Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What is bred in the bone: Ecomorphological associations of pelvic girdle form in greater Antillean Anolis lizards

Ecological niche partitioning of Anolis lizards of the Greater Antillean islands has been the focus of many comparative studies, and much is known about external morphological convergence that characterizes anole ecomorphs. Their internal anatomy, however, has rarely been explored in an ecomorphological context, and it remains unknown to what degree skeletal morphology tracks the diversity and ecological adaptation of these lizards. Herein, we employ CT scanning techniques to visualise the skeleton of the pelvic girdle in situ, and 3D geometric morphometrics to compare the form of the ilium, ischium, and pubis within and between ecomorphs. We examine 26 species of anoles representing four ecomorphs (trunk‐ground, trunk‐crown, crown‐giant, twig) from three islands (Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico). The subtle variations in pelvic girdle morphology discovered are directly associable with all three parameters that we set out to focus on: phylogenetic relationship, specimen size, and assigned ecomorph category. Morphometric variation that correlates with size and/or phylogenetic signal varies between species and cannot be eliminated from the data set without markedly reducing its overall variability. The discovered patterns of skeletal variation are consistent with the demands of locomotor mechanics pertinent to the structural configuration of the microhabitat of three of the four ecomorphs, with the fourth having no discernible distinctive features. This manifests itself chiefly in the relative anteroposterior extent and anteroventral inclination of the ilium and pubis, which differ between ecomorphs and are postulated to reflect optimization of the direction of muscle vectors of the femoral protractors and retractors. Our investigation of the form of the pelvic girdle of anoles allows us to generalize our findings to entire ecomorph categories within a broad phylogenetic and biogeographic context. Differences in the form and configuration of the postcranial skeleton are directly related to ecological patterns.
Yakovlev's Basolateral Limbic Circuit in Multiple Sclerosis Related Cognitive Impairment

In 1948, Paul Yakovlev described an additional limbic circuit located basolateral to James Papez's circuit (1937) and included orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and dorsomedial nucleus of thalamus. This circuit is shown to be an important component of subcortical cognitive abilities. We aimed to demonstrate this circuit in a multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and evaluate its role in MS‐related cognitive impairment (CI).
Heat Priming During Early Reproductive Stages Enhances Thermo-Tolerance to Post-anthesis Heat Stress via Improving Photosynthesis and Plant Productivity in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Heat stress during grain filling substantially decreases wheat productivity; thus, to ensure food security, heat tolerance in wheat needs to be developed. In this study, we evaluated the effect of heat priming applied during the stem-elongation stage, booting and anthesis, followed by 5 days of severe heat stress (a 7.86°C rise in temperature) during the grain-filling stage on physiological activities and grain yield of winter wheat in pot experiments during the 2015-2017 growing seasons using the winter wheat cultivars Yangmai 18 (a vernal type) and Yannong 19 (a facultative type). Compared with the damage observed in non-primed plants, heat priming during the stem-elongation stage and booting significantly prevented the grain-yield damage caused by heat stress during grain filling. Heat-primed plants displayed higher sucrose contents and sucrose-phosphate activity in leaves and greater above-ground dry matter than non-primed plants. Priming during stem elongation and booting led to increased photosynthetic capacity, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll contents in comparison with non-priming. Improved tolerance to heat stress due to the enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and peroxidase and reductions in reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde production was observed in primed plants compared with non-primed plants of both cultivars. The positive effect of heat priming on the response to heat stress during grain filling was more pronounced in plants primed at the booting stage than in those primed at the stem-elongation or anthesis stage. Moreover, the vernal-type Yangmai 18 benefited more from heat priming than did Yannong 19, as evidenced by its higher productivity. We conclude that heat priming during early reproductive-stage growth can improve post-anthesis heat tolerance in winter wheat.
Research on the Prewarning Method for the Safety of South-to-North Water Transfer Project Driven by Monitoring Data

