Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methodology for measuring cerebrovascular disease burden

Biological aging of the brain is partly attributable to aging of the cerebrovascular circulation and the effects of these vascular changes on the brain. A variety of techniques ranging from simple, clinical scores to complex radiological techniques have been used in an attempt to understand, describe and quantify this process. Simultaneously attempts have been made to relate these changes to cognitive and physical changes and the risk of dementia and stroke associated with brain aging. The most frequently used clinical scores are the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile and the Hachinski Ischemic Score for vascular dementia. Radiological techniques to estimate cerebrovascular burden include many varieties of ultrasonographic, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine techniques. The radiological techniques evaluate the nature and extent of disease in the vessels supplying the brain and the pattern and extent of radiological evidence of damage to the brain both on static and dynamic imaging and are briefly outlined in this review. There are several studies using these techniques to study ‘normal’ aging populations, and the techniques used in the most widely known of these studies are briefly highlighted in this review.
Realistic models of amorphous silica: A comparative study of different potentials

The creation of realistic models of amorphous silica has been studied using the Monte Carlo based method of Wooten, Winer, and Weaire, where the bond-topology is optimized with respect to an interatomic potential model. The commonly used Keating potentials are compared and their strengths and weaknesses are assessed. The mean oxygen bond-angle obtained using these potentials turned out to be too small. A modification of the potential parameters is shown to correct this feature and thus produce better results when used with the Wooten-Winer-Weaire method.
Setting Performance Standards on Educational Assessments and Criteria for Evaluating the Process

Educational assessments and credentialing examinations are often used today to classify examinees into ordered performance categories such as masters and non-masters, or Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Below Basic. These performance categories are typically defined with respect to a well-defined domain of content and skills. The domain of content and skills for educational assessments may be the product of collaboration among curriculum specialists, teachers, and policymakers; and for credentialing examinations, may come from the findings of a job analysis or role delineation study. Performance categories rather than the test scores themselves will sometimes be a more meaningful way to communicate test results. For example, with National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) score reporting, the significance of a change in the average mathematics score of 2 points between 1992 and 1996 for a group of examinees may not be understood, and the meaning of the two-point difference may be difficult to communicate clearly. The percentage of examinees performing at the Proficient level increased from 30% to 35% in the interval between the two administrations of the assessment may be a more meaningful way to report the results, assuming, of course, that the meaning of proficient level performance has been clearly articulated.
Magnetocaloric behavior of Fe-Ni-Mn nanoparticies

We have studied the magnetocaloric effect in high energy ball milled (Fe<sub>70</sub>Ni<sub>30</sub>)<sub>95</sub>Mn<sub>5</sub> alloy nanoparticles. The partial substitution of Fe and Ni by Mn decreases the Curie temperature of the alloy to near room temperature (338 K). Relative cooling power (RCP) increases from 26 to 470 J-kg<sup>-1</sup> for a field change of 0.5 and 5 T, respectively, these values are comparable to the benchmark magnetocaloric material, gadolinium.
'Computing' Requirements in Open Source Software Projects

Due to high dissimilarity with traditional software development, Requirements Engineering (RE) in Open Source Software (OSS) remains poorly understood, despite the visible success of many OSS projects. In this study, we approach OSS RE as a sociotechnical and distributed cognitive activity where multiple actors deploy heterogeneous artifacts to ‘compute’ requirements as to reach a collectively-held understanding of what the software is going to do. We conduct a case study of a popular OSS project, Rubinius (a Ruby programming language runtime environment). Specifically, we investigate the ways in which this project exhibits distribution of cognitive efforts along social, structural, and temporal dimensions and how its requirements computation takes place accordingly. In particular, we seek to generalize to a theoretical framework that explains how three temporally-ordered processes of distributed cognition in OSS projects, denoted excavation, instantiation, and testing-inthe-wild, tie together to form a powerful distributed computational structure to manage requirements.
MIPS 24 μm OBSERVATIONS OF THE HUBBLE DEEP FIELD SOUTH: PROBING THE IR–RADIO CORRELATION OF GALAXIES AT z>1

We present MIPS 24 μm observations of the Hubble Deep Field South taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope. The resulting image is 254 arcmin2 in size and has a sensitivity ranging between ∼12 and ∼30 μJy rms, with a median sensitivity of ∼20 μJy rms. A total of 495 sources have been cataloged with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 5σ. The source catalog is presented as well as source counts which have been corrected for completeness and flux boosting. The IR sources are then combined with MUSYC optical/NIR and ATHDFS radio observations to obtain redshifts and radio flux densities of the sample. We use the IR/radio flux density ratio (q24) to explore the IR–radio correlation for this IR sample and find q24 = 0.71 ± 0.31 for sources detected in both IR and radio. The results are extended by stacking IR sources not detected in the radio observations and we derive an average q24 for redshift bins between 0 < z < 2.5. We find that the high-redshift (z>1) sources have an average q24 ratio which is better fit by local LIRG SEDs rather than local ULIRG SEDs, indicating that high-redshift ULIRGs differ in their IR/radio properties. So, ULIRGs at high-redshift have SEDs different from those found locally. Infrared-faint radio sources are examined, and while nine radio sources do not have an MIPS detection and are therefore radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs), only one radio source has an extreme IRAC 3.6 μm to radio flux density ratio indicating it is a radio-loud AGN at z>1.
Adaptive Agent-Driven Routing and Load Balancing in Communication Networks

