Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MDCT of acute mild (nonnecrotizing) pancreatitis: abdominal complications and fate of fluid collections.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to describe the occurrence of local complications and the fate of fluid collections in milder forms of acute nonnecrotizing pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Initial MDCT studies of 169 consecutive patients with mild acute pancreatitis and 203 follow-up CT examinations were reviewed. The fate of peripancreatic fluid collections was investigated, and the incidence and type of local complications were recorded and correlated to the CT grading system (A-E). RESULTS Complications developed in nine of 169 patients, for an incidence of 5.3%. All morbidity occurred in the subgroup of 73 patients with initial fluid collections, for an incidence of 12.3%. Follow-up CT examinations available in 51 of these 73 patients documented rapid fluid resolution in 35 cases (68.6%) and persistence of fluid more than 2 weeks from onset in seven asymptomatic patients (13.7%). Acute, life-threatening complications (hemorrhage, infection, perforation) occurred in five patients, for an incidence of 6.8% among the 73 patients with initial fluid collections, or 3.0% in the entire group of 169 patients. Five patients developed acute pseudocysts. Long-term follow-up studies discovered two patients with chronic pancreatitis and one with groove pancreatitis. CONCLUSION A small number of acute, life-threatening abdominal complications and chronic complications are expected to occur in patients with milder forms of acute nonnecrotizing pancreatitis presenting with fluid collections. In these patients, clinical monitoring and repeated imaging studies are recommended to document the resolution of fluid or the development of complications.
Detection of changes occurring during recovery from the dauer stage in Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis are insect parasites that are widely used as biological control agents. When conditions are unfavourable for reproduction in H. bacteriophora, a long-lived, non-feeding, survival and dispersal stage, the dauer juvenile (DJ), is formed. This DJ stage is also adapted for host finding and infection. When it infects a suitable host, the DJ recovers and resumes growth and development. We describe a series of methods for improved detection of recovery in H. bacteriophora. We also describe some of the physiological changes that occur immediately after the onset of recovery in these nematodes as revealed using fluorescent nucleic acid binding SYTO dyes. Although recovery could be monitored using morphological changes, we found that observation of the uptake of fluorescent latex microspheres by recovering nematodes was a far more sensitive and efficient means of detecting recovery. SYTO dyes were also found to be useful indicators of recovery, binding to the pharyngeal glands and genital primordia as little as 3 h after the onset of recovery. The use of SYTO dyes also indicated that the pharyngeal glands produce large quantities of RNA following the onset of recovery, implying that these structures may produce proteins important in the infection and/or feeding process of H. bacteriophora.
Design of Dynamic Experiments Versus Model-Based Optimization of Batch Crystallization Processes

Abstract A new data-driven optimization methodology is applied to a batch cooling crystallization simulation to evaluate how it compares with a model-based optimization technique. The method, Design of Dynamic Experiments [Georgakis, 2009], is an extension of the classical Design of Experiments approach and can be applied to any process where time-variant profiles are important for optimizing key objectives of the process. As a data-driven approach with no first-principles model required for process optimization, this methodology may be particularly useful for complex processes for which no knowledge-driven model exists or where the objective function cannot be modeled.
Wayne—A Simulator for HST WFC3 IR Grism Spectroscopy

Wayne is an algorithm that simulates Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) grism spectroscopic frames, including sources of noise and systematics. It can simulate both staring and spatial scan modes, and observations such as the transit and the eclipse of an exoplanet. Unlike many other instrument simulators, the focus of Wayne is on creating frames with realistic systematics in order to test the effectiveness of different data analysis methods in a variety of different scenarios. This approach is critical for method validation and optimizing observing strategies. In this paper we describe the implementation of Wayne for WFC3 in the near-infrared channel with the G102 and G141 grisms. We compare the simulations to real data obtained for the exoplanet HD 209458b, to verify the accuracy of the simulation. The software is now available as open source at github.com/ucl-exoplanets/wayne.
Families' Use of Religion/Spirituality as a Psychosocial Resource

