Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Method Based on Random Search Algorithm for Unequal Circle Packing Problem

We propose a random search algorithm to resolve the problem of packing circles into a rectangular container. With our method, all the circles are put into a large space randomly, and then by introducing the bow shift area, the searching space can be reduced and the local optimal solution can be list. By moving, turning and other disturbance methods, it will achieve the global optimization in the whole area. We designed exactly software to verify our algorithm. With our approach, the best optimal layout is irrelevant with the initial layout and the position of the biggest circle.
An in vitro Comparison of a Combined FOTI/Visual Examination of Occlusal Caries with Other Caries Diagnostic Methods and the Effect of Stain on Their Diagnostic Performance

The aims of this in vitro study were to compare the combination of FOTI and visual inspection to other diagnostic methods for the detection and evaluation of the depth of occlusal caries and assess the effect of stain on diagnostic performance. Five diagnostic methods (combined FOTI/Visual (CFV), Visual, FOTI, DIAGNOdent and Electrical Caries Monitor) were considered. Histological validation was performed in the 152 occlusal molar sites (111 teeth) using 350-µm sections and a stereomicroscope. The rank correlation coefficients with histology ranged from 0.42 (DIAGNOdent) to 0.66 (CFV). The area under the ROC curves (AUC) for enamel lesions ranged from 0.82 (ECM) to 0.88 (CFV) and from 0.81 (DIAGNOdent) to 0.91 (CFV) for dentine lesions. The AUC at the dentine level for CFV and FOTI were similar (p > 0.05), but the AUC for CFV was significantly greater than for visual (p < 0.001), DIAGNOdent (p = 0.005) and the ECM (p = 0.04). FOTI was found to be particularly useful for the detection of dentine lesions. The exclusion of stain and brown spot lesions improved performance for all methods. It is concluded that CFV is useful for the determination of occlusal lesion depth and that in the presence of stain and brown spot lesions different cut-off points may be required for the ECM and DIAGNOdent to identify dentine lesions.
Comparative cancer survival in European countries.

BACKGROUND Survival for patients with cancer varies widely across Europe. This review is an attempt to explore some of the factors that influence this variation. SOURCES OF DATA The data on cancer survival come from EUROCARE-5 and a recent OECD report. These figures have been analysed together with data from a variety of other sources: other OECD data sets; EUROSTAT; The World Bank; Gallup and the World Health Organisation. AREAS OF AGREEMENT This study confirms the importance of national socio-economic factors in influencing the outcomes for patients with cancer. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY The usual suspects (limited access to expensive new cancer drugs; delayed diagnosis and late presentation) may have less influence on cancer survival than is usually assumed. GROWING POINTS Disparities in outcomes challenge systems of health care to re-evaluate their strategies. The key point is that these new strategies need to be informed by facts, rather than suppositions. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH The role and scope of national cancer registries should be enhanced. We need to record more detailed information on each patient with cancer and, in an era of linked data, cancer registries are ideally placed to collect and curate such information.
Estimating sleep from multisensory armband measurements: validity and reliability in teens

Given the recognition that sleep may influence obesity risk, there is increasing interest in measuring sleep parameters within obesity studies. The goal of the current analyses was to determine whether the SenseWear® Pro3 Armband (armband), typically used to assess physical activity, is reliable at assessing sleep parameters. The armband was compared with the AMI Motionlogger® (actigraph), a validated activity monitor for sleep assessment, and with polysomnography, the gold standard for assessing sleep. Participants were 20 adolescents (mean age = 15.5 years) with a mean body mass index percentile of 63.7. All participants wore the armband and actigraph on their non‐dominant arm while in‐lab during a nocturnal polysomnographic recording (600 min). Epoch‐by‐epoch sleep/wake data and concordance of sleep parameters were examined. No significant sleep parameter differences were found between the armband and polysomnography; the actigraph tended to overestimate sleep and underestimate wake compared with polysomnography. Both devices showed high sleep sensitivity, but lower wake detection rates. Bland–Altman plots showed large individual differences in armband sleep parameter concordance rates. The armband did well estimating sleep overall, with group results more similar to polysomnography than the actigraph; however, the armband was less accurate at an individual level than the actigraph.
Hierarchical urban object extraction from high resolution remotely sensed imagery based on Wavelet Transform and Support Vector Machine

Considering the characteristics of high resolution remote sensing images, we present a new approach based on Wavelet Transform (WT) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to extract objects from this kind of images. In this paper, the QuickBird image of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province is experimented. Wavelet Transform is used to build the image pyramid at first. Support Vector Machine and masking operations are performed to extract objects one by one. The larger object in size is extracted from the transformed image with lower resolution, while the smaller one is extracted from the image of higher resolution. The experimental result shows that this multi-scale approach is suitable to process high resolution remote sensing images and can improve the accuracy and speed of object extraction.
Advances in real-time rendering in 3D graphics and games I

