Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simple image intensity compensation (SIMIC) method prior to application of distortion correction algorithms in brain diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Validation test for two cost functions of distortion correction algorithms

The purpose of this study is to design a simple image intensity compensation (SIMIC) method prior to the application of a variety of cost functions for distortion correction in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The synthetic dataset consists of each direction of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) made by multiplication of nondiffusion weighted image (b = 0 image) and tensor matrices. We added the effects of patient motion and eddy current distortion using translation, rotation, scaling and shearing matrices. We calculated the b = 0 image of each direction from original DTI, inversely. A co‐registration method was applied to the extracted b = 0 images of each direction based on the original b = 0 image and then, the transformation matrices were generated and the original DTI were transformed using this transformation matrix. For the DTI distortion correction, two kinds of cost functions, normalized mutual information (NMI) and normalized cross‐correlation (NCC), were used. Visual assessments and quantitative measurements were used to evaluate the results. When using the NMI as a cost function, the quantitative results showed no significant differences between NMI and NMI with SIMIC method. However, there are significant differences compared with using the NCC as a cost function. Our study showed cost function for image distortion correction with SIMIC method improved the results both quantitatively and in terms of qualitative accuracy. This method may be helpful for DTI analysis and helpful for increasing accuracy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 328–33, 2015
International Journal of Web Information Systems Identifying and determining SPARQL endpoint characteristics

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to introduce several metrics that enable universal and fine-grained characterization of arbitrary Linked Data repositories. Publicly accessible SPARQL endpoints contain vast amounts of knowledge from a large variety of domains. However, oftentimes these endpoints are not configured to process specific workloads as efficiently as possible. Assisting users in leveraging SPARQL endpoints requires insight into functional and non-functional properties of these knowledge bases. Design/methodology/approach – This study presents comprehensive approaches for deriving these metrics. More specifically, the study utilizes concrete SPARQL queries to determine corresponding values. Furthermore, it validates and discusses the introduced metrics through extensive evaluation on real-world SPARQL endpoints. Findings – The evaluation determined that endpoints exhibit different characteristics. While it comes as no surprise that latency and throughput are influenced by the network infrastructure, the costs for join operations depend on a number of factors that are not obvious to a data consumer. Moreover, as the author discusses mean, median and upper quartile values, it was found both endpoints behaving consistently as well as repositories offering varying levels of performance. Originality/value – On the one hand, the contribution of the authors work lies in assisting data consumers in evaluation of the quality of service of publicly available SPARQL endpoints. On the other hand, the performance metrics introduced in this study can also be considered as additional input features for distributed query processing frameworks. Moreover, the author provides a universal means for discerning characteristics of different SPARQL endpoints without the need of (synthetic or real-world) query workloads.
Impact of combination therapy for HIV infection on inpatient census.

To the Editor: St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York is located in the Greenwich Village–Chelsea section of lower Manhattan, one of the areas with the highest density of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the United States (3863 and 4744 cases of AIDS per 100,000 in Greenwich Village and Chelsea, respectively, in 1996). Over the past 10 years, the medical center has had annual increases in inpatient admissions and discharges, as well as increases in total days of inpatient care for HIV-related illnesses. Before the availability of protease-inhibitor therapy, the average daily inpatient census of patients with .
Trend analysis on the metadata of program comprehension papers

As program comprehension is a vast research area, it is necessary to get an overview of its rising and falling trends. We performed an n-gram frequency analysis on titles, abstracts and keywords of 1885 articles about program comprehension from the years 2000-2014. According to this analysis, the most rising trends are feature location and open source systems, the most falling ones are program slicing and legacy systems.
CAN HYSTERESIS AND REAL OPTIONS EXPLAIN THE FARMLAND VALUATION PUZZLE