The hospitalization of a child is stressful for a family. Turning to religion/spirituality (R/S) is a potential coping mechanism. Using an integration of Antonovsky's salutogenic model and human ecological theory, this study sought to determine if there is a relationship between the use of R/S as a psychosocial resource and the ability of the family to cope with the stress of child hospitalization. Although findings were inconclusive, a majority of families believed that R/S was important in helping them cope and that their beliefs and practices influenced their choice to use R/S as a resource. Implications for health care providers and administrators are discussed.
Use of a Bayesian risk-mapping technique to estimate spatial risks for mare reproductive loss syndrome in Kentucky.

OBJECTIVE To estimate spatial risks associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) during 2001 among horses in a specific study population and partition the herd effects into those attributable to herd location and those that were spatially random and likely attributable to herd management. Animals-Pregnant broodmares from 62 farms in 7 counties in central Kentucky. PROCEDURE Veterinarians provided the 2001 abortion incidence proportions for each farm included in the study. Farms were georeferenced and data were analyzed by use of a fully Bayesian risk-mapping technique. RESULTS Large farm-to-farm variation in MRLS incidence proportions was identified. The farm-to-farm variation was largely attributed to spatial location rather than to spatially random herd effects. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicate that there are considerable data to support an ecologic cause and potential ecologic risk factors for MRLS. Veterinary practitioners with more detailed knowledge of the ecology in the 7 counties in Kentucky that were investigated may provide additional data that would assist in the deduction of the causal factor of MRLS via informal geographic information systems analyses and suggest factors for inclusion in further investigations.
Structure of transfer RNAs: similarity and variability

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are ancient molecules whose origin goes back to the beginning of life on Earth. Key partners in the ribosome‐translation machinery, tRNAs read genetic information on messenger RNA and deliver codon specified amino acids attached to their distal 3′‐extremity for peptide bond synthesis on the ribosome. In addition to this universal function, tRNAs participate in a wealth of other biological processes and undergo intricate maturation events. Our understanding of tRNA biology has been mainly phenomenological, but ongoing progress in structural biology is giving a robust physico‐chemical basis that explains many facets of tRNA functions. Advanced sequence analysis of tRNA genes and their RNA transcripts have uncovered rules that underly tRNA 2D folding and 3D L‐shaped architecture, as well as provided clues about their evolution. The increasing number of X‐ray structures of free, protein‐ and ribosome‐bound tRNA, reveal structural details accounting for the identity of the 22 tRNA families (one for each proteinogenic amino acid) and for the multifunctionality of a given family. Importantly, the structural role of post‐transcriptional tRNA modifications is being deciphered. On the other hand, the plasticity of tRNA structure during function has been illustrated using a variety of technical approaches that allow dynamical insights. The large range of structural properties not only allows tRNAs to be the key actors of translation, but also sustain a diversity of unrelated functions from which only a few have already been pinpointed. Many surprises can still be expected. WIREs RNA 2012, 3:37–61. doi: 10.1002/wrna.103
Face recognition and unseen subject rejection in margin-enhanced space

In this paper, we develop a face recognition system with a rejection mechanism for imposter or unseen subjects. In order to boost the recognition rate and provide the promising rejection accuracy, a margin-enhanced space is derived by reweighting the LSDA space via explicitly imposing the constraint of the k-NN classification rule. In this space, not only the local discriminant structure of data can be extracted but the enhanced pairwise distance can be used to model the acceptance and rejection likelihood probability. According to the Bayes decision rule, the unseen subject can be rejected if the likelihood ratio is smaller than the estimated threshold. Note that the rejection performance based on the likelihood ratio is more tolerable than the pre-defined distance only. Experimental results show that the proposed system not only yields the higher recognition rate than other subspace learning methods but also provides the promising rejection accuracy on the challenging databases of various lighting conditions and facial expression.
Fuzzy Automatic Detection of Landmines from Sensors Data

