Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Interactions Between Lower Airway Bacterial and Rhinoviral Infection in Exacerbations of COPD

Study objectives The inflammatory responses and associated clinical severity of COPD exacerbations are greatly variable, and the determinants of these factors are poorly understood. We examined the hypothesis that bacteria and viruses may modulate this heterogeneity and that interactions between bacterial and viral infection may affect changes in airway bacterial load and the clinical features and inflammatory responses of exacerbations in patients with COPD. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Outpatient Department, London Chest Hospital, London, UK. Patients Thirty-nine patients with COPD. Measurements We prospectively studied 56 COPD exacerbations, obtaining clinical data and paired sputum and serum samples at baseline and exacerbation. Qualitative and quantitative microbiology, polymerase chain reaction detection for rhinovirus, and estimation of cytokine levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed. Results A total of 69.6% of exacerbations were associated with a bacterial pathogen, most commonly Haemophilus influenzae. Rhinovirus was identified in 19.6% of exacerbations. The rise in bacterial load at exacerbation correlated with the rise in sputum interleukin (IL)-8 (r = 0.37, p = 0.022) and fall in FEV1 (r = 0.35, p = 0.048). Exacerbations with both rhinovirus and H influenzae had higher bacterial loads (108.56 cfu/mL vs 108.05cfu/mL, p = 0.018) and serum IL-6 (13.75 pg/mL vs 6.29 pg/mL, p = 0.028) than exacerbations without both pathogens. In exacerbations with both cold symptoms (a marker of putative viral infection) and a bacterial pathogen, the FEV1 fall was greater (20.3% vs 3.6%, p = 0.026) and symptom count was higher (p = 0.019) than those with a bacterial pathogen alone. Conclusions The clinical severity and inflammatory responses in COPD exacerbations are modulated by the nature of the infecting organism: bacterial and viral pathogens interact to cause additional rises in inflammatory markers and greater exacerbation severity.
Lymph Node Assessment by Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Prostate , Bladder and Kidney Cancer

Knowledge of lymph node metastases in patients with urologic tumors is important for clinical management and may help the urologic surgeon in choosing the best treatment for these patients. Accurate nodal staging helps to predict prognosis. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often fails to differentiate between benign and malignant changes in lymph nodes because this technique is reliant on nonspecific features such as size and morphologic criteria. Therefore, there is a need for more accurate non-invasive diagnostic technique to improve nodal assessment. Diffusion–weightedmagnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) is a non-invasive functional imaging technique that provides unique information related to tumor cellularity and the integrity of the cellular membrane. DW imaging has the potential to differentiate malignant from benign lymph nodes based on the mean ADC value. Metastatic nodes show, as most primary malignant tumors, lower ADC values due to their impeded diffusion caused by high cellularity. Improved diagnostic of lymph node metastases might guide the surgeon to remove positive nodes only. Although initial results are promising, larger-scale studies will be needed to improve detection and localization of lymph node metastases. Standardizing the technical parameters and improving the image analysis represent major challenges to the widespread adoption of DW imaging.
Predictive value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in combination with the sequential organ failure assessment score in sepsis.

BACKGROUND The prognostic power of n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in sepsis is disputable and unstable among different models. We attempt to evaluate the prognostic potential of NT-proBNP in combination with the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score in sepsis. METHODS In this retrospective study, 100 consecutive sepsis patients were enrolled. Clinical data such as admission SOFA, the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation score, shock prevalence, use of lung protective ventilation, vasopressors, and glucocorticoids were recorded. Additionally, serum creatinine (Scr1 and Scr3) and NT-proBNP (NT-proBNP1 and NT-proBNP3) were assayed and evaluated at admission and on day 3 respectively. RESULTS DNT-proBNP (NT-proBNP3 minus NT-proBNP1) (P < 0.001, Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.245, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.137 - 1.362) and admission SOFA (P < 0.001, HR = 1.197, 95%CI, 1.106 - 1.295) were independently related to in-hospital mortality. Their combination was a more robust predictor for in-hospital mortality than either of them individually. Patients with high DNT-proBNP and SOFA had the poorest prognosis. CONCLUSIONS In our study, both DNT-proBNP and SOFA were independent predictors of septic patients' prognosis. Moreover, the combination of DNT-proBNP and admission SOFA provided a novel strategy that contained information regarding both the response to treatment and sepsis severity.
The Bethe surface of liquid

