Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combination of MRI hippocampal volumetry and arterial spin labeling MR perfusion at 3-Tesla improves the efficacy in discriminating Alzheimer's disease from cognitively normal elderly adults.

BACKGROUND Structural magnetic resonance imaging has been employed for evaluation of medial temporal atrophy in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique could detect cerebral perfusion abnormalities in AD. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that combination of hippocampal volumetry and cerebral blood flow yield higher accuracy than either method alone in discriminating AD patients from cognitively normal elderly adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS 13 AD patients and 15 healthy controls were studied using a 3-tesla scanner. Standardized T1W 3D volumetric Fast Field Echo and QUASAR ASL sequences were employed for cerebral volumetry and perfusion respectively. Manual Right and left hippocampal volumetry was performed manually by ANALYZE software, with total intracranial volume normalization. ASL data were analyzed by institutional specially-design software to calculate cerebral blood flow of region-of-interests placed at the middle and posterior cingulate gyri. RESULTS Right and left hippocampal volumes and middle and posterior cingulate gyri cerebral blood flows were significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (independent-samples t-tests, p < 0.05), and prediction accuracies of 89.3%, 82.1%, 75.0% and 71.4% were achieved for each of the above parameters, respectively. In distinguishing patients from controls using corresponding optimized cut-off values, various combinations of these parameters were used to create the Receiver Operating Characteristic curves. The highest area under curve value was 0.944, by combining cerebral blood flow at the middle cingulate gyrus, normalized right and left hippocampal volumes. CONCLUSIONS A 'one-stop-shop' magnetic resonance study of combined hippocampal volumetry and cerebral perfusion has improved efficacy in discriminating AD patients from cognitively normal elderly adults.
A novel adaptive flocking algorithm for multi-agents system with time delay and nonlinear dynamics

In this paper, flocking problem of multi-agents with time delay is investigated. All agents of the system are governed by a nonlinear intrinsic dynamics. An adaptive flocking algorithm for multi-agents system with time delay and nonlinear dynamics is proposed. It is proved that the distance between agents can be larger than a constant during the motion evolution by using the flocking algorithm. Moreover all agents' velocities asymptotically tend to the same. The simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Locked nucleic acid (LNA)‐based single‐stranded oligonucleotides are not genotoxic

Over the last decade, single stranded oligonucleotides (ON) have gained increased attention as a new drug modality. Because the assessment of genotoxicity risk during early development of pharmaceuticals is essential, we evaluated the potential of locked nucleic acids (LNA)‐ONs to induce DNA damage in L5178Y tk+/− cells both with the mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) and the micronucleus test (MNT). Further, the MLA was performed to assess gene and chromosome mutation over 3 and 24h (± metabolic activation). In addition, the MNT was performed to assess, in addition, a potential aneugenic liability. None of the experiments demonstrated a genotoxic effect for the five tested LNA‐ONs. We further show data from four proprietary LNA‐ONs tested in standard genotoxicity assays in vitro and partially in vivo, which were all negative. In addition, cellular and nuclear uptake of LNA‐ONs in L5178Y tk+/− cells was demonstrated. Based on the results presented here as well as in the literature about other representatives of this class, we consider LNA‐ONs as generally not DNA reactive and question whether genotoxicity testing of this class of ONs should be required. This is in line with recent recommendation made by the OSWG that extensively assessed the genotoxicity of oligonucleotides. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:112–121, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sliding-mode control of quasi-Z-source inverter with battery for renewable energy system

In order to meet the energy storage requirements, a battery unit is required for the voltage-fed quasi Z-source inverter (qZSI) system in renewable energy applications. However, the order of the system will be increased accordingly, which make the control of the high order nonlinear systems more complicated. This paper presents a sliding mode current control based on fixed frequency operating with fast response and improved stability. Unlikely the conventional sliding mode control (SMC), the proposed controller engaged a fixed-frequency SMC based on the equivalent control theory to cooperate the modulation index and shoot through duty ratio. By establishing the large-signal dynamic model, the system will obtain a wide operating range to adapt to the renewable energy system. Using linear approximation, the small-signal model near steady-state operating point will be obtained to analysis the stable working conditions of the control system. Compared to the conventional current mode controller, the proposed controller can achieve a faster response, lower current ripple and better stability for qZSI when the supply and load variation is large. Experimental results are presented to validate the theoretical design and the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Efficacy, disposition and pharmacodynamics of aspirin, acetaminophen and choline salicylate in young febrile children.