This paper proposes that the common finding that land prices are systematically higher than their fundamental value as measured by the present value of future cash might be due to real options arising from uncertainty in cash flows. The paper posits a model in which the seller has a real option to postpone the sale of land. Because the value of land is measured as a present value, the buyer does not hold a similar option to postpone the purchase. It is argued that the seller's option offers a plausible explanation for the wedge between observed farmland prices and the present value model. The paper uses a Dixit and Pindyck (1996) real options framework. Using historical cash flow and land price information for Ontario, it is shown how real options can lead to a land price greater than that predicted by the present value model. The findings also suggest the existence of land price bubbles and shows how a real options framework can be used to detect bubbles.
Chlortetracycline analysis of boar spermatozoa after incubation, flow cytometric sorting, cooling, or cryopreservation

In this study, the effects of staining procedure with chlortetracycline (CTC) and method of analysis of boar spermatozoa after staining were examined. The hypothesis that incubation, flow cytometric sorting, cooling, and cryopreservation cause changes to boar sperm membranes which resemble capacitation and the acrosome reaction was also tested. Membrane status was evaluated by flow cytometry and by fluorescence microscopy after staining with CTC, and acrosome integrity was checked by flow cytometry after staining with FITC‐pisum sativum agglutenin and propidium iodide (PI). Flow cytometry was also used to assess viability (percentages of live and dead cells) of boar sperm after staining with SYBR‐14 and PI.
Cyclic Temporal Network Density and its impact on Information Diffusion for Delay Tolerant Networks

Abstract We adopt temporal graph model to explore the dynamic temporal properties of three mobility datasets in DTN (Delay Tolerant Network), collected from different sources, including one university campus WLAN and two conferences WLANs. With this model, we observe that the temporal network density of DTN changes with time and approximate varies periodically. Then we study the impact of this phenomenon on information diffusion. Our studies and findings can be used for establishing more realistic mobile model, building intelligent routing algorithm, and design advanced applications for DTNs.
The polarography of cephalosporin C derivatives

WE report some preliminary measurements on the polarographic reduction of cephalosporin C, cephalothin [7‐(2‐thienylacetamido)‐cephalosporanic acid] and cephaloridine [7‐(2‐thienylacetamido)‐3‐(1‐pyridylmethyl)‐3‐cephem‐4‐carboxylic acid betaine].
A full scale hydrodynamic simulation of detonation and deflagration in an energetic component system

The analysis of pyrotechnic mechanical actuation requires a full-scale, fully-integrated dynamic simulation of fluid-solid, combustion of explosives and propellants in a train configuration. The reaction of a solid-phase energetic material must be precisely calculated before transferring subsequent dynamic loading onto a contacting inert structure such as a metal or plastic that is commonly in contact with another energetic material in a so called train configuration. A pyrotechnic mechanical device (PMD) is typically devised with several energetic components together with inert gap materials that often play the role of shock pressure attenuator for various applications. Airbag inflator is a common example that relies on this multi-material energetic-inert composite design that ultimately works as a single system to achieve rapid release of high pressure gas intended for inflating the airbag for automobile safety, for instance.
A distinct seasonal pattern of the ratio of soil respiration to total ecosystem respiration in a spruce-dominated forest

Annual budgets and fitted temperature response curves for soil respiration and ecosystem respiration provide useful information for partitioning annual carbon budgets of ecosystems, but they may not adequately reveal seasonal variation in the ratios of these two fluxes. Soil respiration (Rs) typically contributes 30–80% of annual total ecosystem respiration (Reco) in forests, but the temporal variation of these ratios across seasons has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate seasonal variation in the Rs/Reco ratio in a mature forest dominated by conifers at Howland, ME, USA. We used chamber measurements of Rs and tower-based eddy covariance measurements of Reco. The Rs/Reco ratio reached a minimum of about 0.45 in the early spring, gradually increased through the late spring and early summer, leveled off at about 0.65 for the summer, and then increased again to about 0.8 in the autumn. A spring pulse of aboveground respiration presumably causes the springtime minimum in this ratio. Soil respiration ‘catches up’ as the soils warm and as root growth presumably accelerates in the late spring, causing the Rs/Reco ratios to increase. The summertime plateau of Rs/Reco ratios is consistent with summer drought suppressing Rs that would otherwise be increasing, based on increasing soil temperature alone, thus causing the Rs/Reco ratios to not increase as soils continue to warm. Declining air temperatures and litter fall apparently contribute to increased Rs/Reco ratios in the autumn. Differences in phenology of growth of aboveground and belowground plant tissues, mobilization and use of stored substrates within woody plants, seasonal variation in photosynthate and litter substrates, and lags between temperature changes of air and soil contribute to a distinct seasonal pattern of Rs/Reco ratios.
D . C . How to Do It : Utilizing Risk Stratification to Evaluate Outcomes in Adult Open-Heart Operations

