Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fibrin deposition accelerates neurovascular damage and neuroinflammation in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease

Cerebrovascular dysfunction contributes to the pathology and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanisms are not completely understood. Using transgenic mouse models of AD (TgCRND8, PDAPP, and Tg2576), we evaluated blood–brain barrier damage and the role of fibrin and fibrinolysis in the progression of amyloid-β pathology. These mouse models showed age-dependent fibrin deposition coincident with areas of blood–brain barrier permeability as demonstrated by Evans blue extravasation. Three lines of evidence suggest that fibrin contributes to the pathology. First, AD mice with only one functional plasminogen gene, and therefore with reduced fibrinolysis, have increased neurovascular damage relative to AD mice. Conversely, AD mice with only one functional fibrinogen gene have decreased blood–brain barrier damage. Second, treatment of AD mice with the plasmin inhibitor tranexamic acid aggravated pathology, whereas removal of fibrinogen from the circulation of AD mice with ancrod treatment attenuated measures of neuroinflammation and vascular pathology. Third, pretreatment with ancrod reduced the increased pathology from plasmin inhibition. These results suggest that fibrin is a mediator of inflammation and may impede the reparative process for neurovascular damage in AD. Fibrin and the mechanisms involved in its accumulation and clearance may present novel therapeutic targets in slowing the progression of AD.
A machine learning framework of functional biomarker discovery for different microbial communities based on metagenomic data

As more than 90% of microbial community could not be isolated and cultivated, the metagenomic methods have been commonly used to analyze the microbial community as a whole. With the fast acumination of metagenomic samples, it is now intriguing to find simple biomarkers, especially functional biomarkers, which could distinguish different metagenomic samples. Next-generation sequencing techniques have enabled the detection of very accurate gene-presence (abundance) values in metagenomic studies. And the presence/absence or different abundance values for a set of genes could be used as appropriate biomarker for identification of the corresponding microbial community's phenotype. However, it is not yet clear how to select such a set of genes (features), and how accurate would it be for such a set of selected genes on prediction of microbial community's phenotype. In this study, we have evaluated different machine learning methods, including feature selection methods and classification methods, for selection of biomarkers that could distinguish different samples. Then we proposed a machine learning framework, which could discover biomarkers for different microbial communities from the mining of metagenomic data. Given a set of features (genes) and their presence values in multiple samples, we first selected discriminative features as candidate by feature selection, and then selected the feature sets with low error rate and classification accuracies as biomarkers by classification method. We have selected whole genome sequencing data from simulation, public domain and in-house metagenomic data generation facilities. We tested the framework on prediction and evaluation of the biomarkers. Results have shown that the framework could select functional biomarkers with very high accuracy. Therefore, this framework would be a suitable tool to discover functional biomarkers to distinguish different microbial communities.
Improving Phase-Locked Battery Charger Speed by Using Resistance-Compensated Technique

In this paper, a resistance-compensated phase-locked battery charger (RC-PLBC) mathematical model is built, and its s-domain transfer function is also derived. The stable, safe, and nonovercharging conditions of the RC-PLBC are discussed, and many criteria are proposed. After that, a complete design procedure is presented for designing a fast and safe RC-PLBC. A prototype of RC-PLBC is designed and realized to verify the charging performance. Comparing with a typical PLBC, the charge speed of the proposed RC-PLBC is improved by 18%, and the safety is held on.
A Machine Learning Approach to Modeling Scope Preferences

This article describes a corpus-based investigation of quantifier scope preferences. Following recent work on multimodular grammar frameworks in theoretical linguistics and a long history of combining multiple information sources in natural language processing, scope is treated as a distinct module of grammar from syntax. This module incorporates multiple sources of evidence regarding the most likely scope reading for a sentence and is entirely data-driven. The experiments discussed in this article evaluate the performance of our models in predicting the most likely scope reading for a particular sentence, using Penn Treebank data both with and without syntactic annotation. We wish to focus attention on the issue of determining scope preferences, which has largely been ignored in theoretical linguistics, and to explore different models of the interaction between syntax and quantifier scope.
Approximately universal optimality over several dynamic and non-dynamic cooperative diversity schemes for wireless networks

