Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Is Associated With Symptomatic and Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

The predictive value of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been demonstrated in several cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between the preoperative NLR and aneurysm characteristics as well as 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) undergoing aortic surgical repair. Consecutive patients (n = 75) with TAA were retrospectively included over a 10-year period. Clinical characteristics, aneurysm characteristics, and 30-day postoperative outcome were recorded. The median age of patients was 71 (67-80) years. The median preoperative NLR was 3.5 (2.3-5.8). The proportion of asymptomatic TAA was significantly lower in patients with an NLR > 3.5 compared with those with an NLR < 3.5 (52.6% vs 75.7%; P = .054). The proportion of patients with pain or with ruptured TAA was significantly higher in patients with an NLR > 3.5 compared with those with NLR < 3.5 (42.1% vs 16.2%; P = .022 and 26.3% vs 2.7%; P = .007, respectively). No significant difference was observed regarding the 30-day overall postoperative mortality and morbidity. The preoperative NLR did not correlate with TAA diameter. A high preoperative NLR is significantly associated with symptomatic and ruptured TAA, suggesting a potential interest as a marker and/or player in the disease.
The rotational evolution of young low mass stars

Abstract Star-disk interaction is thought to drive the angular momentum evolution of young stars. In this review, I present the latest results obtained on the rotational properties of low mass and very low mass pre-main sequence stars. I discuss the evidence for extremely efficient angular momentum removal over the first few Myr of pre-main sequence evolution and describe recent results that support an accretion-driven braking mechanism. Angular momentum evolution models are presented and their implication for accretion disk lifetimes discussed.
Local neural classifier for EEG-based recognition of mental tasks

Proposes a local neural classifier for the recognition of mental tasks from online spontaneous EEG signals. The classifier is embedded in a portable brain-computer interface called ABI, which has been evaluated with 4 young healthy persons. Subjects' performance is analyzed off-line and, for three of them, also online in the presence of biofeedback. The proposed ABI recognizes three mental tasks from online spontaneous EEG signals. Correct recognition is around 70%. This modest rate is largely compensated by two properties of ABI: wrong responses are below 5% and it makes decisions every 1/2 second. Also, since the subject and his/her personal ABI learn simultaneously from each other, subjects master it rapidly: one of the subjects achieved excellent control in just 5 days of training.
Interprétation graphique de la courbe ROC

L'aire sous la courbe ROC est un outil pertinent pour mesurer la performance d'un classifieur et possede de nombreux avantages par rapport aux mesures de rappel et precision par classe : la performance est indiquee par une seule mesure et ne depend pas des populations des classes. Cet avantage se transforme neanmoins en inconvenient lorsqu'il s'agit, lors de la lecture de la courbe, de calculer rapidement les mesures de rappel et de precision par classe ou d'estimer le comportement du classifieur en tenant compte des populations des classes. Cet article propose une analyse graphique de la courbe ROC, qui permet d'ameliorer son interpretation en fournissant une estimation des rappel et precision par classe.
Performance analysis of closed-loop pre-equalisation for multiuser multiple-input multiple-output with multicarrier code division multiple access systems

The use of multiple transmit and receive antennas is widely recognised as an effective technology to boost the capacity of wireless communication systems. Moreover, the combination of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with multicarrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) offers a strong alternative to satisfy the demand for high data rates with rigorous quality-of-service (QoS) restrictions. In this study, this paper applies a closed-loop pre-equalisation methodology under a unified framework for MIMO and MC-CDMA systems that satisfies the QoS target with a single-user-based detector while minimising the power of the pre-equalisation factors. It is of particular interest to investigate the impact and limitations of combining the robustness of the feedback scheme with the degrees of freedom available in the system, given in terms of the number of subcarriers and multiple antennas. The contribution of this work includes the derivation of the distributed and centralised optimal closed-loop pre-equalisation solutions under the MIMO–MC-CDMA structure. The results and analysis illustrate important gains in the form of power savings, enabled by the spatial diversity of the MIMO scheme.
Modeling two-dimensional structure at the core-mantle boundary

Recent studies of SKS waveform modeling emphasize the strong variation of seismic properties at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) and the need for two-dimensional and three-dimensional waveform modeling capabilities. In particular, the bifurcation of SKS into SP dKS and SKP dS near 110° shows strong regional variations. The first of these phases has a P wave diffraction along the bottom of the mantle near the source, while the latter phase occurs at the receiver end. Generalized ray theory proves effective in generating theoretical seismograms in this type of problem because each of these diffractions is associated with a particular transmission coefficient: Tsp which transmits shear waves into primary waves when crossing the CMB and Tps which transmits the primary waves back into shear waves at the receiver end. Each region can then be isolated and have its separate fine structure, sharp or gradational. Two classes of boundaries are e4plored: the CMB as a simple, sharp interface and the CMB with a very low velocity transition layer (10% slower than reference models). The two diffractions produced by these structures have diagnostic arrival times and wave shapes and when combined with the geometric SKS produce distinct waveform characteristics not easily generated by other means. Since the ray paths associated with these three phases are virtually identical in the mantle and only differ along a short sample of CMB and in the one-dimensional fluid core, we can isolate the small localized CMB region sampled. Thus the waveform character of the extended SKS in the range of 105° to 120° becomes an excellent CMB probe which we demonstrate on a small sample of observations from the Fiji-Tonga region as recordeq in North America.
Deterministic broadcasting time in radio networks of unknown topology