Summary Aspirin (ASA), acetaminophen (APAP) or choline salicylate (chol SA) were administered as a single oral dose to 38 febrile children ages 2–7 years. Two doses (9 and 12 mg/kg) of APAP were evaluated. The 8–10 children in each treatment group were similar with regard to predose averages for fever, pulse, respiration, and demographic factors. About 50% of the children showed a low predose plasma level of salicylic acid (SA) or APAP. The predose level was treated as a known variable for the pharmacokinetic calculations and for assessment of efficacy. Antipyresis was demonstrated for all three drugs. A statistically significant lower maximum antipyretic effect was found for chol SA relative to ASA and APAP. This finding indicates a role for ASA per se on antipyretic response in addition to an action of SA. Average maximum antipyresis for ASA and APAP was about 70% of the possible excursion of rectal temperature to normal. For this 70% EffmaxN, the average plasma level was 58 μ/ml for SA and 4–6 μg/ml for APAP. Pharmacokinetic assessments in these febrile children revealed a similar Cmax of SA for ASA and chol SA (∼70μg/ml), but the tmax of SA from ASA was about 3-fold longer than that of chol SA. A 1.6-fold higher Cmax (9.3 vs. 14.6μg/ml) of APAP was noted for the higher dose, but the tmax (∼0.7 h) was similar for both doses. Drug concentration at the time of maximum antipyresis was less than the Cmax for all three drugs. Chol SA was more rapidly absorbed than ASA (absorption t1/2 = 0.1 vs 0.36 h). APAP absorption was rapid and showed an apparent dose dependency (absorption t1/2 = 0.21 and 0.13 h for the high and low doses, respectively). SA from chol SA and APAP from the low APAP dose showed an average plasma kalpha of about 1.3 h-1 for distribution from the central compartment. Bioavailability was similar for SA from ASA and chol SA, but the higher APAP dose showed a higher than expected AUC. Average apparent volume of distribution of SA was 122 ml/kg and that for APAP (adjusted for estimated presystemic clearance) was about 960 ml/kg. The average t1/2 for plasma SA elimination was 3.43 h, and SA clearance (assuming first-order conditions) was 24.5 ml/kg/h. The t1/2 for APAP was 1.74 h and did not show dose dependence; a two-compartment model t1/2 = 2.9 h was estimated for the terminal elimination phase of APAP in plasma. Average plasma clearance of APAP was 322 \pm 18 ml/kg/h. Computer modeling for APAP gave an estimated k1/2 = 0.4 h-1, Vd = 0.75 I/kg, kabs 5.35 h-1, and bioavailability 90%. Modeling approaches to plasma SA data yielded approximate values for Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters to adequately characterize disposition by saturation kinet
Experimental Study of MIMO-OFDM Transmissions at 94 GHz in Indoor Environments

Millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequencies have been proposed to achieve high capacity in 5G communications. Although meaningful research on the channel characteristics has been performed in the 28-, 38-, and 60-GHz bands in both indoor and short-range scenarios, only a small number of trials (experiments) have been carried out in other mm-wave bands. The objective of this paper is to study the viability and evaluate the performance of the 94-GHz frequency band for MIMO-OFDM transmission in an indoor environment. Starting from a measurement campaign, the performance of MIMO algorithms is studied in terms of throughput for four different antenna configurations.
Sputum cytology: a limited role.