In order to solve the prewarning problem of South-to-North Water Transfer Project safety, an intelligent cooperative prewarning method based on machine learning was proposed under the framework of intelligent information processing. Driven by the monitoring data of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, the single sensor in typical scenes was studied, and the security threshold was predicted along the vertical axis of time, firstly. With the support of the data correlation calculation, the sensors in the typical scene were intelligently grouped, and the study objectives were changed into sensor grouping, secondly. Then, the nonlinear regression model between the single sensor and the multisensors was built on the time cross section, and the model was used to dynamically calculate the safety threshold of the current sensor for the second time. Finally, in the framework of intelligent information processing, a double verification mechanism was proposed to support the construction of the intelligent prewarning method for the safety of South-to-North Water Transfer Project. The paper collected the monitoring data from November 2015 to September 2016 in the typical scenarios. The experimental results showed that the methods constructed in the paper can be able to identify the abnormal causes of data sudden jump effectively and give the different level prewarning. The method provides a strong theoretical support for further manual investigation work.
Isolation, identification, and characterization of Ustilaginoidea virens from rice false smut balls with high ustilotoxin production potential

Ustilaginoidea (U.) virens grows on rice grains and leads to significant rice yield losses in most of the major rice producing areas. Meanwhile, ustiloxins produced by U. virens are a serious hazard to human health and ecological safety of farmlands. The other key point is that ustiloxins have been regarded as a novel resource with their potential in the treatment of cancers. There is no better way to extract ustiloxins than from pure culture of the high ustilotoxin‐producing strains. U. virens has become a key research organism. However, due to the presence of some interference components, it is a certain difficulty in the successful isolation of the strain from the false smut balls. We present here a detailed study based on the separation, screening and identification of high ustiloxins‐producing strains of U. virens. Through this study, we got a satisfactory success rate of separation and provided a good solution to the problem of separation. At the same time, this study provides quality resources for researchers interested in ustiloxins as anticancer agents.
Decreasing Wait Times and Increasing Patient Satisfaction

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Patient satisfaction scores in the vascular interventional radiology department were low, especially related to wait times in registration and for tests/treatments, with low scores for intentions to recommend. Purpose: The purpose of our quality improvement project was to decrease wait times and improve patient satisfaction using Lean Six Sigma's define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) framework with a pre-/postintervention design. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in wait times (P < .0019) and an increase in patient satisfaction scores in 3 areas: registration wait times (from 17 to 99 percentiles), test/treatment (from 19 to 60 percentiles), and likelihood to recommend (from 6 to 97 percentiles). Conclusions: Lean Six Sigma was an effective framework for use in decreasing wait times and improving patient satisfaction.
Deep State Space Models for Unconditional Word Generation

Autoregressive feedback is considered a necessity for successful unconditional text generation using stochastic sequence models. However, such feedback is known to introduce systematic biases into the training process and it obscures a principle of generation: committing to global information and forgetting local nuances. We show that a non-autoregressive deep state space model with a clear separation of global and local uncertainty can be built from only two ingredients: An independent noise source and a deterministic transition function. Recent advances on flow-based variational inference can be used to train an evidence lower-bound without resorting to annealing, auxiliary losses or similar measures. The result is a highly interpretable generative model on par with comparable auto-regressive models on the task of word generation.
Detection of Premature Ventricular Contractions Using Densely Connected Deep Convolutional Neural Network with Spatial Pyramid Pooling Layer

Premature ventricular contraction(PVC) is a type of premature ectopic beat originating from the ventricles. Automatic method for accurate and robust detection of PVC is highly clinically desired.Currently, most of these methods are developed and tested using the same database divided into training and testing set and their generalization performance across databases has not been fully validated. In this paper, a method based on densely connected convolutional neural network and spatial pyramid pooling is proposed for PVC detection which can take arbitrarily-sized QRS complexes as input both in training and testing. With a much less complicated and more straightforward architecture,the proposed network achieves comparable results to current state-of-the-art deep learning based method with regard to accuracy,sensitivity and specificity by training and testing using the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database as benchmark.Besides the benchmark database,QRS complexes are extracted from four more open databases namely the St-Petersburg Institute of Cardiological Technics 12-lead Arrhythmia Database,The MIT-BIH Normal Sinus Rhythm Database,The MIT-BIH Long Term Database and European ST-T Database. The extracted QRS complexes are different in length and sampling rate among the five databases.Cross-database training and testing is also experimented.The performance of the network shows an improvement on the benchmark database according to the result demonstrating the advantage of using multiple databases for training over using only a single database.The network also achieves satisfactory scores on the other four databases showing good generalization capability.
The Accuracy of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for Evaluating Bone Density and Cortical Bone Thickness at the Implant Site: Micro-Computed Tomography and Histologic Analysis