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that by using a proven method of stratifying open-heart operations into levels of predicted mortality, hospitals can closely monitor trends of their open-heart programs and possibly improve the health planning decisions for their institution. A proven method of uniform risk stratification utilizing objective and readily available preoperative patient data was implemented at our institution for a 12 month period (September I, 1991 through August 31, 1992). A total of 367 patients were included in this study. The patients were categorized into four risk ranges (0 to 4% good risk, 5 to 9% fair risk, 10 to 14% poor risk, and :? :15% high risk) indicating a predictive percent probability of operative mortality. The number patients categorized as either 0 to
Morphological characteristics and genetic evidence reveals a new species of Manihot (Euphorbiaceae, Crotonoideae) from Goiás, Brazil

Abstract During botanical expeditions between 2010 and 2015, as part of a taxonomic study of Manihot in the Midwest region of Brazil, approximately 500 specimens of the genus were collected. Some of these specimens presented similarities to Manihot irwinii. However, after careful morphological analyses, associated with genetic evidence, we propose here Manihot pulchrifolius as a new species. The new species is described, illustrated, and compared to Manihot irwinii, its most similar species. Furthermore, geographic distribution, conservation status, and period of flowering and fruiting of the novel species are also provided.
Gabapentin Enacarbil in Restless Legs Syndrome: A Phase 2b, 2-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objectives: Assess the efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin enacarbil (GEn), a transported prodrug of gabapentin with improved gabapentin exposure, in adults with moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome. Methods: This 14-day, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of GEn at 1200 or 600 mg or placebo taken once daily, evaluated the mean change from baseline International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) total score at end of treatment (day 14: primary comparison, GEn at 1200 mg vs placebo). Secondary end points included Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale outcomes at day 14. Results: Ninety-five subjects were randomized (GEn: 1200 mg, n = 33 and 600 mg, n = 29; placebo, n = 33); 2 subjects (GEn at 1200 mg) withdrew because of adverse events. At day 14, the mean (SD) change from baseline IRLS total score was significantly greater with GEn at 1200 mg (−16.1 [7.93]) compared with placebo (−8.9 [7.72]; adjusted mean treatment difference, −7.2; P < 0.0001). Investigator-rated Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale responses also significantly favored GEn at 1200 mg compared with placebo (P < 0.0001). The mean (SD) change from baseline IRLS total score with GEn at 600 mg at day 14 was −9.1 (5.95), similar to placebo. The most commonly reported treatment-emergent adverse events were somnolence (GEn: 1200 mg, 36% and 600 mg, 14%; placebo, 15%) and dizziness (GEn: 1200 mg, 18% and 600 mg, 14%; placebo, 3%), most of which were rated mild or moderate in intensity. Conclusions: Gabapentin enacarbil at 1200 mg significantly improved restless legs syndrome symptoms compared with placebo. Efficacy outcomes for GEn at 600 mg were similar to placebo. Both GEn doses were generally well tolerated.
High-Current Backside-Illuminated Photodiode Array Module for Optical Analog Links

