] and 6.0 [4–9]) compared with the general population. Patients with severe sepsis had significantly poorer 1- to 10-year mortality rates (30.5%) compared with patients with nonseptic critical illness (22.1%) and patients who have undergone cardiovascular surgery (15.9%). Patients with sepsis had higher mortality rates from 1–5 years and 5–10 years than the general British Columbia population (hazard ratio [95% CI], 4.5 [2.2–9.1] and 2.2 [0.9–14.7]). Conclusions:Previously healthy patients suffering an episode of severe sepsis have increased long-term mortality compared with patients with nonseptic critical illness and a general population.
Frequency diverse array OFDM transmitter for secure wireless communication

In this reported work, the frequency diverse array concept is employed to construct an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) transmitter that has the capability of securing wireless communication in free space directly in the physical-layer without the need for mathematical encryption. The characteristics of the proposed scheme in terms of its secrecy performance are validated via bit error rate simulation under both high and low signal to noise ratio scenarios using the IEEE 802.11 OFDM physical-layer specification.
Antiinflammatory effects in THP‐1 cells treated with verbascoside

Verbascum thapsus commonly known as ‘mullein’ is part of a large family of Scrophulariaceae consisting of more than 360 species. From antiquity Verbascum thapsus has been used as a medicinal herb, it contains diverse polysaccharides, iroid glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, volatile oils and phenylentanoids. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) represents one of the three isoforms that produce nitric oxide using L‐arginine as a substrate in response to an increase in superoxide anion activated by NF‐kB. It is implicated in different pathophysiological events and its expression increases greatly during an inflammatory process, due to oxidative stress and the activation of the enzymes of the antioxidant network such as SOD, CAT and GPx.
Mitochondria-targeted Ogg1 and Aconitase-2 Prevent Oxidant-induced Mitochondrial DNA Damage in Alveolar Epithelial Cells*

Background: Mitochondrial Ogg1 prevents oxidant (H2O2 and asbestos)-induced Aco-2 degradation and apoptosis. Results: Oxidant stress caused preferential AEC mtDNA > nuclear DNA damage, mt-p53 translocation, and apoptosis; effects were blocked by mt-hOgg1 or Aco-2. Conclusion: mt-hOgg1 and Aco-2 preserve AEC mtDNA, preventing oxidant-induced p53 activation and apoptosis. Significance: mt-hOgg1/Aco-2 effects on mtDNA may be an innovative target for preventing degenerative diseases. Mitochondria-targeted human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (mt-hOgg1) and aconitase-2 (Aco-2) each reduce oxidant-induced alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) apoptosis, but it is unclear whether protection occurs by preventing AEC mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Using quantitative PCR-based measurements of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA damage, mtDNA damage was preferentially noted in AEC after exposure to oxidative stress (e.g. amosite asbestos (5–25 μg/cm2) or H2O2 (100–250 μm)) for 24 h. Overexpression of wild-type mt-hOgg1 or mt-long α/β 317–323 hOgg1 mutant incapable of DNA repair (mt-hOgg1-Mut) each blocked A549 cell oxidant-induced mtDNA damage, mitochondrial p53 translocation, and intrinsic apoptosis as assessed by DNA fragmentation and cleaved caspase-9. In contrast, compared with controls, knockdown of Ogg1 (using Ogg1 shRNA in A549 cells or primary alveolar type 2 cells from ogg1−/− mice) augmented mtDNA lesions and intrinsic apoptosis at base line, and these effects were increased further after exposure to oxidative stress. Notably, overexpression of Aco-2 reduced oxidant-induced mtDNA lesions, mitochondrial p53 translocation, and apoptosis, whereas siRNA for Aco-2 (siAco-2) enhanced mtDNA damage, mitochondrial p53 translocation, and apoptosis. Finally, siAco-2 attenuated the protective effects of mt-hOgg1-Mut but not wild-type mt-hOgg1 against oxidant-induced mtDNA damage and apoptosis. Collectively, these data demonstrate a novel role for mt-hOgg1 and Aco-2 in preserving AEC mtDNA integrity, thereby preventing oxidant-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, p53 mitochondrial translocation, and intrinsic apoptosis. Furthermore, mt-hOgg1 chaperoning of Aco-2 in preventing oxidant-mediated mtDNA damage and apoptosis may afford an innovative target for the molecular events underlying oxidant-induced toxicity.
The measurement of the performance of the display system of radioisotope imaging device: the multi-element band display.

