Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct Effects of Intravenous Anesthetics on Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in the Isolated Rat Lung

We determined the direct effects of thiopental, ket-amine, midazolam, etomidate, and propofol on pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), the relationship of the direct effects to the baseline PVR, and the possible interaction with functional endothelium. The intravenous anesthetics were injected randomly into 1) endothelium-intact isolated rat lungs which were either unconstricted or constricted with angiotensin II (n = 10), and 2) lungs with endothelial injury produced by electrolysis (n = 10). In endothelium-intact lungs thiopental (0.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) and etomidate (3.0 mg/ kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased PVR by 3% ± 1%, 30% ± 7%, and 29% ± 5%, respectively. Ketamine (3.0 and 100 mg/kg) and propofol (20 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the PVR by 6% ± 1%, 15% ± 1%, and 8% ± 1%, respectively. Midazolam (0.3 and 3.0 mg/kg) and smaller doses of etomidate (0.3 mg/kg) and propofol (2.0 mg/kg) did not affect PVR. These responses did not vary with the baseline PVR over a twofold range. The effects of thiopental, ketamine, etomidate, and midazolam were not altered by endothelial injury. In contrast to the vasodilation produced by propofol in normal lungs, propofol (20 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the PVR by 8% ± 2% after endothelial injury. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that thiopental and etomidate are direct pulmonary vasoconstrictors, ketamine and propofol are direct pulmonary vasodilators, and midazolam has no direct effects in the isolated rat lung. Further, these effects on pulmonary vasculature do not vary with baseline PVR, and only propofol appears to have endothelium-dependent effects.
NLRP11 disrupts MAVS signalosome to inhibit type I interferon signaling and virus‐induced apoptosis

MAVS signalosome plays an important role in RIG‐I‐like receptor (RLR)‐induced antiviral signaling. Upon the recognition of viral RNAs, RLRs activate MAVS, which further recruits TRAF6 and other signaling proteins to initiate type I interferon (IFN) activation. MAVS signalosome also regulates virus‐induced apoptosis to limit viral replication. However, the mechanisms that control the activity of MAVS signalosome are still poorly defined. Here, we report NLRP11, a Nod‐like receptor, is induced by type I IFN and translocates to mitochondria to interact with MAVS upon viral infection. Using MAVS as a platform, NLRP11 degrades TRAF6 to attenuate the production of type I IFNs as well as virus‐induced apoptosis. Our findings reveal the regulatory role of NLRP11 in antiviral immunity by disrupting MAVS signalosome.
Developing pathways to assist parents to exit the child protection system in Australia

Abstract The prevalence of child abuse and neglect is an international concern that justifies the existence of child protection systems. An important first principle for all such statutory child protection systems is to ensure that the system itself does no further harm. It can be argued that there are specific circumstances within which well-meaning services have the potential to do harm: specifically, processes and actions that disempower parents by reducing their autonomy and capacity for positive action. Exploring the circumstances in which reduced parental autonomy impacts negatively on families is an important first step in developing procedures for working with families that not only avoid harm but are orientated to produce meaningful change. Two evidence-based programs are described that together have the potential to assist child protection practitioners to develop a collaborative helping partnership with families, clarify goals for change and support parents to achieve meaningful improvement in .
Noninvasive Fetal Electrocardiography Part II: Segmented-Beat Modulation Method for Signal Denoising