In a seminal paper, Bar-Yehuda et al. (1992) considered broadcasting in radio networks whose nodes know only their own label and labels of their neighbors. They claimed a linear lower bound on the time of deterministic broadcasting in such radio networks, by constructing a class of graphs of diameter 3, with the property that every broadcasting algorithm requires linear time on one of these graphs. Due to a subtle error in the argument, this result is incorrect. We construct an algorithm that broadcasts in logarithmic time on all graphs from the work of Bar-Yehuda et al. Moreover, we show how to broadcast in sublinear time on all n-node graphs of diameter o(log log n). On the other hand, we construct a class of graphs of diameter 4, such that every broadcasting algorithm requires time /spl Omega/(4/spl radic/n) on one of these graphs. In view of the randomized algorithm, running in expected time O(D log n + log/sup 2/ n) on all n-node graphs of diameter D, our lower bound gives the first correct proof of an exponential gap between determinism and randomization in the time of radio broadcasting.
A media cache structure for multimedia applications in embedded systems

In this paper we present a high performance and low power media cache structure using a dynamic fetching mechanism. The proposed cache consists of three parts, i.e., a dual direct mapped cache, a fully associative spatial buffer, and a dynamic fetch unit. When a cache miss occurs, the dynamic fetch controller generates fetch signals for one of three block sizes (e.g., 64-byte, 128-byte, or 192-byte) depending on information that is kept on recent block access patterns. Simulation results show that the proposed cache can achieve better performance than a 2-way or 4-way set associative cache with twice as much space. Also, compared with a victim cache, the average memory access time is improved by about 15% on media applications. It is also shown that power consumption of the proposed cache is around 60% lower than other cache systems.
Physiological and transcriptional regulation in poplar roots and leaves during acclimation to high temperature and drought.

To elucidate the physiological and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that underlie the responses of poplars to high temperature (HT) and/or drought in woody plants, we exposed Populus alba × Populus tremula var. glandulosa saplings to ambient temperature (AT) or HT under 80 or 40% field capacities (FC), or no watering. HT increased the foliar total carbon (C) concentrations, and foliar δ(13) C and δ(18) O. HT triggered heat stress signaling via increasing levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in poplar roots and leaves. After perception of HT, poplars initiated osmotic adjustment by increasing foliar sucrose and root galactose levels. In agreement with the HT-induced heat stress and the changes in the levels of ABA and carbohydrates, we detected increased transcript levels of HSP18 and HSP21, as well as NCED3 in the roots and leaves, and the sugar transporter gene STP14 in the roots. Compared with AT, drought induced greater enhancement of foliar δ(13) C and δ(18) O in poplars at HT. Similarly, drought caused greater stimulation of the ABA and foliar glucose levels in poplars at HT than at AT. Correspondingly, desiccation led to greater increases in the mRNA levels of HSP18, HSP21, NCED3, STP14 and INT1 in poplar roots at HT than at AT. These results suggest that HT has detrimental effects on physiological processes and it induces the transcriptional regulation of key genes involved in heat stress responses, ABA biosynthesis and sugar transport and HT can cause greater changes in drought-induced physiological and transcriptional responses in poplar roots and leaves.
Antimicrobial resistance of lactobacilli isolated from food.

Dušková M. , Karpíšková R. (2013): Antimicrobial resistance of lactobacilli isolated from food. Czech J. Food Sci., 31: 27–32. Bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus are of great benefit in many areas of life. They are widely used in food industry, in particular as part of starter cultures for fermented dairy and meat products, but also in human and veterinary medicine as probiotics. The increasing global problem of antimicrobial resistance may also involve lactic acid bacteria because of the possible risk of resistance genes transfer. We determined the antimicrobial susceptibility of lactobacilli isolated from food. Ninety facultatively heterofermentative lactobacilli isolated from retail dairy and meat products were tested. The resistance to antimicrobials was screened by the disk diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by the broth microdilution method. Fifteen strains (17%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent and one strain was multiresistant.
Increasing Task Complexity and ICE Hockey Skills of Youth Athletes