Advances in real-time graphics research and the increasing power of mainstream GPUs has generated an explosion of innovative algorithms suitable for rendering complex virtual worlds at interactive rates. Every year, the latest video games display a vast variety of sophisticated algorithms that power ground-breaking 3D rendering and push the visual boundaries and interactive experience of rich environments. This course covers a series of topics on the best practices and techniques prevalent in state-of-the-art rendering in several award-winning games, and describes innovative and practical 3D rendering research breaktrhoughs that will be used in the games of tomorrow. The course is designed for technical practitioners and developers of graphics engines for visualization, games, or effects rendering. Presented techniques are applicable in real-time and off-line domains. Attendees will acquire a number of highly optimized algorithms in various areas of real-time rendering.
Effect of Implementation of Teaching Modules about Physiological and Psychological Parameters on Expected Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Dyspnea and fatigue, the two most common symptoms experienced by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are believed to result in decreased activity levels and poor quality of life. This study was carried out to determine effect of implementation of teaching modules about physiological and psychological parameters on expected clinical outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A quasi experimental research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. This study was conducted at chest department of Menofia University Hospital. A purposive sample of 140 adult patients, three tools was used for data collection. Bio socio demographic assessment questionnaire, physiological measurement tool and anxiety scale. There were highly statistical significant differences between study and control groups post one and two months of teaching regarding dyspnea, fatigue, cough vital signs and anxiety. Also it was found that there was a positive correlation between dyspnea, fatigue and anxiety. A teaching carried out for the patients of the study group had positive effect on dyspnea, fatigue, cough, vital signs and anxiety and there was a positive correlation between dyspnea, fatigue and anxiety. Initiate outpatient hospital based pulmonary rehabilitation program. A booklet should be available and distributed for all patients with choronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Medicaid IBCLC Service Coverage following the Affordable Care Act and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Update

Background: International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are associated with increased rates and duration of breastfeeding. Recent US legislation offers opportunities for private and public insurers to include IBCLC services as a covered benefit. Objective: To explore US states’ Medicaid coverage of IBCLC services following January 2014 legislative expansions of coverage for preventive health services. Methods: To assess IBCLC reimbursement practices, 20 states, stratified by Medicaid expansion (yes/no) and 3-month exclusive breastfeeding rates, were selected to participate. An electronic survey was sent to Medicaid and Maternal Health Directors, breastfeeding coordinators, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) coordinators between July and December 2014. Email follow-ups clarified missing or ambiguous responses. Results: Of the 15 states responding, 9 had Medicaid expansion. None of the states permitted IBCLCs to bill for services autonomously. In 9 states, IBCLC services were covered with some type of stipulation, for example, billing under a physician. Of the 9 states with IBCLC coverage, 7 had accepted Medicaid expansion. States with higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding were also more likely to provide IBCLC coverage. Conclusion: Recent legislative changes to public and private insurance that could expand coverage of IBCLCs have not yielded appreciable changes, particularly in states without Medicaid expansion. There is a need for research on the effects of adopting expanded coverage for IBCLCs and advocacy to do so.
Automated support for process assessment in test-driven development

Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a style of agile software development that has received much attention recently in the software development community. Agile software development methods stress the importance of software as the most significantoutputof a development team, leading to a continuous flow of source code changes. The view on past source code changes as input for a better understanding of how a team has produced the software is a topic that deserves much more attention than it has received thus far. In this dissertation, I claim that an analysis of past software changes can indicate TDD process violations. I propose a tool to prepare and analyze software changes from a source code repository. I propose process compliance indices (PCIs) to interpret the analysis results in order to focus a manual process assessment effort. This dissertation facilitates a better understanding of how TDD developers change software, where they are lazy in following the process discipline, and to help them improve their development practices.
Human Pancreatic Islets Express mRNA Species Encoding Two Distinct Catalytically Active Isoforms of Group VI Phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) That Arise from an Exon-skipping Mechanism of Alternative Splicing of the Transcript from the iPLA2 Gene on Chromosome 22q13.1*