An assessment has been made of the performance of the type of display system in which each display signal intensity, i.e. grey shade or colour, represents a range of count densities or counting rates. In the particular commercially available system used in this investigation eight different grey shades are used to display the image, a range of count densities beingallocated to each grey shade. It is shown experimentally that changes in the distribution of radioisotope can fail to be detected solely due to the manner in which the display is used, viz. The way in which the count density is allocated to the available grey shades. Also, it is shown experimentally that the best display performance can be achieved by using one in which the range of count densities represented by each grey shade is less than three standard deviations of the mean background [corrected] count density.
Repetition Improves Older and Younger Adult Memory for Automated Appointment Messages

Automated telephone messaging systems have dramatically expanded communication about health service appointments, but few studies have directly investigated these messages. The present study investigated whether message repetition (1, 2, or 3 presentations) and listener age (mean age = 71 or 19 years) improved memory for automated appointment messages. Repetition improved older and younger adult memory for appointment information. Moreover, 2 presentations reduced age differences in accuracy of answering questions about the messages. This was not the case for free recall, suggesting that older adults differentially benefited from repetition only when provided with additional retrieval support. These findings show that older as well as younger adults benefit from at least 1 repetition of appointment messages. Actual or potential applications of this research include the use of repetition to improve comprehension of automated telephone messages.
Influence of hospital volume on outcomes of percutaneous atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale closure: A 10‐years us perspective

Background: Contemporary data regarding percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect/patent foramen ovale (ASD/PFO) are lacking. We evaluated the current trends in utilization of ASD/PFO closure in adults and investigated the effect of annual hospital volume on in‐hospital outcomes. Methods: We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between the years 2001 and 2010 using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐9‐CM) procedure code for percutaneous closure of ASD/PFO with device. Hierarchical mixed effects models were generated to identify the independent multivariate predictors of outcomes. Results: A total of 7,107 percutaneous ASD/PFO closure procedures (weighted n = 34,992) were available for analysis. A 4.7‐fold increase in the utilization of this procedure from 3/million in 2001 to 14/million adults in 2010 in US (P < 0.001) was noted. Overall, percutaneous ASD/PFO closure was associated with 0.5% mortality and 12% in‐hospital complications. The utilization of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) increased 15 fold (P < 0.001) during the study period. The procedures performed at the high volume hospitals [2nd (14–37 procedures/year) and 3rd (>38 procedures/year) tertile] were associated with significant reduction in complications, length of stay and cost of hospitalization when compared to those performed at lowest volume centers (<13 procedures/year). Majority (70.5%) of the studied hospitals were found to be performing <10 procedures/year hence deviating from the ACC/AHA/SCAI clinical competency guidelines. Conclusions: Low hospital volume is associated with an increased composite (mortality and procedural complications) adverse outcome following ASD/PFO closure. In the interest of patient safety, implementation of the current guidelines for minimum required annual hospital volume to improve clinical outcomes is warranted. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multivariate method for the monitoring of etch chamber insitu cleaning

In plasma etching, the etch byproduct deposition on the chamber wall plays an influential role in controlling the density of reactive species. Both recombination and release of reactive species occur depending on the wall conditions such as: temperature, thickness, and composition of the deposited film. The stability of the wall conditions affects the etch output such as critical dimension and selectivity to the exposed films. A well known practice to maintain the process chamber stability and prevent process drift is to season the plasma chamber with conditions similar to the ones used for etching product wafers. Periodical insitu cleaning to remove byproduct films has also been used. In order to control such processes, a monitoring system is needed. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) has been extensively used in plasma etching and specific set of wavelengths monitoring has been established for several etch applications. In the case of monitoring the insitu cleaning, literature is very limited due the uniqueness of each case. The byproduct accumulation on the chamber wall depends on the etch product mix. In this paper we developed a multivariate method that combines machine learning algorithm (MLA) and principal component analysis (PCA). MLA is used to reduce the input variables to the few ones that are contributing to the differentiation between clean and chamber with polymer buildup while PCA has been used to build a control chart to monitor the state of the etch chamber.
Contribution à l'amélioration de la qualité des états de surfaces des prothèses orthopédiques