The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the effects on cognitive performance of progressively adding tasks specific to ice hockey (skating, stick handling, and obstacle avoidance) during a visual interference task (Stroop Color Word Test–interference condition). In addition, the effects on locomotor performance of progressively adding tasks of stickhandling, visual interference, and obstacle avoidance related to maximal skating speed and minimal obstacle clearance were investigated in eight male athletes ages 10 to 12 years. Results revealed decreased performance on both cognitive and physical measures with increased task complexity, suggesting that adding complexity to an environment influences hockey skill performance.
An Immunohistochemical Comparison Between Low-Grade and High-Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinomas: Significantly Higher Expression of p53, MIB1, BCL2, HER-2/neu, and C-KIT in High-Grade Neoplasms

Ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC) is the most common ovarian epithelial malignancy. Recently, a dualistic pathway of ovarian serous carcinogenesis has been proposed based on morphologic observations and molecular genetic analysis. In this scheme, low-grade OSC arises in a stepwise fashion from a benign serous cystadenoma through a usual serous borderline tumor through a micropapillary variant of serous borderline tumor. In contrast, the more common high-grade OSC arises de novo from the ovarian surface epithelium or the epithelium of cortical inclusion cysts with an as yet unrecognized precursor lesion. Although the division of OSC into low- and high-grade variants is gaining greater acceptance, and although there is accumulating molecular genetic evidence for this, there is little published information regarding a comparison of protein expression between these two types of OSC. In this study, we have investigated the immunohistochemical expression of a wide range of proteins in cases of low-grade (n = 22) and high-grade (n = 47) OSC. Antibodies used were p53, MIB1, BCL2, WT1, HER-2/neu, C-KIT, osteopontin, and survivin. For all antibodies, except MIB1, cases were scored as 0 (negative or occasional positive cells), 1+ (<10% cells positive), 2+ (10%-25% cells positive), 3+ (26%-50% cells positive), 4+ (51%-75% cells positive) or 5+ (>75% cells positive). For MIB1, the percentage of positive nuclei was calculated. There was a statistically significant higher expression of p53, MIB1, BCL2, HER-2/neu, and C-KIT in high-grade compared with low-grade OSC (P < 0.05). Thirty of 47 (64%) cases of high-grade OSC exhibited 5+ staining with p53 compared with 4 of 22 (18%) low-grade neoplasms. Twelve of 47 (26%) high-grade OSCs exhibited 5+ staining with BCL2 compared with 1 of 22 (5%) low-grade OSCs. The mean MIB1 proliferative index in high-grade OSCs was 55.4% compared with 23.0% in low-grade OSCs. Virtually all cases of both low-grade and high-grade OSCs exhibited diffuse nuclear positivity with WT1 and diffuse cytoplasmic positivity with survivin. Osteopontin expression was variable with no significant difference in expression between low-grade and high-grade OSC. Although expression of both HER-2/neu and C-KIT was significantly higher in high-grade compared with low-grade OSC, only rare cases exhibited strong positivity with these antibodies, which could be of therapeutic value in individual cases, although this would require additional molecular investigations. The significant differences in protein expression between low-grade and high-grade OSC provides further support for a different underlying pathogenesis. In particular, the differences in p53 immunoreactivity are in keeping with the observation that p53 gene mutation is more common in high-grade than low-grade OSC.
Mapping the Interacting Domains of STIM1 and Orai1 in Ca2+ Release-activated Ca2+ Channel Activation*

STIM1 and Orai1 are essential components of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels (CRACs). After endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store depletion, STIM1 in the endoplasmic reticulum aggregates and migrates toward the cell periphery to co-localize with Orai1 on the opposing plasma membrane. Little is known about the roles of different domains of STIM1 and Orai1 in protein clustering, migration, interaction, and, ultimately, opening CRAC channels. Here we demonstrate that the coiled-coil domain in the C terminus of STIM1 is crucial for its aggregation. Amino acids 425–671 of STIM1, which contain a serine-proline-rich region, are important for the correct targeting of the STIM1 cluster to the cell periphery after calcium store depletion. The polycationic region in the C-terminal tail of STIM1 also helps STIM1 targeting but is not essential for CRAC channel activation. The cytoplasmic C terminus but not the N terminus of Orai1 is required for its interaction with STIM1. We further identify a highly conserved region in the N terminus of Orai1 (amino acids 74–90) that is necessary for CRAC channel opening. Finally, we show that the transmembrane domain of Orai1 participates in Orai1-Orai1 interactions.
Displacement‐encoded cardiac MRI using cosine and sine modulation to eliminate (CANSEL) artifact‐generating echoes