AIMS: To determine the cost and sensitivity of sputum cytology in routine use and to determine when sputum cytology is most appropriate. METHODS: A retrospective study, based on all sputum cytology requests received in five histopathology/cytopathology laboratories in Yorkshire from 1 January to 31 December 1993. Cytology findings were correlated with histological diagnosis or clinical outcome, and related to the speciality of the referring clinician. RESULTS: Laboratory practice and performance was similar in all five centres. The average laboratory cost of sputum cytology was 26.93. The mean absolute sensitivity was 36% and the specificity was 99.6%. The majority of specimens was submitted by general physicians or geriatricians. The largest proportion of positive specimens were submitted by chest physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Often sputum cytology is used inappropriately as a screening investigation on, or soon after, admission. In addition, it is used inappropriately before bronchoscopy. Sputum cytology should be limited to individuals in whom a histological diagnosis is desired, but in whom bronchoscopy is inappropriate or unsuccessful.
Circuit model of circular antenna loaded with composite right/left-handed transmission line

A circular patch antenna loaded with a composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) is designed. A dedicated radial TL circuit model is introduced to analyze the proposed structure because the conventional linear TL model is only suitable for a rectangular periodic structure. The new model is used to calculate the resonant frequencies and input impedance of the circular patch antenna. Its results agree well with the results obtained by full wave simulation.
Reliability of physical functioning measures in ambulatory subjects with MS.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE One of the primary reasons for measuring outcomes during rehabilitation is to determine the effect of physiotherapy. Repeated measurement situations are susceptible to several sources of error, including inconsistencies caused by the subject, the procedure, the instrument and the examiner. Therefore, the reliability of the measures needs to be examined. METHOD The present study used a repeated-measures design. Two studies were undertaken to examine the test-retest and inter-rater reliability for physical functioning measures. The interval between the measurements was one week. The sample consisted of 19 ambulatory subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the test-retest and nine subjects in the inter-rater reliability study. The measures were selected to assess different domains of the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO, 2001). Several parameters of the Box and Block Test (BBT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Kela Coordination test, the postural stability test, the timed 10-metre gait test, the six-minute walk test, the shoulder tug test, grip strength, maximal isometric force of the knee extensors, muscle endurance tests, the modified Ashworth Scale and passive straight leg raise test were examined in terms of reliability. RESULTS The intra-class coefficient (ICC) values for test-retest reliability were >0.80 in 17 of 23 parameters, and correspondingly so in 20 out of 26 parameters for inter-rater reliability. Poor reliability (defined as ICC < or = 0. 60) was obtained only for the patient classification index (PCI) of the six-minute walk test in the test-retest reliability study. In general, the coefficient of variation was good. A moderate amount of variability was discovered for the Kela Coordination test, and for postural stability and muscle endurance tests. The data obtained from the modified Ashworth Scale and the shoulder tug test were highly skewed and the percentage of agreement ranged between 63.9% and 93.4%. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed acceptable test-retest and inter-rater reliability of these measures in ambulatory subjects with MS, with the exception of the Modified Ashworth Scale and the shoulder tug test.
Solving the Lock Holder Preemption Problem in a Multicore Processor-based Virtualization Layer for Embedded Systems

