Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using 18F-FDG PET/CT to Predict Esophageal Cancer Survival: A Meta-analysis

Background: This study aimed to explore whether metabolic responses to positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) collected before, during, or after the treatment can predict the long-term survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer.Main body: We searched for the following indices in articles listed in English and Chinese literature databases: the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), mean standard uptake value (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). If their values exceeded the thresholds, we defined them as responders; if they did not, we defined them as non-responders. We then performed a meta-analysis by extracting the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) from each report to predict whether the status of responder or non-responder had an impact on prognosis.We identified 34 articles with a combined sample size of 2794 patients. HRs and 95% CIs were measured as follows: SUVmax = 1.15 (0.98-1.35), MTV = 3.45 (0.78-15.25), TLG = 1.04 (1.02-1.07), and SUVmean = 1.85 (1.33-2.57) (before treatment); ΔSUVmax = 1.22 (1.06-1.39), Δ MTV = 1.07 (0.54-2.15), and ΔTLG = 1.09 (0.59-2.02) (during treatment); and SUVmax = 1.13 (1.05-1.22) and TLG = 1.05 (1.02-1.09) (after treatment). The results showed that the overall survival of the patients with low SUV (MTV, TLG) values was significantly higher than that of the patients with high SUV (MTV, TLG) values.Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that the prognoses of patients with PET metabolic responses are significantly better than those of non-responders. Our findings may help inform the clinical treatment and prediction of the prognoses of patients with esophageal cancer.
The effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on motor-cognitive interference during gait in people with foot drop following stroke

A stroke can impair both motor and cognitive functioning, reducing the automaticity of walking and increasing susceptibility to motor-cognitive interference (MCI). There is also some evidence of an association between susceptibility to MCI and the increased incidence of falls in stroke. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is commonly used for correction of foot drop due to stroke. At the start of the PhD, studies had shown FES increases walking speed. However, questionnaire-based studies found that users rated a reduction in effort and a reduced risk of tripping or falling as the two most important reasons for using FES. In these studies, the term ‘effort’ was not defined, but the results from a qualitative study suggested that the questionnaire respondents may have been referring to both physical and mental components. Based on this evidence the following research question was posed “Does FES reduce motor-cognitive interference during gait in people with foot drop following stroke? ” The question was first examined in a questionnaire study which collated FES user opinion from thirty current users. Respondents identified a statistically significant reduction in concentration required when walking with FES compared with walking without the device. Furthermore, the majority noted that walking without thinking about walking was easier with FES. The second study developed and piloted a dual-task based methodology to assess the impact of FES on MCI during gait. Two participants with foot drop following stroke were evaluated over 14 weeks following first use of FES. In one participant, cognitive task performance was maintained at a similar level when walking with FES, compared with seated performance, and reduced without FES. The effects were less clear in the second participant. However, the study demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed methodology and provided the first quantitative evidence that FES can reduce MCI during gait. In the final study of the thesis, a similar methodology was used to study the effects of MCI in a larger cohort of sixteen established FES users. Outcomes suggest that although FES can reduce the motor-cognitive interference experienced during a dual-task situation in some participants, when analysed as a group, the results did not support the existence of this effect.
Phenomenology and Signal Processing for UXO/Clutter Discrimination

Abstract : There are two basic parts to the process of discriminating between buried unexploded ordnance (UXO) and non-hazardous metallic clutter in the ground. First, target parameters or features are extracted from data collected over the target. Then the target parameters are supplied to a set of decision rules that classify the target as UXO or clutter. Despite significant investments from SERDP and ESTCP, UXO/clutter discrimination performance to date has not lived up to expectations. There are problems with both parts of the process. First, current discrimination techniques rely on inverting spatially mapped electromagnetic induction (EMI) data to estimate target parameters and are extremely sensitive to noise and small errors in data mapping. Second, discrimination performance depends crucially on the training data used in determining the boundaries of the decision regions. Although an extensive data base of UXO signatures has been compiled under SERDP project MM-1313 (Quantification of UXO variability for target discrimination), there is precious little clutter data collected under controlled conditions available for training. The project was intended to help rectify this deficiency by collecting and analyzing EMI data for a variety of clutter items. Specific objectives were to (a) establish relationships between the parameters that characterize a target's EMI signature and the physical attributes of the target that can be used to develop effective classification rules and (b) devise robust processing and analysis procedures for estimating the target parameters from data collected above an unknown target without having to spatially map the data.
AN OPTICAL MICROSYSTEM FOR DISPLAYS