This paper presents an unified overview of a new family of distributed algortithms for routing and load balancing in dynamic communication networks. These new algorithms are described as an extension to the classical routing algorithms: they combine the ideas of online asynchronous distance vector routing with adaptive link state routing. Estimates of the current traffic condition and link costs are measured by sending routing agents in the network that mix with the regular information packets and keep track of the costs (e.g. delay) encountered during their journey. The routing tables are then regularly updated based on that information without any central control nor complete knowledge of the network topology. Two new algorithms are proposed here. The first one is based on round trip routing agents that update the routing tables by backtracking their way after having reached the destination. The second one relies on forward agents that update the routing tables directly as they move toward their destination. An efficient co-operative scheme is proposed to deal with asymmetric connections. All these methods are compared on a simulated network with various traffic loads; the robustness of the new algorithms to network changes is proved on various dynamic scenarii.
PyBot: An Algorithm for Web Crawling

PyBot is Web Crawler developed in Python to crawl the Web using Breadth First Search (BFS). The success of the World Wide Web (WWW), which itself built on the open internet, has changed the way how human share and exchange information and ideas. With the explosive growth of the dynamic Web, users have to spend much time just to retrieve a small portion of the information from the Web. The birth of the search engines have made human lives easier by simply taking them to the resources they want. Web crawler is a program used by search engines to retrieve information from the World Wide Web in an automated manner. Keywords− Crawler; Robots; Spiders; Robots Protocol; Crawler Policies
Analysis of case‐control/family sampling design

A commonly adopted design in genetic epidemiologic studies is the so‐called case‐control/family sampling design. Here, cases and controls are sampled and response variables, either quantitative or qualitative, for relatives of cases are contrasted with those of control relatives. This design can be used to examine familial aggregation, contribute to identification of genetic subtypes, and test the discrete versus continuous spectrum hypothesis for disorders of unknown etiology. However, the statistical independence assumption required by conventional case‐control studies is violated for observations from related individuals who share the same genetic/environmental conditions. Consequently, ignoring dependence among related subjects will lead to incorrect sample size calculations and potentially erratic scientific conclusions. In this paper, we discuss several statistical issues that are relevant to the case‐control/family sampling design with a focus on the use of this design in psychiatric research. Specifically, we (1) discuss the relative merit of matched versus unmatched designs; (2) present statistical methods that are useful for analyzing family data and 3) present sample size formulas for studies of quantitative and qualitative traits. A genetic epidemiologic study of schizophrenia is used for illustrative purposes. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The replicated ftsQAZ and minB chromosomal regions of Escherichia coli segregate on average in line with nucleoid movement

The average cellular positions of the ftsQAZ region (2 min) and the minB region (26.5 min) during the cell cycle was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization using the position of oriC as a reference point. At the steady‐state growth conditions used, newborn cells had replicated about 50% of the chromosome. By measuring the distances of the labelled oriCs with respect to mid‐cell, we found two well‐separated average oriC positions in cells of newborn length. These average oriC positions moved further apart along with cell elongation. The cellular position of the ftsQAZ gene region resembled the position of oriC, although its average position was closer to mid‐cell. In contrast, a single minB focus was observed at cell birth. Separated minB foci appeared towards the end of DNA replication. The average positions of oriC, ftsQAZ and minB relative to each other fitted a model in which DNA replication takes place in the cell centre and subsequent gene regions pass sequentially through this centre. We have interpreted the polarized orientation of the studied gene regions as a consequence of the mode of DNA segregation.
Speeds Criteria vs. Modified Aldrete and Fast-Track Criteria for Evaluating Recovery in Outpatients