Background: Fetal well-being evaluation may be accomplished by monitoring cardiac activity through fetal electrocardiography. Direct fetal electrocardiography (acquired through scalp electrodes) is the gold standard but its invasiveness limits its clinical applicability. Instead, clinical use of indirect fetal electrocardiography (acquired through abdominal electrodes) is limited by its poor signal quality. Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the Segmented-Beat Modulation Method to denoise indirect fetal electrocardiograms in order to achieve a signal-quality at least comparable to the direct ones. Method: Direct and indirect recordings, simultaneously acquired from 5 pregnant women during labor, were filtered with the Segmented-Beat Modulation Method and correlated in order to assess their morphological correspondence. Signal-to-noise ratio was used to quantify their quality. Results: Amplitude was higher in direct than indirect fetal electrocardiograms (median:104 µV vs. 22 µV; P=7.66·10-4), whereas noise was comparable (median:70 µV vs. 49 µV, P=0.45). Moreover, fetal electrocardiogram amplitude was significantly higher than affecting noise in direct recording (P=3.17·10-2) and significantly in indirect recording (P=1.90·10-3). Consequently, signal-to-noise ratio was initially higher for direct than indirect recordings (median:3.3 dB vs. -2.3 dB; P=3.90·10-3), but became lower after denoising of indirect ones (median:9.6 dB; P=9.84·10-4). Eventually, direct and indirect recordings were highly correlated (median: ρ=0.78; P<10-208), indicating that the two electrocardiograms were morphologically equivalent. Conclusion: Segmented-Beat Modulation Method is particularly useful for denoising of indirect fetal electrocardiogram and may contribute to the spread of this noninvasive technique in the clinical practice.
SPICE model for dual-extended memristor

This paper presents a SPICE model for the dual-extended memristive device. I-V characteristics for the dual-extended memristor have been simulated by the proposed the SPICE model. And the effect of the parameter variations on the performance has also been discussed, such as the window function factor p, the frequency of input signal, and the dimension of the memristor and so on. Finally, the measurement results from real devices validate the proposed SPICE model for the dual-extended memristor.
Perfusion CT of head and neck cancer: effect of arterial input selection.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of arterial input selection on perfusion CT parameters of head and neck tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Perfusion calculations were done for 50 cases using deconvolution-based software. Peak enhancement values of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) were recorded. Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), and permeability surface area product were calculated using ipsilateral ECA, ipsilateral ICA, and contralateral ICA as input arteries. Values were compared using Wilcoxon's matched pair test and Pearson's correlation coefficients (r). RESULTS A highly significant correlation was observed between peak enhancement values of the ICA and ECA (r = 0.97; p < 0.0001). A high correlation was observed between perfusion calculations obtained using ipsilateral ICA and ECA (BF, r = 0.98; BV, r = 0.92; MTT, r = 0.91; and permeability surface area product, r = 0.89), ipsilateral and contralateral ICA (BF, r = 0.97; BV, r = 0.95; MTT, r = 0.93; and permeability surface area product, r = 0.89), as well as left and right ICA (BF, r = 0.97; BV, r = 0.95; MTT, r = 0.94; and permeability surface area product, r = 0.88). All correlations were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were observed between perfusion calculations obtained using ipsilateral ICA versus ECA, ipsilateral versus contralateral ICA, or left versus right ICA (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Arterial input selection has no significant effect on perfusion CT calculation of head and neck cancer. For standardization and simplification of postprocessing, we recommend the use of the ICA instead of the ECA as the arterial input because of its better visualization, perpendicular course, and larger caliber, all of which decrease partial volume effects.
Aggregating Image and Text Quantized Correlated Components Supplementary Material

This is the supplementary material to the article Aggregating Image and Text Quantized Correlated Components published at CVPR 2016. While not necessary to understand the work exposed in the paper, it reports some complementary results or “interesting negative results”. Last section focuses on providing implementation details to reproduce the experiments, in particular regarding the material coming from other works.
A BMIA/AIM multi-resolution approach for the analysis of large printed array

An efficient technique is presented, based on the application of a multi-resolution (MR) approach to the BMIA/AIM formulation. The BMIA/AIM is an extension of the banded matrix iterative approach (BMIA) to a non-canonical grid by using the adaptive integral method (AIM) and allows an efficient analysis of patch antennas having medium/large or large dimensions. The multi-resolution (MR) approach keeps the different scales of the problem directly into the basis functions representation. The basis is constructed via the "dual-isoscalar" technique, which possesses both spectral and spatial resolution, and allows us to considerably improve the MoM matrix condition number and iteration convergence.
A Comparison of LMI and GA Based Robust Controller Designs for VSC HVDC