Une prothese de genou est generalement, composee de deux parties fixees respectivement sur le femur et sur le tibia et d’une troisieme, dite intercalaire. Durant le processus de fabrication de ces composants des deformations apparaissent au niveau des bruts de fonderie. Les fabricants de protheses choisissent d’assurer l’epaisseur nominale de la prothese en enlevant une epaisseur constante sur le brut de fonderie. Cette operation est generalement realisee manuellement. L’objectif de ces travaux de these est de contribuer a l’automatisation de ces operations en proposant une methode d’adaptation des trajectoires d’usinage aux variations geometriques de la surface cible. L’objectif de ce travail de recherche est d’adapter une trajectoire d’usinage sur un modele nominal pour enlever une epaisseur constante sur une surface brute de fonderie mesuree. La methode proposee commence par une etape d’alignement de la surface mesuree sur la trajectoire nominale en utilisant un algorithme d’ICP. Par la suite, la trajectoire nominale est deformee pour venir enlever l'epaisseur desiree sur la surface brute mesuree. Cette derniere est definie, dans ces travaux, suivant un modele STL. Naturellement, les discontinuites de ce type de modele induit une impression des motifs du STL sur la trajectoire adaptee et, donc, sur la piece usinee. Par la suite, afin de d’attenuer ce probleme et d’ameliorer la qualite de fabrication, il est propose de proceder a un lissage de la trajectoire.Afin de valider les developpements theoriques de ces travaux, des essais ont ete realises sur une machine cinq axes pour l’ebauche de composants femoraux d’une prothese uni-compartimentale de genou.
Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in domestic animals - recent achievements - a review

Pluripotent cells show the unlimited self-renewal capacity and the potential to differentiate into the cell lineages originating from three germ layers. To date real pluripotent stem cell lines, able to generate germ line chimeras, have been established in rodents. Large domestic animals, especially pig, due to their considerable anatomical and physiological similarities with humans are thought to be convenient model to test potential of pluripotent cells in cell replacement therapy before their clinical use. However, creating pluripotent cells in domestic animals until now has met the limitations due to lack of evidence for germ line contribution. Therefore they can not be considered real pluripotent cells but rather putative embryonic or embryonic-like stem cells. Recently, much attention has been drawn to the reprogramming technologies which enable redirection of differentiated somatic cells to the pluripotent status. The aim of this review is to present the recent achievements in generating of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in domestic animals.
Perfectionnement de métaheuristiques pour l'optimisation continue

Les metaheuristiques sont des algorithmes generiques, souvent inspires de la nature, concues pour resoudre des problemes d'optimisation complexes. Parmi les metaheuristiques les plus recentes, nous retenons celle basee sur la theorie de la biogeographie insulaire: Biogeography-based optimization (BBO). Dans cette these, nous considerons a la fois les problemes d'optimisation globale a variables continues avec et sans contraintes. De nouvelles versions hybrides de BBO sont proposees comme des solutions tres prometteuses pour resoudre les problemes consideres. Les methodes proposees visent a pallier les inconvenients de la convergence lente et du manque de diversite de l'algorithme BBO. Dans la premiere partie de cette these, nous presentons la methode que nous avons developpee, issue d'une hybridation de BBO avec l'evolution differentielle (DE) pour resoudre des problemes d'optimisation sans contraintes. Nous montrons que les resultats de l'algorithme propose sont plus precis, notamment pour des problemes multimodaux, qui sont parmi les problemes les plus difficiles pour de nombreux algorithmes d'optimisation. Pour resoudre des problemes d'optimisation sous contraintes, nous proposons trois nouvelles variantes de BBO. Des experimentations ont ete menees pour rendre compte de l'utilite des methodes proposees. Dans une deuxieme partie, nous nous interessons a l'etude des capacites des methodes proposees a resoudre des problemes d'optimisation, issus du monde reel. Nous nous proposons d'abord de resoudre le probleme d'allocation optimale de puissance pour la detection decentralisee d'un signal deterministe dans un reseau de capteurs sans fil, compte tenu des fortes contraintes en ressources energetiques et en bande passante des noeuds repartis. L'objectif est de minimiser la puissance totale allouee aux capteurs, tout en gardant la probabilite d'erreur de detection au dessous d'un seuil requis. Dans un deuxieme temps, nous nous focalisons sur la segmentation d'images en niveaux de gris par seuillage multi-niveaux. Les seuils sont determines de maniere a maximiser l'entropie floue. Ce probleme d'optimisation est resolu en appliquant une variante de BBO (DBBO-Fuzzy) que nous avons developpee. Nous montrons l'efficacite de la methode proposee aux travers de resultats experimentaux