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for determining cortical thickness and the gray value, investigating its correlation with micro-computed tomography (CT) and histology analysis. Sixty-two bone samples from 4 anatomic regions of the jaw were analyzed. A radiographic surgical stent was used during CBCT and bone sample harvesting. The cortical thickness and gray value of the planned implant were evaluated by CBCT. Bone volumetric fractions, bone mineral density, and % porosity assessed by micro-CT and mineralized material by histology analysis from harvested bone samples were analyzed and assessed for the association with the CBCT using Pearson correlation. A correlation between cortical thickness measured from the CBCT and Micro-CT (r = 0.933, P < 0.01) was identified. There was no difference between gray values measured from the CBCT among regions, while bone density parameters from micro-CT and histologic analysis showed significant difference (P < 0.01) among regions. Bone density parameters from micro-CT and histologic analysis showed correlation with cortical thickness but not with the gray value. In conclusion, CBCT is highly accurate in linear measurements and demonstrated correlation with genuine bone density. However, the gray value could not demonstrate the true bone density according to a low correlation to bone density variable measured from micro-CT and histologic analysis.
Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis Infection Among US Males, 2013–2016

Background Trichomoniasis results from adhesion of Trichomonas vaginalis to the mucous membrane of the urethra or vagina. It has been estimated to have a higher incidence rate than both gonorrhea and chlamydia combined. Although females can experience both clinical symptoms and obstetrical complications, male infections are largely asymptomatic and often unreported. We aim to estimate the prevalence of trichomoniasis in US males using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Methods The NHANES database was queried for all men aged 18-59 years during the years 2013-2016. During these years, the survey included urine testing for trichomoniasis using transcription-mediated amplification. Information was also obtained regarding patient demographics and other sexually transmitted infections. Results Overall, 0.49% of men aged 18-59 years tested positive for trichomoniasis. The highest rate was seen in black men (3.6%). There was no significant association with trichomoniasis and age. Higher rates of infection were seen in smokers, those with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, men who had sex at an early age, those with less condom usage, and those with more lifetime sexual partners. Conclusion The rates of trichomonas infection in US males are lower than in women. Infections are strongly associated with black males, HSV-2 infection, and other factors known to increase rates of sexually transmitted infection. This information may be helpful for counseling, screening, and management of patients.
Examining the Overlap Between ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Using Candidate Endophenotypes of ADHD

Objective: Recent discussions of aetiological overlap between ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) require comparative studying of these disorders. Method: We examined performance of ASD patients with (ASD+) and without (ASD–) comorbid ADHD, ADHD patients, and controls for selected putative endophenotypes of ADHD: Intrasubject Variability (ISV) of reaction times, working memory (WM), inhibition, and temporal processing. Results: We found that patients with ADHD or ASD+, but not ASD–, had elevated ISV across the entire task battery and temporal processing deficits, and that none of the groups were impaired in WM or inhibition. High levels of ISV and generally poor performance in ASD+ patients were only partially due to additive effects of the pure disorders. Conclusion: Overall, we conclude that, within our limited but heterogeneous task battery, ISV and temporal processing deficits are most sensitive to ADHD symptomatology and that controlling for ADHD comorbidity is mandatory when assessing ISV in autism.
Implementation of a Computer Vision Algorithm for Onboard Detection of Unmanned Aircraft submitted by Lukáš Bauer