We have developed a high-current photodiode (PD) array module that consists of a beam splitter, which splits a light beam from a single-mode fiber into four beams with identical powers, a backside-illuminated InGaAs p-i-n PD array, and a two-stage Wilkinson RF power combiner. To obtain a linear PD response, the PD is equipped with a partially depleted absorber, which reduces the bias voltage. To prevent thermal failure, the backside-illuminated PD structure is used, which reduces the thermal resistivity. The beam splitter is fabricated using optical contacts at the SiO2 interfaces between a coating film and a neighboring prism to prevent degradation of the adhesive glue at the prism interfaces along the optical path; therefore, light with a power of a watt level can be used. The two-stage Wilkinson combiner combines four RF outputs of the PD array into a single-RF output through a K connector; the combiner also works as an impedance-matching circuit. Experimental results reveal that an RF power output of 29.0 dBm can be obtained at a frequency of 5 GHz, and good intermodulation distortion characteristics with a third-order intercept point of 32.5 dBm can be achieved.
Detection and Quantification of Functional Genes of Cellulose- Degrading, Fermentative, and Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria and Methanogenic Archaea

ABSTRACT Cellulose degradation, fermentation, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis are microbial processes that coexist in a variety of natural and engineered anaerobic environments. Compared to the study of 16S rRNA genes, the study of the genes encoding the enzymes responsible for these phylogenetically diverse functions is advantageous because it provides direct functional information. However, no methods are available for the broad quantification of these genes from uncultured microbes characteristic of complex environments. In this study, consensus degenerate hybrid oligonucleotide primers were designed and validated to amplify both sequenced and unsequenced glycoside hydrolase genes of cellulose-degrading bacteria, hydA genes of fermentative bacteria, dsrA genes of sulfate-reducing bacteria, and mcrA genes of methanogenic archaea. Specificity was verified in silico and by cloning and sequencing of PCR products obtained from an environmental sample characterized by the target functions. The primer pairs were further adapted to quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), and the method was demonstrated on samples obtained from two sulfate-reducing bioreactors treating mine drainage, one lignocellulose based and the other ethanol fed. As expected, the Q-PCR analysis revealed that the lignocellulose-based bioreactor contained higher numbers of cellulose degraders, fermenters, and methanogens, while the ethanol-fed bioreactor was enriched in sulfate reducers. The suite of primers developed represents a significant advance over prior work, which, for the most part, has targeted only pure cultures or has suffered from low specificity. Furthermore, ensuring the suitability of the primers for Q-PCR provided broad quantitative access to genes that drive critical anaerobic catalytic processes.
New approach to evaluate late arm impairment and effects of dragon boat activity in breast cancer survivors

Abstract To verify the applicability of a new approach based on the strength curves (SCs) methodology in late arm impairment in breast cancer (BC) survivors and to evaluate the effects of dragon boat (DB) activity on the late regaining of the muscle strength, upper limb impairment, and quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for BC. Retrospective observational study on 64 subjects (54.5 ± 9.7 years), 47 of them had undergone unilateral mastectomy surgery and were evaluated for late arm impairment. A clinical evaluation of the shoulder and compilation of functional assessment (DASH, Rowe, Constant–Murley) and quality of life (SF-36) scales were carried out. Assessment of muscle strength with SC obtained with isometric assessments and serratus anterior muscle test were performed. Differences between the SC are evident between healthy and operated subjects. Among the 3 groups of operated subjects the difference in strength is maximum at 0°. Statistically significant difference was found between operated and nonoperated only in SF-36 scale. No significant difference was found between groups for shoulder instability and winged scapula. The SC can be used in the study of upper limb impairment after surgery for BC: measurements carried out at 1st degrees of the range of motion are more useful for clinicians. DB activity is useful to reduce the late arm impairment.
Zinc oxide scaffolds on MgO nanocubes