In this paper, we explain the reason why the Lock Holder Preemption(LHP) problem is serious when using a multi-core processor based virtualization layer. Then, we introduce two new techniques for avoiding the LHP problem. The existing techniques and new proposed techniques have been implemented on our virtualization layer called SPUMONE, and we measured the results showing that the proposed new techniques reduce the semantic gap to use a virtualization layer on a multi-core processor in embedded systems.
Strong relationships between disease activity, foot-related impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES To assess possible relationships between disease activity, foot-related impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS Thirty-four children were studied. Disease activity was assessed with the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score in 71 joints (JADAS-71). Foot-related impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions were measured with the Juvenile Arthritis Foot Disability Index (JAFI), the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), self-reported or parent-reported and doctor-reported VAS scales. Relationships were quantified with Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS The mean age was 12.4±3.7 years, the median disease duration 1.5 years (interquartile range (IQR) 1.0-4.0), 88% were girls, and 76% had polyarticular disease course. The median JADAS-71 score (range 0-101) was 6 (IQR 1-13). On the JAFI sub-scores (range 0-4) 88% of the children reported some foot-related impairments (median 1.1, IQR 0.4-2.0); 82% reported some foot-related activity limitations (median 0.9, IQR 0.3-2.0), and 65% reported some foot-related participation restrictions (median 0.6, IQR 0-2.1). The median CHAQ score was 0.9 (IQR 0.1-1.8). The JADAS-71 correlated with all impairment, activity limitation and participation restriction variables (r=0.48-0.81, p<0.01). Most of the impairment variables correlated with activity limitation (r=0.39, p<0.05 to r=0.92, p<0.01) and participation restriction variables (r=0.44, p<0.05 to r=0.81, p<0.01). All activity limitation variables correlated with participation restriction variables (r=0.62-0.84, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS We observed strong relationships between disease activity, foot-related impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions in children with JIA, and therefore suggest that standard screening for foot problems should be included in follow-up care for JIA patients.
Atrial Action Potential Heterogeneity Measured by Unipolar Electrograms

Vagally-induced action potential duration (APD) heterogeneity can lead to the breakdown of atrial flutter into fibrillation. The exact distribution of vagal mediated effects in the atria is unknown, however. This study analyzed canine electrograms in order to determine changes in APD. Electrograms were recorded under control, and left and right vagal nerve stimulation. Simulations in a computer model were first performed in order to determine how local acetylcholine concentrations affect electrograms. Two measures were investigated to assess APD changes. Results indicate that APD is reduced nonuniformly, and contralateral effects were seen
Attenuation of LPS-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase expression by lysophosphatidic acid in macrophages

LPS can activate the inflammatory cascades by inducing various inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) resulting from cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and NO produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS). Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been demonstrated to participate in inflammation. This study aimed to clarify the impact and the involving mechanisms of LPA on LPS-incurred inflammation in macrophages. First, LPA appeared to attenuate LPS-induced protein and mRNA expression of COX-2 and iNOS genes, as well as production of PGE2 and NO. By using selective inhibitors targeting various signaling players, the inhibitory G protein alpha subunit (Gαi) seemed to be involved in the effect of LPA; p38, ERK and NF-κB were involved in the LPS-mediated COX-2/PGE2 pathway; and p38, JNK, phosphoinositide-3-kinase and NF-κB were involved in the LPS-mediated iNOS/NO pathway. LPA was able to diminish LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38 and Akt, as well as NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. By utilization of inhibitors of COX-2 and iNOS, there appeared to be no modulation between the COX-2/PGE2 and the iNOS/NO signaling pathways. Our findings demonstrate a clear anti-inflammatory role of LPA acting via Gαi in LPS-mediated inflammatory response in macrophages, owing, at least in part, to its suppressive effect on LPS-induced activation of p38, Akt and NF-κB.
Effective parameters in determining cross-linked dextran microsphere characteristics: screening by Plackett–Burman design-of-experiments

This study aims to screen the effective parameters in preparing cross-linked dextran microspheres (CDMs) to make them controllable for obtaining microspheres with tunable properties. Microspheres were prepared by chemical crosslinking of dextran dissolved in internal phase of an inverse emulsion system (W/O) using epichlorohydrin (ECH). A Plackett–Burman design-of-experiments was employed as the screening methodology to investigate the effects of the kinetics and process parameters, i.e. the mixing speed and emulsification time on the resulting microsphere characteristics. Crosslinking reaction temperature and concentrations of the emulsion constituents including dextran, ECH and sodium hydroxide were the studied kinetic parameters. Equilibrium swelling ratio, mean particle size and size distribution of the resulting CDMs were measured and statistically analysed. It was found that dextran concentration is the most influential parameter on the particle size and swelling ratio of the obtained CDMs. Increasing dextran concentration in the aqueous phase leads to a significant increase in the mean particle size and decrement in water uptake capacity of the resulting microspheres, respectively.
Proton T2 relaxation study of water, N‐acetylaspartate, and creatine in human brain using Hahn and Carr‐Purcell spin echoes at 4T and 7T