An 85-kDa Group VI phospholipase A2 enzyme (iPLA2) that does not require Ca2+ for catalysis has recently been cloned from three rodent species. A homologous 88-kDa enzyme has been cloned from human B-lymphocyte lines that contains a 54-amino acid insert not present in the rodent enzymes, but human cells have not previously been observed to express catalytically active iPLA2 isoforms other than the 88-kDa protein. We have cloned cDNA species that encode two distinct iPLA2 isoforms from human pancreatic islet RNA and a human insulinoma cDNA library. One isoform is an 85-kDa protein (short isoform of human iPLA2 (SH-iPLA2)) and the other an 88-kDa protein (long isoform of human iPLA2(LH-iPLA2)). Transcripts encoding both isoforms are also observed in human promonocytic U937 cells. Recombinant SH-iPLA2 and LH-iPLA2 are both catalytically active in the absence of Ca2+ and inhibited by a bromoenol lactone suicide substrate, but LH-iPLA2 is activated by ATP, whereas SH-iPLA2 is not. The human iPLA2gene has been found to reside on chromosome 22 in region q13.1 and to contain 16 exons represented in the LH-iPLA2 transcript. Exon 8 is not represented in the SH-iPLA2 transcript, indicating that it arises by an exon-skipping mechanism of alternative splicing. The amino acid sequence encoded by exon 8 of the human iPLA2 gene is proline-rich and shares a consensus motif of PX 5PX 8HHPX 12NX 4Q with the proline-rich middle linker domains of the Smad proteins DAF-3 and Smad4. Expression of mRNA species encoding two active iPLA2 isoforms with distinguishable catalytic properties in two different types of human cells demonstrated here may have regulatory or functional implications about the roles of products of the iPLA2 gene in cell biologic processes.
Bone mineral density in haemophilia patients

Summary Osteoporosis is caused by bone mineral density (BMD) reduction. Haemophilia patients are at increased risk of osteoporosis because of decreased physical activity and blood-borne virus infections. This systematic review of the literature aims at evaluating BMD reduction in severe haemophilia patients and its correlation with patients’ characteristics. Seven case-control studies evaluating lumbar BMD values [g/cm2] (all studies), BMI (5/7 studies), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity (6/7 studies) in severe haemophilia patients and controls were meta-analysed. Standardised mean difference (SMD) of BMD was used to compare cases and controls. The effect of body mass index (BMI) and HCV infection was investigated by meta-regression. One hundred one adult cases (age 33 ± 8.9) with 101 controls and 111 paediatric cases (age 8 ± 3.6) with 307 controls were available for analysis. Lumbar BMD was significantly lower in severe haemophilia patients than in controls, both in adult (pooled SMD –1.379, 95% confidence interval [CI] –2.355 to –0.403, p=0.006) and children (pooled SMD –0.438, 95% CI –0.686 to –0.189, p=0.001). The reduction in BMD in patients versus controls was not significantly correlated with the reduction in BMI or with the percentage of HCV-infected patients. This meta-analysis confirms the association between severe haemophilia and low BMD. Future studies should investigate fracture rates and interventions to prevent bone loss in persons with haemophilia
An Application of Second Derivative of Gaussian Filters in Fingerprint Image Enhancement

In this paper we demonstrate the use of second derivative of Gaussian filters (SDG) together with pyramid technique for fingerprint image enhancement. The quality of enhanced image is measured by the success in core point detection employing poincare method. DB1-A of FVC-2004 database is used as an input in our experiment. It is found that the SDG works well and can offer the similar filtering performance as another directional filter: Gabor filter. Once the SDG is employed in the pyramid technique, the enhanced image is superior to that of applying SDG only (without pyramid scheme).
Increased water content in bacterial cellulose synthesized under rotating magnetic fields

ABSTRACT The current study describes properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) obtained from Komagataeibacter xylinus cultures exposed to the rotating magnetic field (RMF) of 50 Hz frequency and magnetic induction of 34 mT for controlled time during 6 days of cultivation. The experiments were carried out in the customized RMF exposure system adapted for biological studies. The obtained BC displayed an altered micro-structure, degree of porosity, and water-related parameters in comparison to the non-treated, control BC samples. The observed effects were correlated to the duration and the time of magnetic exposure during K. xylinus cultivation. The most preferred properties in terms of water-related properties were found for BC obtained in the setting, where RMF generator was switched off for the first 72 h of cultivation and switched on for the next 72 h. The described method of BC synthesis may be of special interest for the production of absorbent, antimicrobial-soaked dressings and carrier supports for the immobilization of microorganisms and proteins.
Using the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) to Determine Sensitivity of Hearing in Mutant Mice

Measurements of auditory evoked potentials can be used to determine reliably an audiometric representation of hearing sensitivity in mice. In a high‐throughput phenotyping screen of mice carrying targeted mutations of single genes, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) is used to gain an estimate of hearing threshold for broadband click stimuli and pure tone frequencies ranging from 6 to 30 kHz. Comparison of thresholds obtained in mutant and wild‐type mice give a means to determine mild, moderate, and severe hearing impairment. This gives a clear advantage over using a “clickbox” test to assess hearing by observations of the Preyer reflex. The ABR screen has identified several mutant lines with mild and moderate hearing loss, which appear to demonstrate normal Preyer responses. The ABR technique also allows frequency‐selective hearing loss to be identified. Curr. Protoc. Mouse Biol. 1:279‐287 © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Exploring the accuracy of relative molecular energies with local correlation theory