The Bethe surface of liquid water, earlier calculated using a semi-empirical model, is compared with recent available data from IXS-experiments (inelastic X–ray scattering; Compton scattering of high energy photons) in liquid water. No alarming discrepancy is found on a global view of the Bethe surface. The extrapolation to the optical limit (viz., at zero momentum transfer) is shown and the reliability of these data is discussed in detail. *Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Michael Dingfelder GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health Institute of Radiation Protection Ingolstaeder Landstrasse 1 D–85764 Neuherberg, Germany. Tel: (Germany) -89-31874113, Fax: (Germany) -89-31873363, emaiI: dingfelder@gsf.de ‘Permanent address: Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439–4843, U. S. A. , email: inokuti@anl.gov The submitted manu%ript has been authored by a contractor of the U. S. Government under contract No. W-31 -1 09 ENG-38. Accordingly, the U. S. Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free Iicenw to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do w, for U. S. Government purposes.
The gravity field, orientation, and ephemeris of Mercury from MESSENGER observations after three years in orbit

We have analyzed 3 years of radio tracking data from the MESSENGER spacecraft in orbit around Mercury and determined the gravity field, planetary orientation, and ephemeris of the innermost planet. With improvements in spatial coverage, force modeling, and data weighting, we refined an earlier global gravity field both in quality and resolution, and we present here a spherical harmonic solution to degree and order 50. In this field, termed HgM005, uncertainties in low‐degree coefficients are reduced by an order of magnitude relative to earlier global fields, and we obtained a preliminary value of the tidal Love number k2 of 0.451 ± 0.014. We also estimated Mercury's pole position, and we obtained an obliquity value of 2.06 ± 0.16 arcmin, in good agreement with analysis of Earth‐based radar observations. From our updated rotation period (58.646146 ± 0.000011 days) and Mercury ephemeris, we verified experimentally the planet's 3:2 spin‐orbit resonance to greater accuracy than previously possible. We present a detailed analysis of the HgM005 covariance matrix, and we describe some near‐circular frozen orbits around Mercury that could be advantageous for future exploration.
Customizing an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and developing a launch and recovery system

In October 2012, International Submarine Engineering Ltd. (ISE) delivered an Explorer Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co. Ltd. of Japan for marine salvage and ocean resource exploration. This vehicle is based on the standard 3000 m depth rated Explorer AUV design and was customized to meet the customer's needs. The Fukada Salvage Explorer AUV (named “Deep 1”) is equipped with a multibeam echosounder, sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, Doppler Velocity Log/Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (DVL/ADCP), sound velocity sensor, and Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) sensor. This vehicle is very similar to the two deep AUVs which ISE is currently building for the Japan Coast Guard. For ocean mining exploration operations, the Deep 1 vehicle will be outfitted with a 3-axis flux-gate magnetometer, nephelometer, pH sensor, and self-potential sensor. The modularity of the Explorer AUV will allow these sensors to be easily integrated without changing the basic design of the vehicle. Several items were custom-designed for the Fukada Salvage Explorer AUV: an obstacle avoidance system, a ramp style Launch and Recovery System (LARS), and a belly pack remote control for use with the LARS. The forward looking obstacle avoidance system was developed as a lightweight and low cost alternative to commercially available obstacle avoidance systems. This system utilizes three Imagenex singlebeam echosounders and ISE-developed control algorithms to allow the Explorer to avoid obstacles in front of the vehicle. ISE and Hawboldt Industries Ltd. of Chester, NS, developed a ramp LARS, which allows the vehicle to be launched and recovered without use of a ship's crane in up to sea state 4. The LARS greatly reduces the number of personnel required for launch and recovery operations, and is safer for personnel and the vehicle. A belly pack was developed, which allows the operator to control the vehicle while on deck. In this paper, we discuss the features of the Explorer AUV and the integration of the sensors for the Fukada Salvage Explorer AUV. We also discuss the development of the Obstacle Avoidance System and Launch and Recovery System.
Analysis of orthogonal-core type push-pull DC-AC converter excited by square-wave voltage with various pulse-width

An orthogonal-core-type push-pull DC-AC converter for a photovoltaic power system is analyzed. The conversion power and the efficiency of the converter when excited by square-wave voltage with various pulse widths are calculated under a simple assumption. The effects of the pulse width on the performance of the DC-AC converter are clarified. Based on the results, a 4.5-kW DC-AC converter for a residential photovoltaic power system has been developed. >
Successful operative treatment of uterine leiomyoma with extensive intravenous extension to the IVC, right heart, and pulmonary arteries

Abstract Introduction: Intravenous extension of benign uterine leiomyomata (‘fibroids’), in the absence of discrete metastatic disease has rarely been reported. ‘Fibroids’ remain one of the most common premenopausal uterine pathologies. Methods and results: We report the diagnosis and multidisciplinary led operative management of a 52-year-old woman with a histologically benign, but biologically aggressive, uterine leiomyoma with intravenous extension to the inferior vena cava (IVC), right heart and pulmonary arteries. Conclusions: Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy combined with exploration of the sub-hepatic IVC and heart under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest achieved its successful macroscopic clearance.
Assessment of the accuracy of matrix representation with parsimony analysis supertree construction.