A controller is required for a VSC HVDC (voltage source converter high voltage direct current) terminal that provides good performance across a range of operating conditions. A nominal mixed sensitivity H infin design is first presented. An LMI based robust Hinfin design and two genetic algorithm based direct search methods methods are then applied to optimize the same Hinfin norm across an operating range to provide robust performance. It is demonstrated that in this application the controllers designed by direct search using GA give better robust performance than the LMI based method. The principal reason for this is that unlike LMI based methods they do not guarantee quadratic stability across the operating range, even though stability across the operating range is demonstrated
Factorization-based Sparse Solvers and Preconditioners ( 4 th Gene Golub

Efficient solution of large-scale, ill-conditioned and highly-indefinite algebraic equations often relies on high quality preconditioners together with iterative solvers. Because of their robustness, factorizationbased algorithms play a significant role in developing scalable solvers. We discuss the state-of-the-art, high performance sparse factorization techniques which are used to build sparse direct solvers, domain-decomposition type direct/iterative hybrid solvers, and approximate factorization preconditioners. In addition to algorithmic principles, we also address the key parallelism issues and practical aspects that need to be taken under consideration in order to deliver high speed and robustness to the users of todays sophisticated high performance computers.
Three-phase overlay D2D communications in traffic-aware two-way cellular systems

In this paper, we propose a new reliable scheme for device-to-device (D2D) communications overlaying a traffic-aware two-way cellular system. The considered system comprises a pair of D2D users, a base station (BS), and a mobile user (MU). In the proposed scheme, both participating D2D users provide relay assistance to the cellular nodes (BS, MU), and in return, they are allowed to exchange their own information by utilizing the same licensed cellular spectrum. Hereby, two end-to-end bi-directional transmissions (cellular and D2D) can be realized in three-time phases. Moreover, we employ decode-and-forward (DF) relaying strategy at both relaying D2D users and selection combining (SC) scheme at both cellular nodes. For this set-up, we investigate the performance of both cellular and D2D links in terms of outage probability (OP) under Nakagami-m fading. Further, we obtain an expression of average system throughput (AST) to conduct fair comparison with the other existing schemes. Numerical and simulation analyses are performed to validate our analytical findings and to present useful insights into performance of cellular and D2D systems.
Influence of design parameters on wide speed range concentrated winding PM machines

This paper presents analysis of the influence of design choices on the performance of an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine with concentrated winding designed to operate at constant power over a wide (six to one) speed range. The influence that winding design and magnet field strength have on the balance between copper and iron losses in the field weakening region is investigated. An example design for a machine capable of 1000W operation over 1000rpm to 6100rpm is presented. Lumped parameter analysis is used in combination with time-stepped finite element analysis in order to illustrate the observed performance variations. Three different cases in wide speed range have been investigated for core losses. The affects that how harmonic components influence on the total core losses is also studied.
Economic Evaluation The i MTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire A Standardized Instrument for Measuring and Valuing Health-Related Productivity Losses

Background: Productivity losses often contribute significantly to the total costs in economic evaluations adopting a societal perspective. Currently, no consensus exists on the measurement and valuation of productivity losses. Objective: We aimed to develop a standardized instrument for measuring and valuing productivity losses. Methods: A group of researchers with extensive experience in measuring and valuing productivity losses designed an instrument suitable for self-completion, building on preknowledge and evidence on validity. The instrument was designed to cover all domains of productivity losses, thus allowing quantification and valuation of all productivity losses. A feasibility study was performed to check the questionnaire’s consistency and intelligibility. Results: The iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire (iPCQ) includes three modules measuring productivity losses of paid work due to 1) absenteeism and 2) presenteeism and productivity losses related to 3) unpaid work. Questions for measuring absenteeism and presenteeism were derived from existing validated questionnaires. Because validated measures of losses of unpaid work are scarce, the questions of this module were newly developed. To enhance the instrument’s feasibility, simple language was used. The feasibility study included 195 respondents (response rate 80%) older than 18 years. Seven percent (n 1⁄4 13) identified problems while filling in the iPCQ, including problems with the questionnaire’s instructions and routing (n 1⁄4 6) and wording (n 1⁄4 2). Five respondents experienced difficulties in estimating the time that would be needed for other people to make up for lost unpaid work. Conclusions: Most modules of the iPCQ are based on validated questions derived from previously available instruments. The instrument is understandable for most of the general public.
The Human Antimicrobial Protein Calgranulin C Participates in Control of Helicobacter pylori Growth and Regulation of Virulence