A bracket (12) for installing a replacement heating unit (R) in place on a cooktop (C). One leg (14) of each of a pair of L-shaped brackets (12a, 12b) is attached to the bottom (B) of a pan portion (P) of the heating unit. The pan portion is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the opening in the cooktop where the replacement unit fits. The other leg (16) of each bracket extends upwardly along the side of the pan and is spaced outwardly of the pan. This other end of the bracket fits behind a downturned lip (L) defining an opening (O) in the cooktop in which the replacement unit is fitted. This allows the heating unit, with the brackets attached, to be set in place in the cooktop opening with the upwardly extending legs of the brackets bearing against an inner portion of the opening sidewall so to fit the replacement heating unit in place.
Design and Implementation of Efficient Plate Number Region Detecting System in Vehicle Number Plate Image

This paper describes the method of detecting the region of vehicle number plate in colored car image with number plate. Vehicle number plate region generally shows formula colors in accordance with type of car. According to this, we use the method to combine a color ingredient H of HSI color model and a color ingredient Q of YIQ color model. However, the defect which a total operation time takes much exists if it uses such method. Therefore, in this paper, the concurrent accomplishes a candidate area extraction operation as draw a color H and Q ingredient among steps of extracting a region of vehicle number Plate. After the above step, as a next step in combination with color H and Q we can accomplish an region extraction fast by comparing to candidate regions extracted from each steps not to do a comparison operation to all of image pixel information. We also show implementation results Processed at each steps and compare with extraction time according to image resolutions.
Flow of a Thixotropic Bingham Fluid over a Cylinder in Stationary and Non-Stationary Regimes

Flow of a thixotropic Bingham liquid over a cylinder is investigated in this work. Thixotropy is a rheological characteristic associated with the microstructure of the material, which can be broken and recovered during a flowing process. Various flow characteristics such as the flow morphology, the unyielded/yielded zones, the microstructural state, and the hydrodynamic forces acting on the cylinder are analyzed at Re = 20–100 and Bn = 0.5–10. Comparison with Newtonian and non-thixotropic Bingham fluids are also carried out and discussed. Results show that, within these conditions, the flow spans from a stationary regime with or without separation to a non-stationary laminar one with von-Karman-type vortex shedding. In addition, no near-field unyielded zones are observed at Re = 100 and Bn = 0.5 and 1, probably due to the unsteady nature of the flow. At conditions where static unyielded zones exist, the wall shear stress normalized by the yield stress is minimum within these structures.
Methodology of Blade Unsteady Pressure Measurement in the NASA Transonic Flutter Cascade

In this report the methodology adopted to measure unsteady pressures on blade surfaces in the NASA Transonic Flutter Cascade under conditions of simulated blade flutter is described. The previous work done in this cascade reported that the oscillating cascade produced waves, which for some interblade phase angles reflected off the wind tunnel walls back into the cascade, interfered with the cascade unsteady aerodynamics, and contaminated the acquired data. To alleviate the problems with data contamination due to the back wall interference, a method of influence coefficients was selected for the future unsteady work in this cascade. In this approach only one blade in the cascade is oscillated at a time. The majority of the report is concerned with the experimental technique used and the experimental data generated in the facility. The report presents a list of all test conditions for the small amplitude of blade oscillations, and shows examples of some of the results achieved. The report does not discuss data analysis procedures like ensemble averaging, frequency analysis, and unsteady blade loading diagrams reconstructed using the influence coefficient method. Finally, the report presents the lessons learned from this phase of the experimental effort, and suggests the improvements and directions of the experimental work for tests to be carried out for large oscillation amplitudes.
To Study The Reduction And Swelling Behaviour Of Iron Ore Pellets.

Due to low availability of coking coal and huge establishment cost of Blast Furnace plants, the predominant route of Iron making has meandered away from this conventional route to a modern route of Iron making. This route involves production of Directly Reduced Iron (DRI) using non-coking coal and gases as the reducing agent. The commercial name of DRI is Sponge Iron owing to its spongy appearance since the ore is reduced in solid rather than liquid state. Since DRI can work with low quality non-coking coal, it makes the best possible usage of cheap coal available in India. High availability of low- quality and iron-ore and coal, the low establishment cost of DRI plants has over the years attracted multitude of opportunist to earn a fortune in this sector. India is the leading producer of sponge iron in world, producing nearly about 30% of the total DRI world production. In spite of these hearting figures a very little research has been carried out regarding the physical and chemical behavior of Iron-ore pellets when reduced using non coking coal. The present project work endeavors to study the reduction and swelling behavior of Iron-ore of Sakurruddin mines using coal obtained from Vasundhara mines. The first chapter gives a concise overview of the present DRI market and the position of India amongst other world players in its production. The second chapter deals with literature review, the third with the selection of ore, preparation of pellets and the reduction of the pellet ore. The chapter deals with the experimental findings of the scholars followed by conclusion, future work suggestions. At the end an inventory of references has been mentioned in order to allow the reader to carry out a more detailed investigation if required.
Need for probabilities in cancer litigation