Despite the growing popularity of supertree construction for combining phylogenetic information to produce more inclusive phylogenies, large-scale performance testing of this method has not been done. Through simulation, we tested the accuracy of the most widely used supertree method, matrix representation with parsimony analysis (MRP), with respect to a (maximum parsimony) total evidence solution and a known model tree. When source trees overlap completely, MRP provided a reasonable approximation of the total evidence tree; agreement was usually > 85%. Performance improved slightly when using smaller, more numerous, or more congruent source trees, and especially when elements were weighted in proportion to the bootstrap frequencies of the nodes they represented on each source tree ("weighted MRP"). Although total evidence always estimated the model tree slightly better than nonweighted MRP methods, weighted MRP in turn usually out-performed total evidence slightly. When source studies were even moderately nonoverlapping (i.e., sharing only three-quarters of the taxa), the high proportion of missing data caused a loss in resolution that severely degraded the performance for all methods, including total evidence. In such cases, even combining more trees, which had positive effects elsewhere, did not improve accuracy. Instead, "seeding" the supertree or total evidence analyses with a single largely complete study improved performance substantially. This finding could be an important strategy for any studies that seek to combine phylogenetic information. Overall, our results suggest that MRP supertree construction provides a reasonable approximation of a total evidence solution and that weighted MRP should be used whenever possible.
POLARIMETRIC CALIBRATION OF SIR-C USING POINT AND DISTRIBUTED TARGETS

In preparation for the Shuttle Imaging Radar-C/XSAR (SIR-C/XSAR) flights, the University of Michigan has been involved in the development of calibration procedures and precision calibration devices to quantify the complex radar images with an accuracy of 0.5 dB in magnitude and 5 degrees in phase. In this paper, the preliminary results of the SIR-C calibration and a summary of the University of Michigan's activity in the Raco calibration super-site is presented. In this calibration campaign an array of point calibration targets including trihedral corner reflectors and polarimetric active radar calibrators (PARCs) in addition to a uniform distributed target were used for characterizing the radiometric calibration constant and the distortion parameters of the C-band SAR. Two different calibration methods, one based on the application of point targets and the other based on the application of the distributed target, are used to calibrate the SIR-C data and the results are compared with calibrated images provided by JPL. The distributed target used in this experiment was a field of grass, sometimes covered with snow, whose differential Mueller matrix was measured immediately after the SIR-C overpass using The University of Michigan polarimetric scatterometer systems. The scatterometers were calibrated against a precision metallic sphere and measured 100 independent spatial samples for characterizing the differential Mueller matrix of the distributed target to achieve the desired calibration accuracy. The L-band SAR has not yet been adequately calibrated for inclusion here. >
El tratamiento estadístico de las redes semánticas naturales

La tecnica llamada "Redes Semanticas Naturales" es una herramienta util para el estudio de los significados que tienen ciertas palabras o expresiones en un grupo social determinado. En este articulo proponemos una serie de tecnicas cuantitativas para el manejo de los datos que arroja un estudio de redes semanticas. Primero, se hace una critica del manejo cuantitativo tradicional en los estudios de Redes Semanticas Naturales. Luego, se proponen nuevas maneras para determinar los conjuntos SAM y para calcular diversos indices que permitiran comparar grupos diferentes en investigaciones realizadas por diferentes autores en aspectos como la homogeneidad del grupo y el peso semantico de diferentes conceptos. Finalmente, se dan algunas sugerencias para determinar los tamanos de las muestras necesarios para hacer inferencias a poblaciones y para determinar niveles de significancia de las diferencias entre dos grupos que respondieron a los mismos estimulos
The Eikonal equation in asymptotically flat space-times

In an arbitrary Lorentzian manifold we provide a description for the construction of null surfaces and their associated singularities, via solutions of the Eikonal equation. In particular, we study the singularities of the past light-cones from points on null infinity, the future light-cones from arbitrary interior points and the intersection of these with null infinity and unifying relationships between the different singularities. The starting point for this work is the assumption of a known family of solutions to the Eikonal equation. The work is based on the standard theory of singularities of smooth maps by Arnold and his colleagues. Though the work is intended to stand on its own, it can be thought of as being closely related to the recently developed null surface reformulation of GR.
Agent-based MapReduce Processing in IoT

This paper presents an agent-based framework for processing data at nodes on the Internet of Things (IoT). The framework is based on MapReduce processing, where the MapReduce processing and its clones are popular but inherently have been designed for high-performance server clusters. It aims at enabling data to be processed at nodes on IoT. The key idea behind it is to deploy programs for data processing at the nodes that contain the target data as a map step by using the duplication and migration of agents and to execute the programs with the local data. It aggregates the results of the programs to certain nodes as a reduce step. We describe the architecture and implementation of the framework, its basic performance, and its application are also described here.
An injury-response mechanism conserved across kingdoms determines entry of the fungus Trichoderma atroviride into development