Background: The authors have developed criteria utilizing the mnemonic “SPEEDS” (saturation, pain, extremity movement, emesis, dialogue, stable vitals signs) to evaluate and predict which patients would not require phase I nursing intervention and could transition to phase II recovery. Methods: Seventy-three adult surgery patients underwent a standardized general anesthetic. Patients were evaluated with the modified Aldrete, Fast-Track and SPEEDS criteria immediately before leaving the OR and then 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes after arrival in the recovery area. Results: Significantly more patients met phase I bypass criteria when evaluated with Modified Aldrete (90%) and Fast-Track (94%) as compared to SPEEDS (77%) (p < 0.0429 modified Aldrete vs. SPEEDS, p < 0.0038 Fast-Track vs. SPEEDS). However, SPEEDS was more sensitive having a lower number of patients meeting phase II criteria yet requiring phase I intervention (32%) vs. Fast-track (43%) and Modified Aldrete (44%) (p < 0.001 SPEEDS vs. modified Aldrete and Fast-Track). SPEEDS was more accurate (74%) in predicting which patients should move directly to phase II compared to modified Aldrete (42%) (p < 0.001) and Fast-track (59%) (p = 0.05). Conclusion: SPEEDS criteria are as specific and more sensitive in determining phase I nursing interventions for ambulatory surgery patients when compared to Fast-Track and modified Aldrete criteria.
A study on information transfer rate by brain-computer interface (BCI) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

We develop an 8-channel time domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system and measure concentration changes of hemoglobin during left/right arm lifting. Correlation-based signal improvement (CBSI) method is used to remove the effect of the head movement. We investigate the performances of the information transfer rate as a function of classification accuracy estimated by support vector machine. We achieve the information transfer rate in the range of 0.28~2.08 bits/min
A Fast Algorithm of Mining Multidimensional Association Rules Frequently

In this paper, a novel algorithm named MDFM is proposed. It is an algorithm for mining multidimensional association rules frequently from relational database. The algorithm uses a structure including many indexes and bases on statistic idea. When using the algorithm for the first time, it scans the target database only once and all frequent itemsets and association rules can be generated. After some parameters are adjusted, it is not necessary to scan the database at all and all frequent itemsets can be generated when the algorithm runs again. So, it can be used when the target database must be mined time after time. Compared with some traditional algorithms of mining association rules, the algorithm presented in this paper has better executive efficiency and expansibility, which is proved in our experiments
Last Line to Secure Transfusion Safety: Pathogen Inactivation/Reduction Methods in Blood Products-Current Approaches and Perspectives

The residual risk of transfusion transmitted infection (TTI) had been decreased greatly since the donor screening methods, especially the nucleic acid testing (NAT), were introduced. NAT can shorten the period between infection and detection (window period) to several days after infection. However, transfusion safety still faces challenges due to limitations of test sensitivity and more importantly the unexpected appearance of new pathogens. The newly discovered or re-emerging viruses such as West Nile virus, human parvovirus B19 and latest reported severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunya virus in the donor blood endangered blood safety. Pathogen inactivation/ reduction (PI/PR) strategies provide last line of defence against various pathogens to secure transfusion safety.
Measurements and analysis of the gap and local modes of BGa impurities in GaP.

High-resolution (0.02 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$) infrared-absorption measurements show resolved gap modes for $^{10}\mathrm{B}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ and $^{11}\mathrm{B}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ impurities in GaP at 284.50 and 283.10 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, respectively. These frequencies and those from local modes for the same impurities are analyzed by a method using perfect lattice modes calculated by ab initio density-functional methods and Green's-function techniques for treating the modifications introduced by the defects. It is demonstrated that the large linewidth of 0.9 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ for the gap modes and their unusual shapes are due to the second-neighbor interactions with mixed $^{69}\mathrm{Ga}$ and $^{71}\mathrm{Ga}$ isotopes. The measured widths of the $^{10}\mathrm{B}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ and $^{11}\mathrm{B}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ local modes in GaP (0.6 and 0.9 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$) correlate with the host-lattice two-phonon densities at the appropriate frequencies (592.75 and 570.00 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, respectively). \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Genuine DNA/polyethylenimine (PEI) Complexes Improve Transfection Properties and Cell Survival

Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been described as one of the most efficient cationic polymers for in vitro gene delivery. Systemic delivery of PEI/DNA polyplexes leads to a lung-expression tropism. Selective in vivo gene transfer would require targeting and stealth particles. Here, we describe two strategies for chemically coupling polyethylene glycol (PEG) to PEI, to form protected ligand-bearing particles. Pre-grafted PEG–PEI polymers lost their DNA condensing property, hence their poor performances. Coupling PEG to pre-formed PEI/DNA particles led to the expected physical properties. However, low transfection efficacies raised the question of the fate of excess free polymer in solution. We have developed a straightforward a purification assay, which uses centrifugation-based ultrafiltration. Crude polyplexes were purified, with up to 60% of the initial PEI dose being removed. The resulting purified and unshielded PEI/DNA polyplexes are more efficient for transfection and less toxic to cells in culture than the crude ones. Moreover, the in vivo toxicity of the polyplexes was greatly reduced, without affecting their efficacy.
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes: A lethal cause of pneumonia in an adult immunocompetent patient