The third article in a series on radiation and the courts considers the new concept of probability of causation (PC), which the author concludes is the best of imperfect approaches. The problem arises from the medical inability to state that the particular cancer was the result of a specific exposure to radiation. Epidemiological and statistical evidence as the basis for probable cause has precedents in other situations where absolute certainty is unattainable. Alternatives to PC include threshold dose levels, referrals to judges with demonstrated scientific understanding, and improvements in the legal skills used in trying cases. Although PC yields more consistent results, the approach is best because it encompasses the advantages of the other approaches. 20 references.
MEASURING THE OUTCOMES OF DRIVER TRAINING: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DRIVER PERFORMANCE TEST

A new test for evaluating driver performance is described. The objective was to develop a test that is reliable, valid, and feasible for routine administration in the high schools. This test requires 30 min and is scored by a trained coder. The scoring is simplified to permit the coder to focus on observing and judging driver behavior. Standards for performance are learned by the coders during a 40-h training program. The test requires driver interaction with moderately heavy traffic and is intended to test the limits of driver performance. Intercoder agreement was about 80 percent, even though there were different seating positions. Some changes in scoring assignments and training are expected to improve the reliability of the test. This pilot study was carried out with 197 students at the end of their driver training course. A number of part scores and subtotals were used so that faults could be diagnosed. In general, these novice drivers did poorly in visual scanning. However, there was a wide range in driver proficiency. A hypothesis, the validation of which needs a large-sample study, is proposed to test the reason for the poor scanning. /Author/
Using Big Data for a Transportation Management Plan: The General Pulaski Skyway Bridge Rehabilitation

The use of Big Data to address transportation issues is relevant. The Obama administration launched an initiative to promote research, improvement, analysis, and understanding of large and complex collections of digital data. Everyday immense volumes of data are shared, processed, analyzed, and stored by public and private transportation agencies. This paper discusses the use of real-time traffic data to produce hourly and daily morning peak period traffic reports, to monitor the impact of the long term closure of the northbound lanes for the Pulaski Skyway bridge rehabilitation project for the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The Pulaski Skyway Bridge (US 1&9) is an 82 year old steel deck truss cantilever structure over the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, carries about 74,000 vehicles daily (2013), and connects northern New Jersey with New York City through the Holland Tunnel. Parsons Brinckerhoff developed, for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, one of the most extensive and comprehensive Transportation Management Plans to date. This plan calls for broad data collection and reporting effort. Interagency coordination allowed for seamless transfer of data between public and private agencies. Data collected was obtained from multiple technologies such as Bluetooth, infrared sensors, video detection, GPS, aerial photography, automated traffic recorders, automated turnstiles counters, and toll plaza transactions. Traffic data consisted mostly of volumes, travel times, speeds, queues, transit ridership and incidents. Semi-automated traffic reports of these large datasets were generated. Reports have been successfully used by transportation officials to continue monitoring traffic in the study area and the region.
Adaptive teachers embracing new ways of learning with robotics in Chinese schools

In July 2010, China announced the “National Plan for Medium and Long-term Education Reform and Development(2010-2020)” (PRC 2010). The Plan calls for an education system that: • promotes an integrated development which harnesses everyone’s talent; • combines learning and thinking; unifies knowledge and practice; • allows teachers to teach according to individuals’ needs; and • reforms education quality evaluation and personnel evaluation systems focusing on performance including character, knowledge, ability and other factors. This paper discusses the design and implementation of a Professional Learning Program (PLP) undertaken by 432 primary, middle and high school teachers in China. The aim of this initiative was to develop adaptive expertise in using technology that facilitated innovative science and technology teaching and learning as envisaged by the Chinese Ministry of Education’s (2010-2020) education reforms. Key principles derived from literature about professional learning and scaffolding of learning informed the design of the PLP. The analysis of data revealed that the participants had made substantial progress towards the development of adaptive expertise. This was manifested not only by advances in the participants’ repertoires of Subject Matter Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge but also in changes to their levels of confidence and identities as teachers. It was found that through time the participants had coalesced into a professional learning community that readily engaged in the sharing, peer review, reuse and adaption, and collaborative design of innovative science and technology learning and assessment activities.
Professional Android Sensor Programming