Carr‐Purcell and Hahn spin‐echo (SE) measurements were used to estimate the apparent transverse relaxation time constant (T †2 ) of water and metabolites in human brain at 4T and 7T. A significant reduction in the T †2 values of proton resonances (water, N‐acetylaspartate, and creatine/phosphocreatine) was observed with increasing magnetic field strength and was attributed mainly to increased dynamic dephasing due to increased local susceptibility gradients. At high field, signal loss resulting from T †2 decay can be substantially reduced using a Carr‐Purcell‐type SE sequence. Magn Reson Med 47:629–633, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An overlapping phenotype of Osteogenesis imperfecta and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome due to a heterozygous mutation in COL1A1 and biallelic missense variants in TNXB identified by whole exome sequencing

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) are variable genetic disorders that overlap in different ways [Cole 1993; Grahame 1999]. Here, we describe a boy presenting with severe muscular hypotonia, multiple fractures, and joint hyperflexibility, features that are compatible with mild OI and hypermobility type EDS, respectively. By whole exome sequencing, we identified both a COL1A1 mutation (c.4006‐1G > A) inherited from the patient's mildly affected mother and biallelic missense variants in TNXB (p.Val1213Ile, p.Gly2592Ser). Analysis of cDNA showed that the COL1A1 splice site mutation led to intron retention causing a frameshift (p.Phe1336Valfs*72). Type 1 collagen secretion by the patient's skin fibroblasts was reduced. Immunostaining of a muscle biopsy obtained from the patient revealed a clear reduction of tenascin‐X in the extracellular matrix compared to a healthy control. These findings imply that the combination of the COL1A1 mutation with the TNXB variants might cause the patient's unique phenotype. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Grounding Abstract Spatial Concepts for Language Interaction with Robots

Our goal is to develop models that allow a robot to understand or “ground” natural language instructions in the context of its world model. Contemporary approaches estimate correspondences between an instruction and possible candidate groundings such as objects, regions and goals for a robot’s action. However, these approaches are unable to reason about abstract or hierarchical concepts such as rows, columns and groups that are relevant in a manipulation domain, Figure 1. We introduce a probabilistic model that incorporates an expressive space of abstract spatial concepts as well as notions of cardinality and ordinality. Abstract concepts are introduced as explicit hierarchical symbols correlated with concrete groundings. Crucially, the abstract groundings form a Markov boundary over concrete groundings, e (cid:11) ectively de-correlating them from the remaining variables in the graph which reduces the complexity of training and inference in the model. Empirical evaluation demonstrates accurate grounding of abstract concepts embedded in complex natural language instructions commanding a robot manipulator. The proposed inference method leads to signiﬁcant e (cid:14) ciency gains compared to the baseline, with minimal trade-o (cid:11) in accuracy.
Understanding How Spammers Steal Your E-Mail Address: An Analysis of the First Six Months of Data from Project Honey Pot

This paper summarizes and analyses data compiled on the activities of email harvesters gathered through a 5,000+ member honey pot system that issues unique addresses based on a visitor’s IP address and specific spidering time. The project, known as Project Honey Pot, has provided data about the geographical source of harvesting and mail processing, the sending patterns of different types of spammers as well as list management behavior. In addition to providing guidance for website administrators trying to forestall harvesting, the Project data also suggest that anti-harvesting regulations offer a new, potentially successful prosecutorial avenues against spam as well as inform potential amendments to current anti-spam laws that may help those efforts.