Displacement‐encoded imaging with stimulated echoes (DENSE) and harmonic phase imaging (HARP) employ 1‐1 spatial modulation of magnetization to cosine modulate the longitudinal magnetization as a function of position at end diastole. Later in the cardiac cycle they sample the cosine‐modulated signal and compute myocardial strain from the signal phase. The sampled signal generally includes three distinct echoes: 1) a displacement‐encoded stimulated echo, 2) the complex conjugate of the displacement‐encoded echo, and 3) an echo arising from T1 relaxation. If the T1‐relaxation and complex conjugate echoes are suppressed, then a phase image representing just the displacement‐encoded echo can be reconstructed. In the present study, the use of cosine and sine modulation to eliminate (CANSEL) the T1‐relaxation and complex conjugate echoes was investigated. With the use of CANSEL, it was demonstrated that DENSE accurately measures through‐plane as well as in‐plane components of tissue motion. Also, DENSE with CANSEL artifact suppression can provide increased signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) secondary to reduced intravoxel dephasing by using relatively low displacement‐encoding frequencies. For applications that employ DENSE imaging with multiple acquisitions, the CANSEL technique can suppress artifact‐generating echoes without placing constraints on the displacement‐encoding frequency and direction. Magn Reson Med 52:774–781, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Are Spike ’ s Commercials More Sexist than Lifetime ’ s : A Comparison of Gender Role Portrayals in Advertising

In light of the proliferation of niche market networks and other trends towards market segmentation that have arisen in recent years, this study explored the prevalence of gender role stereotyping and product stereotyping in the commercials aired on gender-specific niche market networks. This study used content analysis to examine gender role portrayals in the advertisements played on Spike TV, Lifetime, and NBC. Results indicated that gender stereotyping was, in general, still prevalent in the commercials shown on all three networks. Female characters were more frequently associated with the home and family, while males had a stronger association with work and the business realm. When comparing across networks, the author found that stereotyping was not always shown in the same areas and that the same kind of stereotypes were not always emphasized. Raj: The only thing I’ve learned in the last two hours is that American men love drinking beer, pee too often, and have trouble getting erections. Leonard: Focus on the game, not the commercials, Raj. “The Cornhusker Vortex,” The Big Bang Theory (2009)
Ineffectiveness of Sertraline for Treatment of Menopausal Hot Flushes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline on hot flush frequency and severity in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS: We performed a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial in women aged 40 to 60 years with 14 or more hot flushes per week (N=99). Women were randomly assigned initially to daily oral sertraline (50 mg) or identical placebo for 2 weeks. If no substantial side effects were noted, the dose was increased to two tablets daily (100 mg sertraline or placebo) and continued for an additional 4 weeks. Hot flush frequency and severity were recorded on a daily diary. Hot flush score was calculated as frequency multiplied by severity. Participants also completed questionnaires addressing quality of life, menopausal symptoms, sleep quality, sexual function, mood, and side effects. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, hot flush frequency decreased similarly in both the placebo (38%) and sertraline (39%) groups (P=.94). Mean hot flush scores also decreased similarly in both groups (41% and 42%, respectively, P=.86). Compared with placebo, women in the sertraline group were more likely to report gastrointestinal complaints, dry mouth, and dizziness. Treatment with sertraline also resulted in greater worsening of scores on the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short Form 36 standardized physical component and the global Female Sexual Function Index. Results were similar in women at least 80% adherent to study medication. CONCLUSION: Treatment with sertraline did not improve hot flush frequency or severity in generally healthy perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, but was associated with bothersome side effects. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials. gov, NCT00283192 LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I
Isolation of type-A influenza viruses from imported exotic birds.

From 1 January 1972 to 22 July 1972, 15 type-A influenza viruses were identified from 15 cases involving 12 different species of exotic birds being imported into southern California from outside the United States and some that had already been distributed to several locations there. The type-specific antigen (ribonucleoprotein) was identified by the agar-gel-diffusion test, and tentative identification of one strain-specific antigen (hemagglutinin) was made by the hemagglutination-inhibition test. All isolates were inhibited by antiserum against A/mynah bird/Mass. /71 (Hav4 Neq2), and all but two were inhibited by antiserum against A/duck/England/56 (Hav3 Navl).
Electromagnetic-thermal simulation of cold crucible considering surface-to-surface heat radiation

A 3-dimensional electromagnetic-thermal numerical simulation of cold crucible levitation melting method considering surface-to-surface heat radiation is performed by adopting finite element method. Direct area integration method and hemi-cube method are adopted to calculate the surface-to-surface heat radiation separately. Results of considering surface-to-surface heat radiation are compared with those considering surface-to-ambient heat radiation, and neglecting heat radiation. The temperature difference between surface-to-ambient and surface-to-surface is relatively small, hence it is accurate enough to take surface-to-ambient heat radiation into consideration only for the calculation of temperature distribution of EMCC melting method.