Powders of isolated and well-dispersed oxide nanocubes are promising components for photoelectronic applications that benefit from tunable optical properties, surface reactivity and the ease of realization of their controlled assembly. Here, we demonstrate that combustion of zinc and magnesium metal vapors at reduced pressures followed by subsequent vacuum annealing of the resulting nanoparticle powders yields single-crystalline ZnxMg1 − xO nanocubes of exceptional regular cubic shape and edge lengths below 25 nm. In line with ab initio calculations, which predict preferential Zn2 + segregation into low coordinated surface elements of the MgO nanocubes, we track the occupation of edge sites by chains of Zn2 + –O2 − units through their spectroscopic signatures. As a method to generate composite nanostructures with controlled spatial distribution of the chemical components, the annealing induced ion segregation can be extended to other well-dispersed metastable nanoparticles. We expect that the energy of segregation mainly depends on the site coordination number, which can promote controlled demixing within the nanoparticles.
A reconfigurable 10–12b 0.4–44MS/s pipelined ADC with 0.35–0.5pJ/step in 1.2V 90nm digital CMOS

This pipelined ADC is reconfigurable over sampling frequencies of 0.4–44 MS/s and resolutions of 10–12 bits, thus targeting multi-standard wireless terminals. Fabricated in 1.2-V 90-nm digital CMOS, it achieves a competitive FOM of 0.35–0.5 pJ/conversion step over its wide reconfigurability space. For power scalability, the ADC bandwidth and resolution are reconfigured using current-scaling and stage-bypass methods, respectively. The following techniques are also introduced to achieve this low-power performance for the ADC over its wide reconfigurability space, and to enable its implementation in low-voltage nanometer CMOS: 1) pseudo-cascode compensation for the low-power design of low-voltage current-scalable opamps; 2) design of switched-capacitor dynamic comparators with low input loading; 3) low-power digital background gain calibration to enable designing the ADC using low-gain/low-power opamps.
Trauma and memory: Effects of post-event misinformation, retrieval order, and retention interval

The present study concerned effects of misinformation, retrieval order, and retention interval on eyewitness memory for a traumatic event (a vivid murder). Relations between misinformation acceptance and compliance were also examined. The classic three-stage misinformation paradigm (Loftus, 1979) was employed, with a multi-component recognition test added. Either immediately or 2weeks after viewing a distressing film, 232 adults read a narrative (misleading or control) about the murder and then took a recognition test that tapped memory for central and peripheral details. Test-item order either matched the chronology of the film or was randomly determined. Significant misinformation effects were obtained. Moreover, control participants were more accurate in response to questions about central than peripheral information; however, this was not so for misinformed participants. Sequential but not random retrieval order resulted in a higher proportion of correct responses for central as opposed to peripheral misinformation questions. Compliance was significantly related to misinformation effects. Delay increased participants’ suggestibility, impaired memory accuracy, and produced higher confidence ratings for misinformed participants compared to controls. Findings indicate that even for a highly negative event, adults’ memory is not immune to inaccuracies and suggestive influences.
Intake of n-3 fatty acids and long-term outcome in renal transplant recipients: a post hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study

Abstract Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids may improve long-term outcomes of renal transplant recipients (RTR). Recent evidence suggests that EPA and DHA have different outcomes compared with α-linolenic acid (ALA). We examined the prospective associations of EPA–DHA and ALA intakes with graft failure and all-cause mortality in 637 RTR. During 3·1 years (interquartile range 2·7, 3·8) of follow-up, forty-one developed graft failure and sixty-seven died. In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, EPA–DHA and ALA intakes were not associated with graft failure. EPA–DHA intake was not significantly associated with mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 0·79; 95% CI 0·54, 1·15 per 0·1 energy% difference). ALA intake was significantly associated with mortality (HR 1·17; 95% CI 1·04, 1·31 per 0·1 energy% difference). This association remained following adjustments for BMI, proteinuria and intakes of fat, carbohydrate and protein. RTR in the highest tertile of ALA intake exhibited about 2-fold higher mortality risk (HR 2·21; 95% CI 1·23, 3·97) compared with the lowest tertile. In conclusion, ALA intake may be associated with increased mortality in RTR. Future RCT are needed to confirm these results.