In this work we explicitly provide the first ever optimal, with respect to the Zheng-Tse diversity multiplexing gain (D-MG) tradeoff, cooperative diversity schemes for wireless relay networks. The schemes are based on variants of perfect space-time codes and are optimal for any number of users and all statistically symmetric (and in some cases, asymmetric) fading distributions. We deduce that, with respect to the D-MG tradeoff, channel knowledge at the intermediate relays and infinite delay are unnecessary. We also show that the non-dynamic selection decode and forward strategy, the non-dynamic amplify and forward, the non-dynamic receive and forward, the dynamic amplify and forward and the dynamic receive and forward cooperative diversity strategies allow for exactly the same D-MG optimal performance.
Overall survival with ponatinib versus allogeneic stem cell transplantation in Philadelphia chromosome‐positive leukemias with the T315I mutation

Effective treatment options for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or Philadelphia‐positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have the threonine to isoleucine mutation at codon 315 (T315I) are few. The objective of this study was to compare overall survival (OS) between patients with CML and those with Ph+ ALL who received treatment with ponatinib versus allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT).
Anti-kindling Induced by Two-Stage Coordinated Reset Stimulation with Weak Onset Intensity

Abnormal neuronal synchrony plays an important role in a number of brain diseases. To specifically counteract abnormal neuronal synchrony by desynchronization, Coordinated Reset (CR) stimulation, a spatiotemporally patterned stimulation technique, was designed with computational means. In neuronal networks with spike timing–dependent plasticity CR stimulation causes a decrease of synaptic weights and finally anti-kindling, i.e., unlearning of abnormally strong synaptic connectivity and abnormal neuronal synchrony. Long-lasting desynchronizing aftereffects of CR stimulation have been verified in pre-clinical and clinical proof of concept studies. In general, for different neuromodulation approaches, both invasive and non-invasive, it is desirable to enable effective stimulation at reduced stimulation intensities, thereby avoiding side effects. For the first time, we here present a two-stage CR stimulation protocol, where two qualitatively different types of CR stimulation are delivered one after another, and the first stage comes at a particularly weak stimulation intensity. Numerical simulations show that a two-stage CR stimulation can induce the same degree of anti-kindling as a single-stage CR stimulation with intermediate stimulation intensity. This stimulation approach might be clinically beneficial in patients suffering from brain diseases characterized by abnormal neuronal synchrony where a first treatment stage should be performed at particularly weak stimulation intensities in order to avoid side effects. This might, e.g., be relevant in the context of acoustic CR stimulation in tinnitus patients with hyperacusis or in the case of electrical deep brain CR stimulation with sub-optimally positioned leads or side effects caused by stimulation of the target itself. We discuss how to apply our method in first in man and proof of concept studies.
Chained Activation of the Motor System during Language Understanding

Two experiments were carried out to investigate whether and how one important characteristic of the motor system, that is its goal-directed organization in motor chains, is reflected in language processing. This possibility stems from the embodied theory of language, according to which the linguistic system re-uses the structures of the motor system. The participants were presented with nouns of common tools preceded by a pair of verbs expressing grasping or observational motor chains (i.e., grasp-to-move, grasp-to-use, look-at-to-grasp, and look-at-to-stare). They decided whether the tool mentioned in the sentence was the same as that displayed in a picture presented shortly after. A primacy of the grasp-to-use motor chain over the other motor chains in priming the participants' performance was observed in both the experiments. More interestingly, we found that the motor information evoked by the noun was modulated by the specific motor-chain expressed by the preceding verbs. Specifically, with the grasping chain aimed at using the tool, the functional motor information prevailed over the volumetric information, and vice versa with the grasping chain aimed at moving the tool (Experiment 2). Instead, the functional and volumetric information were balanced for those motor chains that comprise at least an observational act (Experiment 1). Overall our results are in keeping with the embodied theory of language and suggest that understanding sentences expressing an action directed toward a tool drives a chained activation of the motor system.
Legibility and Subjective Preference for Color Combinations in Text

This study examined legibility performance and subjective preference for text/background color combinations displayed on a video monitor. Luminance contrast was fixed at two preoptimized levels, either with text brighter than the background (10:1) or vice versa (1:6.5). In Experiment 1, 32 subjects rated about 800 color combinations. No evidence suggested differential effects of luminance polarity or hue, with the only exception that cool background colors (blue and bluish cyan) tended to be preferred for the light-on-dark polarity. Saturation had the most important influence on ratings. Any desaturated color combination appears to be satisfactory for text presentation. In Experiment 2 a reduced set of 18 color combinations was investigated with a new sample of 18 subjects. Reading and search times as well as multidimensional ratings were evaluated. There was no evidence for an influence of luminance polarity or chromaticity on performance. Subjective ratings corresponded well with the results of Experiment 1.
A Fast Method of Calculating High-Order Backward LP Coefficients for Wideband CELP Coders