Local coupled-cluster singles–doubles theory (LCCSD) is a theorist’s attempt to capture electron–electron correlation in a fast amount of time and with chemical accuracy. Many of the difficult computational hurdles have been navigated over the last twenty years, including how to construct a linear scaling algorithm and how to produce smooth potential energy surfaces. Nevertheless, there remains the question of just how accurate a local correlation model can be, and what are the chemical limits within which local models are largely applicable. Here, we investigate how accurately can LCCSD approximate full CCSD for cases of atomization energies, isomerization energies, conformational energies, barrier heights and electron affinities. Our conclusion is that LCCSD computes relative energies that are correct to within 1–2 kcal mol−1 of the CCSD energy using relatively aggressive cutoffs and over a broad range of different molecular environments—alkane isomers, dipeptide conformations, Diels–Alder transition states and electron attachment in charge delocalized systems. These findings should push the reach of local correlation applications into new research terrain, including molecules on metal cluster surfaces or perhaps even metal–molecule–metal clusters.
MicroRNAs are novel non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUNDS The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) still remains difficult in clinical practice. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been widely investigated as biomarkers for various diseases. However, the diagnostic biomarker value of miRNAs in the diagnosis of PE is unclear. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to establish the diagnostic power of miRNAs for PE diagnosis. METHODS A systematic literature search in PubMed and Embase was conducted to identify relevant studies dated up to July 22, 2016. Data on sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were pooled from those included studies. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were used to summarize overall diagnostic power of miRNAs for PE diagnosis. RESULTS A total of three studies with five types of miRNAs covering 254 participants were included in our meta-analysis. The overall pooled results for sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR of miRNAs for PE diagnosis were 0.83 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.67-0.92], 0.85 (95% CI: 0.72-0.92), 5.4 (95% CI: 2.7-10.9), 0.20 (95% CI: 0.10-0.44), and 26.00 (95% CI: 7.00-101.00), respectively. The area under the SROC curve was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92). Even though heterogeneity was observed in the analysis of sensitivity, there was no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS MiRNAs could serve as novel non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of PE with a relatively high diagnostic power. More researches, however, are needed to explore the diagnostic as well as therapeutic values of miRNAs for PE.
The structure of the complex between influenza virus neuraminidase and sialic acid, the viral receptor

Crystallographic studies of neuraminidase–sialic acid complexes indicate that sialic acid is distorted on binding the enzyme. Three arginine residues on the enzyme interact with the carboxylate group of the sugar which is observed to be equatorial to the saccharide ring as a consequence of its distorted geometry. The glycosidic oxygen is positioned within hydrogen‐bonding distance of Asp‐151, implicating this residue in catalysis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Large Signal Stability Analysis Tools in DC Power Systems With Constant Power Loads and Variable Power Loads—A Review

Electric motor drives and power electronic converters have become increasingly common in advanced power systems. Passive LC filters are used in these systems to reduce the power ripples. These filters are usually poorly damped for reducing the losses as well as the size/weight and the cost of the system. This leads to instability phenomena if the load power exceeds a power limit depending on the filter parameters. The purpose of this paper is to present tools allowing large signal stability analysis of a dc power system. These tools allow estimation of the domain of attraction of the system operating point. It will be shown that this large signal stability analysis gives useful hints on the design of the system to optimize the stability criteria for constant and variable power loads. The impact of the load dynamics on stability is also studied. An electric drive connected to a dc power supply through a poorly damped LC filter is used as a case study. The simulations and the experimentations confirm the analytical results.
High‐level expression of cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) by a metastatic rat cell line: Purification and production of blocking antibodies

Significant levels of cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) were found in serum‐free medium conditioned by a highly metastatic rat cell line, RC20. To study CINC's role in inflammation and metastasis, CINC was purified from this source for use in in vitro assays and for antibody production in goats and rabbits. CINC was a potent chemoattractant for rat neutrophils (EC‐50 0.5 nM). A fusion protein of glutathione‐S‐transferase and CINC (GST‐CINC) was produced in E. coli. Anti‐CINC polyclonal IgG was purified from immune goat and rabbit sera by protein A and GST‐CINC affinity chromatography. Both goat and rabbit anti‐CINC antibody preparations at 4 μg/mL (an 11‐fold molar excess) were found to completely block the activity of 2.5 nM CINC in a rat neutrophil chemotaxis assay. These antibodies have been used to develop a sensitive immunoassay for CINC. The availability of large amounts of affinity‐purified blocking anti‐CINC antibody will allow investigations into the role played by CINC in rodent inflammation models and in the metastasis of RC20 cells. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.