In this paper, two fuzzy algorithms for automatic decision making for antipersonnel landmine detection form sensors data. The first is a “feature in-decision out” fuzzy fusion algorithm for two sensors measurements, namely a ground penetrating radar (GPR) and a metal detector (MD). The inputs to the fuzzy fusion algorithm are features extracted from both GPR and MD measurements while the output is a decision if there is a land mine and at what depth it would be. Fuzzy fusion rules are extracted from training data through a fuzzy learning algorithm. The second is a 3D fuzzy template based automatic detection algorithm from a single sensor data, (GPR). A 3D template is chosen and another 3D fuzzy template is designed. The 3D fuzzy template, in which a data point is expressed as a trapezoidal fuzzy set, is extracted from experimental data. Landmine similarity for both the 3D template as well as the learnt fuzzy template is examined by a crisp similarity measure and a fuzzy similarity measure respectively. Results of both the two fuzzy decision making algorithms are presented which show their promises in landmine detection and its discrimination from other objects. Key-Words: Fuzzy decision making, landmine detection, sensor fusion
A decision framework for optimisation of business processes aligned with business goals

This paper proposes an optimisation-based decision support framework to apply changes to business processes in alignment with business goals. In this framework, a process model can be represented as a set of business rules. In each business rule, the threshold of logical term in the If-part can be represented as a numerical chromosome with the purpose of optimising it via the use of an evolutionary computational based technique. The objective function of the decision model is constructed based on the performance of indicators that are defined in a way to align with business goals. As a result, if any change occurs in the business goals, it propagates through the change in objective function. The framework is illustrated by setting a dairy industry as an example in order to optimise the process of 'milk procurement from producer milk collection'. The experimental results of running the genetic algorithm show a satisfactory design with respect to the predefined managerial goals.
Students’ Awareness of the Use of Poster, Power Point and Animated Video Presentations: A Case Study of Third Year Students of the Department of English of Batna University

 Abstract — The present study debates students’ perceptions of the use of technology in learning English as a Foreign Language. Its aim is to explore and understand students’ preparation and presentation of Posters, PowerPoint and Animated Videos by drawing attention to visual and oral elements. The data is collected through observations and semi-structured interviews and analyzed through phenomenological data analysis steps. The themes emerged from the data, visual learning satisfaction in using information and communication technology, providing structure to oral presentation, learning from peers’ presentations, draw attention to using Posters, PowerPoint and Animated Videos as each supports visual learning and organization of thoughts in oral presentations.
Cutting Edge: IL-17F, a Novel Cytokine Selectively Expressed in Activated T Cells and Monocytes, Regulates Angiogenesis and Endothelial Cell Cytokine Production1

A novel secreted cytokine, termed IL-17F, was cloned using nested RACE PCR. This cytokine bears homology to IL-17. IL-17F was expressed only in activated CD4+ T cells and activated monocytes. Recombinant human IL-17F did not stimulate the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors or the migration of mature leukocytes. However, it markedly inhibited the angiogenesis of human endothelial cells and induced endothelial cells to produce IL-2, TGF-β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.
A Finite Element Formulation for Atrial Tissue Monolayer

Summary Objectives: Using computer models for the study of complex atrial arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation is computationally demanding as long observation periods in the order of tens of seconds are required. A well established approach for reducing computational workload is to approximate the thin atrial walls by curved monolayers. On the other hand, the finite element method (FEM) is a well established approach to solve the underlying partial differential equations. Methods: A generalized 2D finite element method (FEM) is presented which computes the corresponding stiffness and coupling matrix for arbitrarily shaped monolayers (ML). Compared to standard 2D FEM, only one additional coordinate transformation is required. This allows the use of existing FEM software with minor modifications. The algorithm was tested to simulate wave propagation in benchmark geometries and in a model of atrial anatomy. Results: The ML model was able to simulate electric activation in curved tissue with anisotropic conductivity. Simulations in branching tissue yielded slightly different patterns when compared to a volumetric model with finite thickness. In the model of atrial anatomy the computed activation times for five different pacing protocols displayed a correlation of 0.88 compared to clinical data. Conclusions: The presented method provides a useful and easily implemented approach to model wave propagation in MLs with a few restrictions to volumetric models.
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein Is Required for Macrophage-mediated Oxidation of Low Density Lipoprotein by 12/15-Lipoxygenase*

The oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been implicated in the early stage of atherosclerosis through multiple potential pathways, and 12/15-lipoxygenase is suggested to be involved in this oxidation process. We demonstrated previously that the 12/15-lipoxygenase overexpressed in mouse macrophage-like J774A.1 cells was required for the cell-mediated LDL oxidation. However, the mechanism of the oxidation of extracellular LDL by the intracellular 12/15-lipoxygenase has not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we found that not only the LDL receptor but also LDL receptor-related protein (LRP), both of which are cell surface native LDL-binding receptors, were down-regulated by the preincubation of the cells with cholesterol or LDL and up-regulated by lipoprotein-deficient serum. Moreover, 12/15-lipoxygenase-expressing cell-mediated LDL oxidation was decreased by the preincubation of the cells with LDL or cholesterol and increased by the preincubation with lipoprotein-deficient serum. Heparin-binding protein 44, an antagonist of the LDL receptor family, also suppressed the cell-mediated LDL oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. The cell-mediated LDL oxidation was dose-dependently blocked by an anti-LRP antibody but not by an anti-LDL receptor antibody. Furthermore, antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides against LRP reduced the cell-mediated LDL oxidation under the conditions in which the expression of LRP was decreased. The results taken together indicate that LRP was involved essentially for the cell-mediated LDL oxidation by 12/15-lipoxygenase expressed in J774A.1 cells, suggesting an important pathophysiological role of this receptor-enzyme system as the initial trigger of the progression of atherosclerosis.
Collective Memory Meets Organizational Identity: Remembering to Forget in a Firm’s Rhetorical History

Much organizational identity research has grappled with the question of identity emergence or change. Yet the question of identity endurance is equally puzzling. Relying primarily on the analysis of 309 internal bulletins produced at a French aeronautics firm over almost fifty years, we theorize a link between collective memory and organizational identity endurance. More specifically, we show how forgetting in a firm’s ongoing rhetorical history—here, the bulletins’ repeated omission of contradictory elements in the firm’s past (i.e., structural omission) or attempts to neutralize them with valued identity cues (i.e., preemptive neutralization)—sustains its identity. Thus knowing “who we are” might depend in part on repeatedly remembering to forget “who we were not. ” In press: Academy of Management Journal (Non-edited version) *Acknowledgments: We are grateful to Michael Pratt and the three anonymous AMJ reviewers for their guidance on this article as well as to Elena Corsi, Marina Dal Soglio, Vincent Dessain, and Kathleen Ryan for their assistance in data collection. We also thank Julie Battilana, Frank Dobbin, Karen Golden-Biddle, Mary Ann Glynn, Jay Lorsch, Joshua Margolis, Chris Marquis, Tsedal Neeley, Nitin Nohria, Lakshmi Ramarajan, Mike Tushman, Amy Wrzesniewski, and Tieying Yu for their comments. The article has benefited from participants’ feedback at the ASA Annual Meeting (Boston), the CNRS-sponsored “Labor and Organization” Colloquium (Aix-enProvence), the May Meaning Meeting, McGill University, and Tsinghua University. Both authors contributed equally.
Cardiovascular responses to sustained handgrip in normal subjects and in patients with diabetes mellitus: a test of autonomic function.