This paper proposes a fast method of calculating high-order backward Linear Prediction (LP) coefficients for wideband Code Excited LP (CELP) coders operating at around 16 kbit/s. The fast calculation is achieved by a recursive calculation for the high-order autocorrelation of the decoded signal. The recursive calculation can be employed thanks to a novel method of converting the autocorrelation of the decoded signal to that of the residual signal. High-order backward LP coefficients are computed from the autocorrelation of the residual signal using the Levinson-Durbin (LD) procedure. The conversion approximately performs inverse-filtering using LP coefficients representing a corresponding envelope spectrum. Due to the recursive calculation, the proposed fast calculation method achieves 30% to 45% reduction in computations to calculate the high-order backward LP coefficients compared to the conventional method. Subjective tests show that a wideband Multi-Pulse based CELP (MPCELP) coder at 16 kbit/s with the proposed method achieves comparable coding quality to that with the conventional one with 35% reduction in computations needed for calculation of the backward LP coefficients. key words: speech coding, complexity, high-order prediction, backward prediction
Clinical significance of a test for slime production in ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNST) are the most-common cause of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections. Some of these strains produce a slime-like substance. We reviewed 19 episodes of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections due to CNST in 17 patients. Eleven episodes of infection were caused by slime-producing CNST and eight by non-slime-producing CNST. Shunt obstruction and abdominal pain occurred more frequently when infectious episodes were due to slime-producing CNST than to non-slime-producing CNST (P less than .05). Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the mean duration of fever was longer and the failure to eradicate the infecting organisms was more frequent when the infectious episodes were due to slime-producing CNST than to non-slime-producing CNST (P less than .025). Discriminate function analysis found, however, that only failure to eradicate the infecting organism (by antimicrobial therapy) occurred more frequently in infectious episodes due to slime-producing CNST than to non-slime-producing CNST (P = .01).
nuWar: A Prototype Sketch-based Strategy Game

Today's military strategy games provide unrealistic interfaces for players to interact with their units: Commanders don't use mice and menus, they sketch. Developing strategy games currently involves grafting AI capabilities on top of a separate simulation engine, with new hand-crafted strategies for each game. We are experimenting with a novel approach for solving both problems. We started with nuSketch Battlespace, a knowledge-rich sketch understanding system developed for military users, and built a game engine, nuWar, on top of it. nuWar is a prototype two-player tactical war game which can be played either hot-seat or over a network. nuWar uses sketching as the primary way for players to express their intent to their subordinate commanders. The underlying ontology used by nuSketch Battlespace is used in both the simulation engine and in the bots which serve as subordinate commanders. We describe the architecture of nuWar, focusing on how it uses sketching, how the simulation engine is built upon the rich representational facilities of nuSketch Battlespace, and how the bots work. We discuss the tradeoffs we have found in this approach so far, and describe our plans for future work.
Linking primary care performance to outcomes of care.

BACKGROUND Substantial research links many of the defining characteristics of primary care to important outcomes; yet little is known about the relative importance of each characteristic, and several characteristics have not been examined. These analyses evaluate the relationship between seven defining elements of primary care (accessibility, continuity, comprehensiveness, integration, clinical interaction, interpersonal treatment, and trust) and three outcomes (adherence to physician's advice, patient satisfaction, and improved health status). METHODS Data were derived from a cross-sectional observational study of adults employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (N = 7204). All patients completed a validated questionnaire, the Primary Care Assessment Survey. Regression methods were used to examine the association between each primary care characteristic (11 summary scales measuring 7 elements of care) and each outcome. RESULTS Physicians' comprehensive ("whole person") knowledge of patients and patients' trust in their physician were the variables most strongly associated with adherence, and trust was the variable most strongly associated with patients' satisfaction with their physician. With other factors equal, adherence rates were 2.6 times higher among patients with whole-person knowledge scores in the 95th percentile compared with the 5th percentile (44.0% adherence vs 16.8% adherence, P < .001). The likelihood of complete satisfaction was 87.5% for those with 95th percentile trust scores compared with 0.4% for patients with 5th percentile trust scores (P < .001). The leading correlates of self-reported health improvements were integration of care, thoroughness of physical examinations, communication, comprehensive knowledge of patients, and trust (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Patients' trust in their physician and physicians' knowledge of patients are leading correlates of three important outcomes of care. The results are noteworthy in the context of pervasive changes in our nation's health care system that are widely viewed as threatening to the quality of physician-patient relationships.
Dynamic minimization of word-level decision diagrams