ABSTRACT During infectious processes, antimicrobial proteins are produced by both epithelial cells and innate immune cells. Some of these antimicrobial molecules function by targeting transition metals and sequestering these metals in a process referred to as “nutritional immunity. ” This chelation strategy ultimately starves invading pathogens, limiting their growth within the vertebrate host. Recent evidence suggests that these metal-binding antimicrobial molecules have the capacity to affect bacterial virulence, including toxin secretion systems. Our previous work showed that the S100A8/S100A9 heterodimer (calprotectin, or calgranulin A/B) binds zinc and represses the elaboration of the H. pylori cag type IV secretion system (T4SS). However, there are several other S100 proteins that are produced in response to infection. We hypothesized that the zinc-binding protein S100A12 (calgranulin C) is induced in response to H. pylori infection and also plays a role in controlling H. pylori growth and virulence. To test this, we analyzed gastric biopsy specimens from H. pylori-positive and -negative patients for S100A12 expression. These assays showed that S100A12 is induced in response to H. pylori infection and inhibits bacterial growth and viability in vitro by binding nutrient zinc. Furthermore, the data establish that the zinc-binding activity of the S100A12 protein represses the activity of the cag T4SS, as evidenced by the gastric cell “hummingbird” phenotype, interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion, and CagA translocation assays. In addition, high-resolution field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) was used to demonstrate that S100A12 represses biogenesis of the cag T4SS. Together with our previous work, these data reveal that multiple S100 proteins can repress the elaboration of an oncogenic bacterial surface organelle.
Advanced Energy Efficient Passive Clustering Mobility in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks have a wide applicability and increase deployment in the near future. In most of those applications, the network is composed of an i mportant number of nodes deployed in an extensive area in which not all nodes are directly connected and b ased on clustering techniques. The Clustering can considerably reduce transmission overhead during fl ooding. In fact, by using clustering, we minimize t he set of forwarding nodes during transmission and con sequently reduce the energy cost and traffic overhead in topology environments. In this study, w e present passive clustering mechanisms and the main clustering protocols proposed for wireless sen sor networks; we also introduce a new protocol designated for mobile nodes in wireless sensor netw ork that is based on the APC-T. This mechanism provides the stability of clusters after each depar ts of cluster-head and allows balanced energy consumption among the sensor nodes. Comparison with the existing schemes such as APC-T and Geographically Repulsive Insomnious Distributed Sensors (GRIDS) proves that the mechanism for selecting a backup of cluster-head nodes, which is the most important factor influencing the clusterin g performance, can significantly improves the network lifetime.
Characteristics of the second inward current in cells isolated from rat ventricular muscle