1. The blood pressure and heart rate responses to static muscular exercise were measured in sixty normal subjects and 124 patients with diabetes mellitus, aged 25–54 years, during a standardized sustained handgrip test at 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). 2. The normal range of the response was established. Females had a smaller blood pressure rise than males, and their MVC was lower. In the normal subjects there was a significant correlation between the size of the MVC and the height of the blood pressure response. The absolute muscle tension exerted should be taken into account in addition to the percentage MVC, when comparing responses to sustained exercise in different disease states. 3. The diabetic subjects showed a similar sex difference in their response. The mean diastolic blood pressure rises were smaller than in the control groups, both in males and females, but this was related to a smaller mean MVC. 4. Twenty-two of the diabetic subjects had an abnormally low response to sustained handgrip, which was not related to age, duration of diabetes, treatment or control of the disease. These diabetic subjects probably had damage of the autonomic fibres mediating the response. The findings would suggest that sustained handgrip is a useful and simple method of detecting involvement of the autonomic nervous system in diabetes.
How Much Are We Willing to Pay to Prevent A Fall? Cost-Effectiveness of a Multifactorial Falls Prevention Program for Community-Dwelling Older Adults*

RÉSUMÉ Cette étude a examiné le rapport coût-efficacité d’un programme multifactoriel de prévention des chutes et a évalué le compromis entre les coûts supplémentaires d’un tel programme et une augmentation de la réduction des chutes accidentelles. Le rapport coût-efficacité a été évalué en utilisant le rapport coût-efficacité différentiel traditionnel (RCED) et cadre de régression de l’avantage net (CRAN). En utilisant du CRAN, la prise de décision a été officialisée par l’incorporation, a priori, d’une predisposition à payer (PAP). Les résultats n’ont pas fourni preuve qu’un programme multifactoriel de prévention des chutes a été rentable. L’adhésion des participants au recommandations allaient de faible (41,3%) à modéré (21,1%), à élevé (37,6%). Un défi futur sera de comprendre plus clairement la relation entre la personne âgée qui habite à une communauté avec les risques de chutes qui sont potentiellement modifiables, le respect des recommandations concernant les facteurs de risque multifactoriels, les coûts, et les effets qui en résultent de pratiques pour prévenir les chutes. Les futures évaluations économiques des interventions pour éviter les chutes restent nécessaires et devraient tenir compte du CRAN afin que les outils de régression puissent faciliter l’analyse coût-efficacité. ABSTRACT This study examined the cost-effectiveness of a multifactorial falls prevention program and estimated the trade-off between the extra costs of such a program and the additional reduction of unintentional falls. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated using the traditional incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and the net benefit regression framework (NBRF). Using the NBRF, decision making was formalized by incorporating values of willingness to pay (WTP) a priori. The results failed to provide evidence that a multifactorial falls prevention program was cost-effective. Participant adherence to recommendations ranged from low (41.3%), to moderate (21.1%), to high (37.6%). A future challenge is to understand more clearly the relationship between the community-dwelling older adult, potentially modifiable risks for falls, adherence to multifactorial risk factor recommendations, costs, and resulting effects of falls prevention practices. Future economic evaluations of falls prevention interventions remain necessary and should consider the NBRF so that regression tools can facilitate cost-effectiveness analysis.
An Unsupervised Kernel Based Fuzzy C-Means Clustering Algorithm With Kernel Normalisation

In this paper, a novel procedure for normalising Mercer kernel is suggested firstly. Then, the normalised Mercer kernel techniques are applied to the fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm, which leads to a normalised kernel based FCM (NKFCM) clustering algorithm. In the NKFCM algorithm, implicit assumptions about the shapes of clusters in the FCM algorithm is removed so that the new algorithm possesses strong adaptability to cluster structures within data samples. Moreover, a new method for calculating the prototypes of clusters in input space is also proposed, which is essential for data clustering applications. Experimental results on several benchmark datasets have demonstrated the promising performance of the NKFCM algorithm in different scenarios.