Learn to build human-interactive Android apps, starting with device sensors This book shows Android developers how to exploit the rich set of device sensorslocational, physical (temperature, pressure, light, acceleration, etc.), cameras, microphones, and speech recognitionin order to build fully human-interactive Android applications. Whether providing hands-free directions or checking your blood pressure, Professional Android Sensor Programming shows how to turn possibility into reality. The authors provide techniques that bridge the gap between accessing sensors and putting them to meaningful use in real-world situations. They not only show you how to use the sensor related APIs effectively, they also describe how to use supporting Android OS components to build complete systems. Along the way, they provide solutions to problems that commonly occur when using Android's sensors, with tested, real-world examples. Ultimately, this invaluable resource provides in-depth, runnable code examples that you can then adapt for your own applications. Shows experienced Android developers how to exploit the rich set of Android smartphone sensors to build human-interactive Android apps Explores Android locational and physical sensors (including temperature, pressure, light, acceleration, etc.), as well as cameras, microphones, and speech recognition Helps programmers use the Android sensor APIs, use Android OS components to build complete systems, and solve common problems Includes detailed, functional code that you can adapt and use for your own applications Shows you how to successfully implement real-world solutions using each class of sensors for determining location, interpreting physical sensors, handling images and audio, and recognizing and acting on speech Learn how to write programs for this fascinating aspect of mobile app development with Professional Android Sensor Programming.
The Draft IdMRC Projects Data Management Plan

The need for better management of research data is increasingly becoming understood not only by those who collect and generate these data, but also by those who have a research funding or governance role. As a result it is now becoming more usual for research funders to expect evidence of formal data management planning in the initial bid for funds, with detailed plans being required early in the management of a funded project. The IdMRC Projects Data Management Plan (DMP) is both a specification for the DMPs to be written for IdMRC projects, and a summary of the support structures needed to implement them. It is presented in draft form as data management support within the centre, and the University of Bath generally, is still evolving; for this reason it contains elements of both prescription and guidance.
The initiation of a neuraxial analgesia service on the rate of cesarean delivery in Hubei, China. a 1-year restrospective studyThe initiation of a neuraxial analgesia service on the rate of cesarean delivery in Hubei, China. a 1-year restrospective study

Background No Pain Labor ＆Delivery (NPLD) is a nongovernmental project to increase access to safe neuraxial analgesia through specialized training. This study explores the change is overall cesarean delivery (CD) and maternal request CD(MRCD) rate in our hospital after the initiation of neuraxial analgesia service. Methods The neuraxial labor analgesia（NA） was initiated in May 1st 2015 by the help of NPLD. Since then, the application of NA became a routine operation in our hospital, and every parturient can choose to use NA or not according to her own requirement. The monthly rates of NA, CD, MRCD, multiparous women, intrapartum CD, episiotomy, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), operative vaginal delivery and neonatal asphyxia of vaginal delivery were analyzed from May 1st 2015 to April 30th 2016. Results The rate of NA in our hospital was getting increasingly higher from 26.1% in May 2015 to 44.6% in April 2016 (p<0.001); the rate of CD was decreased from 50.4% in May 2015 to 36.3% in April 2016 ( p<0.001); the rate of MRCD was decreased from 10.8% in May 2015 to 5.7% in April 2016 (p<0.001), but the rate of multiparous women had no change (p＞0.05). There was a negative correlation between the rate of NA and that of overall CD, r=-0.803 (95%CI[-0.951, -0.642], p=0.002), and also a negative correlation between the utilization rate of NA and that of MRCD, r=-0.790 (95%CI[-0.971, -0.497], p=0.004). The rates of episiotomy, PPH, operative vaginal delivery and neonatal asphyxia in women underwent vaginal delivery as well as the rates of intrapartum CD, neonatal asphyxia, and PPH in women underwent CD remained unchanged from May 1st 2015 to April 30th 2016. Conclusions: Our study shows that the rates of CD and MRCD in our department significantly were decreased over a year period (2015. 05.01~2016. 04.30), which may be due to the increasing use of NA during vaginal delivery by the help of NPLD. Key Words: Neuraxial Labor Analgesia; Cesarean Delivery; Maternal Request Cesarean Delivery
LOCA simulation in NRU program: data report for the fourth materials experiment (MT-4)

A series of in-reactor experiments were conducted using full-length 32-rod pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel bundles as part of the Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) Simulation Program by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL). This experiment (MT-4) was funded by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to evaluate ballooning and rupture during adiabatic heatup in the temperature range of 1033 to 1200K (1400 to 1700/sup 0/F). The 12 rest rods in the center of the 32-rod bundle were initially pressurized to 4.62 MPa (670 psia) to insure rupture in the correct temperature range. All 12 test rods ruptured with an average strain of 43.7% at the maximum flow blockage elevation of 2.68 m (105.4 in.). Experimental data for the MT-4 transient experiment and post-test measurements and photographs of the fuel are presented in this report.