Necrotizing pneumonia and fatal septic shock were caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive, community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in a previously healthy, 61-y-old female. This patient did not belong to any high-risk group (e.g. homosexuals, military recruits, sports team members, etc.). CA-MRSA infection should be suspected in any adult with severe pneumonia/sepsis.
Learning to Save Lives : Using Reinforcement Learning with Environment Features for Efficient Robot Search and Rescue R owan B order

This project proposes a reinforcement learning approach to robot search and rescue (SAR). The approach uses Q-Learning with a neural network representation to learn collision avoidance, exploration and victim discovery behaviours. Visual features in the environment are used to learn correlations between detected features and the likelihood of victim discovery. The system was built using the ROS framework and designed for the TurtleBot mobile platform. The performance of the approach was evaluated in a simulation environment and compared to the performance of a random walk.
Optimal Planning for the Placement of FACTS Devices by Differential Evolution Technique for the Increased Loadabilty of a Power System

This paper presents Differential Evolution (DE) based approach for the allocation & coordinated operation of multiple FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission System) devices for the improvement of power transfer capacity in an interconnected power system. The DE based approach is applied on IEEE 30-bus system. The system is reactively loaded starting from base to 200 % of base load. FACTS devices are installed in the different locations of the power system and system performance is noticed with and without FACTS devices. First, the locations, where the FACTS devices to be placed is determined by calculating active and reactive power flows in the lines. A Differential Evolution based algorithm is then applied to find the amount of magnitudes of the FACTS devices. A comparative analysis with PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) is also done. This approach of Differential Evolution based placement of FACTS devices is tremendous beneficial both in terms of performance and economy is clearly observed from the result obtained.
Kinetic studies on insoluble cellulose–cellulase system

Enzymatic hydrolysis of insoluble amorphous cellulose by Trichoderma viride cellulase was investigated in a batch reactor at several substrate concentrations and three enzyme levels. The reactions were carried out at 50°C and pH 4.8. Enzyme was rapidly adsorbed onto solids on contact, then gradually returned to the liquid phase as the reaction proceeded. A kinetic model that considered the fast adsorption which was followed by the slow reaction, and subsequent product inhibition was developed to interpret the experimental observations. The resulting equation successfully correlated the data for up to 70% conversion. The methods for determining the kinetic parameters are discussed.
Axial specification in mice: Ten years of advances and controversies

The definitive axes of the mouse embryo can be unequivocally identified in embryos dissected at 5.5 days of gestation. However, how and when are these axes established remains an open question. At pre‐implantation stages, different approaches have been aimed at determining if events occurring in the zygote influence the geometrical arrangement of the blastocyst. An intense debate has focused on whether the mouse embryo is a pre‐patterned or a regulative structure. At post‐implantation stages, the efforts have been concentrated in understanding how extra‐embryonic tissues affect the formation of the primitive streak, the caudal marker of the anteroposterior axis. Here I summarize the last 10 years of research in this field. J. Cell. Physiol. 213:654–660. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel algorithm on computing intersections of two surfaces of revolution based on spherical decomposition

A novel algorithm for computing RSIC intersection curves of two surfaces of revolution is presented; it subdivides a surface of revolution into a collection of coaxial spherical strips, by subdividing its generatrix into a collection of C/sup 0/ and C/sup 1/ coaxial circular arcs correspondingly. So the intersection problem of two surfaces of revolution is reduced to an intersection problem of two spherical stripes, and RSIC is approximated as a piecewise C/sup 0/ and C/sup 1/ circular, which is quite convenient for some CAD applications. Cylindrical bounding shell is used for computing valid intersection interval VII to avoid the unnecessary intersection computation efficiently. Finally, we give a simple algorithm of tracing RSIC for classification and a unified rational Bezier representation to RSIC.
SARS‐CoV nucleocapsid protein binds to hUbc9, a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme of the sumoylation system

SARS‐CoV is a newly identified coronavirus (CoV) that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The SARS‐CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein is an important structural and functional protein. To identify cellular proteins that interact with the SARS‐CoV N protein and to elucidate the possible involvement of N protein in SARS‐CoV pathogenesis, a human lymphocyte cDNA library was screened using a yeast two‐hybrid system assay. hUbc9, a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme of sumoylation system, was found to interact specifically with the N protein, implying the post‐translational sumoylation of the N protein. Mapping studies localized the critical N sequences for this interaction to amino acids 170–210, which includes the SR‐rich motif. However, the consensus motif of sumoylation GK62EE in the N protein is not responsible for binding to hUbc9. Mutations of hUbc9 at the enzyme active site C93A or C93S severely impair the interaction with the N protein. The two proteins were also shown to colocalize in the cytoplasm of the transfected 293T cells. This is the first report demonstrating the interaction of hUbc9 with a structural protein of plus‐strand RNA viruses, indicating a new drug target for SARS‐CoV. J. Med. Virol. 78:1365–1373, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.