Word-Level Decision Diagrams (WLDDs), like *BMDs and K*BMDs, have recently been introduced as a data structure for verification. The size of WLDDs largely depends on the chosen variable ordering, i.e. the ordering in which variables are encountered, and on the decompositions carried out in each node. In this paper we present a framework for dynamic minimization of WLDDs. We discuss the difficulties with previous techniques if applied to WLDDs and present a new approach that efficiently adapts both variable ordering and decomposition type choice. Experimental results demonstrate that this method outperforms "classical" reordering with respect to runtime and representation size during dynamic minimization of word-level functions.
McRay - A Monte Carlo Model Coupled to CAD for Radiation Techniques

In radiography, irradiating the object and recording the transmitted radia- tion gives information about the inner structure of an object. The transmitted radia- tion consists of a primary and a scattered component. The Monte Carlo method al- lows the detailed description of the physics of radiation transport. On the other hand, it is necessary to handle complex object geometries to be able to simulate realistic inspection scenarios. Standard Monte Carlo programs like the Monte Carlo n- particle transport code MCNP (Los Alamos National Laboratories) use mainly sim- ple geometrical forms such as parallelepipeds, ellipsoids, or planes to construct complex geometries in a proprietary way. Here a model is presented that combines the Monte Carlo method with the world of CAD. Components are described as closed triangulated surfaces using STL as exchange format, which is supported by all CAD systems. The opportunities of the presented Monte Carlo simulation tool are discussed in terms of various examples and compared to MCNP.
The control of classical swine fever in wild boar

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a viral disease with severe economic consequences for domestic pigs. Natural hosts for the CSF virus (CSFV) are members of the family Suidae, i.e., Eurasian wild boar (sus scrofa) are also susceptible. CSF in wild boar poses a serious threat to domestic pigs. CSFV is an enveloped RNA virus belonging to the pestivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family. Transmission of the infection is usually by direct contact or by feeding of contaminated meat products. In recent decades CSF has been successfully eradicated from Australia, North America, and the European Union. In areas with dense wild boar populations CSF tends to become endemic whereas it is often self-limiting in small, less dense populations. In recent decades eradication strategies of CSF in wild boar have been improved considerably. The reduction of the number of susceptible animals to a threshold level where the basic reproductive number is R0 < 1 is the major goal of all control efforts. Depending on the epidemiological situation, hunting measures combined with strict hygiene may be effective in areas with a relatively low density of wild boar. Oral immunization was shown to be highly effective in endemic situations in areas with a high density of wild boar.
Architectural considerations for playback of quality adaptive video over the Internet

Lack of QoS support in the Internet has not prevented the rapid growth of streaming applications. However many of these applications do not perform congestion control effectively. Thus there is significant concern about the effects on co-existing well-behaved traffic and the potential for congestion collapse. In addition, the majority of such applications are unable to perform quality adaptation on-the-fly as the available bandwidth changes during a session. This paper provides some architectural insights on the design of video playback applications in the Internet. We present fundamental design principles for Internet applications and identify end-to-end congestion control, quality adaptation and error control as the three major building blocks for Internet video playback applications. We discuss the design space for each of these components, and within that space, present an end-to-end architecture suited for playback of layered-encoded stored video streams. Our architecture reconciles congestion control and quality adaptation which occur on different timescales. It exhibits a TCP-friendly behavior by adopting the RAP protocol for end-to-end congestion control. Additionally it uses a layered framework for quality adaptation with selective retransmission to maximize the quality of the delivered stream as the available bandwidth changes. We argue that the architecture can be generalized by replacing the suggested mechanism for each component by another from the same design space as long as all components remain compatible.
The Role of Probiotics in the Poultry Industry

The increase of productivity in the poultry industry has been accompanied by various impacts, including emergence of a large variety of pathogens and bacterial resistance. These impacts are in part due to the indiscriminate use of chemotherapeutic agents as a result of management practices in rearing cycles. This review provides a summary of the use of probiotics for prevention of bacterial diseases in poultry, as well as demonstrating the potential role of probiotics in the growth performance and immune response of poultry, safety and wholesomeness of dressed poultry meat evidencing consumer’s protection, with a critical evaluation of results obtained to date.