The second inward current (Isi) in single cells isolated from ventricular muscle of adult rat hearts was measured in response to step depolarizations under voltage-clamp conditions. The major ion carrying this current was Ca, and Isi was reduced or abolished by Mn, Ni, Cd, nifedipine, nimodipine and D600. Sr and Ba could substitute for Ca as charge carriers, and reduced the rate of apparent inactivation of Isi. These effects of Sr and Ba, together with the relation between the steady level of apparent inactivation and membrane potential in Ca containing solution, were taken as evidence that inactivation was at least in part dependent on internal Ca. The reduction of external Na to 11% of normal caused a reduction in peak Isi when Ca was present in the external solution, but did not reduce Isi when Ca was replaced by Sr. It therefore seems unlikely that Na is a major charge carrier Isi under the conditions of our experiments. The time-to-peak and rate of apparent inactivation of Isi were faster than in previous studies that used multicellular preparations. Both the kinetics and peak amplitude of Isi were markedly dependent on temperature (Q10 close to 3). Contraction of the cells, which was monitored optically, was initiated within 3 ms of the peakIsi, reached a maximum level after approximately 40–50 ms, and was about 100 ms in duration.
Early processing of consonance and dissonance in human auditory cortex

Pitch is the perceptual correlate of sound's periodicity and a fundamental property of the auditory sensation. The interaction of two or more pitches gives rise to a sensation that can be characterized by its degree of consonance or dissonance. In the current study, we investigated the neuromagnetic representations of consonant and dissonant musical dyads using a new model of cortical activity, in an effort to assess the possible involvement of pitch-specific neural mechanisms in consonance processing at early cortical stages. In the first step of the study, we developed a novel model of cortical pitch processing designed to explain the morphology of the pitch onset response (POR), a pitch-specific subcomponent of the auditory evoked N100 component in the human auditory cortex. The model explains the neural mechanisms underlying the generation of the POR and quantitatively accounts for the relation between its peak latency and the perceived pitch. Next, we applied magnetoencephalography (MEG) to record the POR as elicited by six consonant and dissonant dyads. The peak latency of the POR was strongly modulated by the degree of consonance within the stimuli; specifically, the most dissonant dyad exhibited a POR with a latency that was about 30ms longer than that of the most consonant dyad, an effect that greatly exceeds the expected latency difference induced by a single pitch sound. Our model was able to predict the POR latency pattern observed in the neuromagnetic data, and to generalize this prediction to additional dyads. These results indicate that the neural mechanisms responsible for pitch processing exhibit an intrinsic differential response to concurrent consonant and dissonant pitch combinations, suggesting that the perception of consonance and dissonance might be an emergent property of the pitch processing system in human auditory cortex.
A Case of Cutaneous Myiasis Caused by a Larva of Cordylobia anthropophaga in a Nine Year Old Boy in Calabar , Southern Nigeria

A nine year old boy presented with a furuncular swelling on one buttock with a complaint of pain and itching around the region of the lesion. With a gentle manual pressing of the swelling, a yellowish-white larva emerged. The larva was macerated in 10% potassium hydroxide solution over boiling water for 10 minutes to examine the posterior spiracles. Using the characteristic morphologic features (viz. an indistinct button, an incomplete peritreme and sinuous slits), the larva was identified as that of Cordylobia anthropophaga. This result confirmed a diagnosis of cutaneous myiasis. Conditions of squalor, poverty and ignorance facilitate the transmission of eggs and larvae from Calliphorid flies on to the human body. Awareness, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation are preventive measures which can curb the spread of this parasitosis.
Extending distance-based ranking models in estimation of distribution algorithms

Recently, probability models on rankings have been proposed in the field of estimation of distribution algorithms in order to solve permutation-based combinatorial optimisation problems. Particularly, distance-based ranking models, such as Mallows and Generalized Mallows under the Kendall's-τ distance, have demonstrated their validity when solving this type of problems. Nevertheless, there are still many trends that deserve further study. In this paper, we extend the use of distance-based ranking models in the framework of EDAs by introducing new distance metrics such as Cayley and Ulam. In order to analyse the performance of the Mallows and Generalized Mallows EDAs under the Kendall, Cayley and Ulam distances, we run them on a benchmark of 120 instances from four well known permutation problems. The conducted experiments showed that there is not just one metric that performs the best in all the problems. However, the statistical test pointed out that Mallows-Ulam EDA is the most stable algorithm among the studied proposals.