A conserved injury-defense mechanism is present in plants and animals, in which the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid metabolism are essential to the response. Here, we describe that in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride, injury results in the formation of asexual reproduction structures restricted to regenerating cells. High-throughput RNA-seq analyses of the response to injury in T. atroviride suggested an oxidative response and activation of calcium-signaling pathways, as well as the participation of lipid metabolism, in this phenomenon. Gene-replacement experiments demonstrated that injury triggers NADPH oxidase (Nox)–dependent ROS production and that Nox1 and NoxR are essential for asexual development in response to damage. We further provide evidence of H2O2 and oxylipin production that, as in plants and animals, may act as signal molecules in response to injury in fungi, suggesting that the three kingdoms share a conserved defense-response mechanism.
Well posedness and solitons stability for a 1 D Benney-Luke Model of Higher order

We study the local and global well posedness associated a 1D Benney-Luke model of higher order that models long water with small amplitude. We show that local mild solutions are already global mild solutions, in the case we have an appropriate Hamiltonian structure. We establish orbital stability of solitons using strongly the variational characterization of the ground state solutions and the invariance of some special regions under the flow associated with the generalized Benney-Luke model considered. AMS subject classification: 35Q35, 35B35, 76B25.
A Generic Ontology for Prosumer-Oriented Smart Grid

The concept of Smart Grid (SG) has comprehensively overhauled the scene of electric power grid and the integration of Prosumers , where an entity can consume and produce simultaneously extempo- rised in a complete paradigm shift. This requires a detailed knowl- edge base model at each entity level that can react according to con- textual changes. This paper outlines a generic and layered ontology design for such complex Prosumer oriented SG, which enables the autonomous in- tegration and real-time management of distributed and heteroge- neous sources. It details the relevant layer to the right granularity with keen insight into distributed co-ordination and semantic het- erogeneity. It also presents an inductive based reasoning on such ontology to make it thoroughly elucidative.
Diffracted‐light contrast enhancement: A re‐examination of oblique illumination

A re‐examination and modification of the very old oblique illumination technique has resulted in a method for contrast enhancement in microscopes, diffracted‐light contrast (DLC), which provides high‐contrast, high‐resolution images of unstained biological material. The technique, which utilizes the diffracted light from the edge of a small, opaque plate, provides shadowcast images similar to those obtained by Nomarski DIC, anaxial illumination, modulation contrast, or single‐sideband microscopy; however, it requires only a single additional component, which can be added to any bright field microscope. The contrast and three‐dimensionality of the final image can be controlled by inserting differently shaped edges. Any bright field condenser will work with the technique and, consequently, it is a technique that may be especially useful with relatively basic, inexpensive laboratory and teaching microscopes although the image produced on a research grade microscope is of very high quality, comparable to that obtained with DIC. Microsc. Res. Tech. 46:334–337, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel high-speed multi-phase oscillator using self-timed rings

A high-speed multi-phase oscillator based on self-timed ring is proposed. Self-Timed Rings (STR) are promising approach for designing high-speed serial links and clock generators. The architecture of STR allows us to achieve a maximum frequency with a multiphase outputs since the oscillation frequency is not only depending on the number of stages but on the number of “tokens” and “bubbles” circulating in the ring. In this paper, we propose a method to design STR able to generate high-speed multi-phase outputs. All the electrical simulations and results have been performed using a CMOS 65nm technology from STMicroelectronics.
False Recall in the Deese–Roediger–McDermott Paradigm: The Roles of Gist and Associative Strength

Theories of false memories, particularly in the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm, focus on word association strength and gist. Backward associative strength (BAS) is a strong predictor of false recall in this paradigm. However, other than being defined as a measure of association between studied list words and falsely recalled nonpresented critical words, there is little understanding of this variable. In Experiment 1, we used a knowledge-type taxonomy to classify the semantic relations in DRM stimuli. These knowledge types predicted false-recall probability, as well as BAS itself, with the most important being situation features, synonyms, and taxonomic relations. In three subsequent experiments, we demonstrated that lists composed solely of situation features can elicit a gist and produce false memories, particularly when monitoring processes are made more difficult. Our results identify the semantic factors that underlie BAS and suggest how considering semantic relations leads to a better understanding of gist formation.
Design of Observers for Takagi-Sugeno Systems with Immeasurable Premise Variables: an ℒ2 Approach

A new observer design method is proposed for Takagi-Sugeno systems with immeasurable premise variables. Since the state estimation error can be written as a perturbed system, then the proposed method is based on the L2 techniques to minimize the effect of the perturbations on the state estimation error. The convergence conditions of the observer are established by using the second method of Lyapunov and a quadratic function. These conditions are expressed in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI). Finally, the performances of the proposed observer are improved by eigenvalues clustering in LMI region.