The bachelor’s thesis of Lukáš Bauer is concerned with vision-based algorithms for the detection and localization of UAVs in images from an on-board UAV camera. This is an interesting problem with several applications. The first set of goals included studying different methods for the real-time detection and localization of UAVs, selecting a method for implementation from the candidates, and then integrating and optimizing the selected method as a Robot Operating System (ROS), which operates on the embedded computer of the UAV. The second set of goals included testing the method on simulated and realword data, evaluating the precision and the computational speed of the implementation on the embedded device, and preparing the system for integration into a formation-control algorithm.
Load characteristics following transfemoral amputation in individuals fitted with bone-anchored prostheses: a scoping review protocol

Review question The main purpose of this scoping review is to characterize loading information applied on the residuum of individuals with transfemoral amputation fitted with an osseointegrated fixation for bone-anchored prostheses. The objectives of this scoping review are: i) to map the scope of loading variables, and ii) to report the range of magnitude of loads that has been directly measured using a portable kinetic recording apparatus fitted at the distal end of the residuum during rehabilitation exercises, standardized and unscripted activities of daily living, and adverse events. The specific review questions are:What is the scope of variables used to describe loading data that has been directly measured using a portable kinetic recording apparatus mounted at the distal end of the residuum of individuals with transfemoral amputation fitted with an osseointegrated fixation? What is the range of magnitude of the loads applied on the residuum of individuals with transfemoral amputation fitted with an osseointegrated fixation measured directly with a portable kinetic recording apparatus during rehabilitation exercises, standardized and unscripted activities of daily living, and adverse events?
Effects of Walking on Coronary Heart Disease in Elderly Men with Diabetes

Previous studies have shown that walking is associated with increased longevity and a reduced risk of cardiovascular and age-related diseases. Whether walking benefits individuals with diabetes who are at high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) remains to be determined. The objective of this study is to examine the association between walking and risk of CHD among elderly men with and without diabetes. Walking data was assessed in 2732 men aged 71 to 93 years participating in the Honolulu Heart Program from 1991–1993. Study participants were initially without disabilities and free of prevalent CHD. Men were then followed for incident CHD for up to 7 years. For men with diabetes who walked <0.25 miles/day, the age-adjusted incidence of CHD was significantly higher than in men without diabetes (27.1 vs. 12.7/1000 person years, p = 0.026). In contrast when distance walked was >1.5 miles/day, incidence of CHD was similar in men with and without diabetes (12.2 vs. 9.1/1000 person-years, p = 0.46). While risk of CHD declined significantly with increasing walking distance in men with diabetes after age and risk factor adjustment (p = 0.043, p = 0.025), associations in those without diabetes were weaker (p = 0.070, p = 0.10). These findings suggest that among elderly men with diabetes who are capable of physical activity, walking reduces CHD risk to levels similar to when diabetes is absent. Walking is an easy, safe and accessible form of physical activity that may have marked health benefits for elderly men with diabetes.
Biochemical Characterization of the Brain Hippocampal Areas after Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Using Raman Spectroscopy

Cerebral ischemic stroke is one of the most common neurodegenerative conditions characterized by cerebral infarction, death of the brain tissue, and loss of brain function. Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury is the tissue damage caused when blood supply begins to the tissue after a period of ischemia or poor oxygen supply. In this study, we preliminarily investigated the biochemical changes in the brain hippocampal area, CA1, resulting from ischemia reperfusion and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitor treatment in rats using Raman spectroscopy. A drastic spectral change was observed in the ischemia-reperfusion brain tissue; a strong dependency between the intensity of certain Raman bands was observed at the amide positions of 1276 and 1658 cm−1 and at the lipid positions of 1300 and 1438 cm−1. The spectrum of nNOS inhibitor-treated brain tissue was similar to that of the normal brain tissue, indicating that the nNOS inhibitor could protect the brain against excessive production of NO and biochemical processes dependent on it. Principal component analysis (PCA) precisely identified three classes of tissues: normal; ischemic; and nNOS inhibitor-treated. Therefore, we suggest that quantitative analysis of the changes in the brain tissue by using Raman spectroscopy with multivariate statistical technique could be effective for evaluating neuronal injury and drug effects.
Modified switching scheme‐based explicit torque control of brush‐less direct current motor drive

A modified explicit torque control (ETC) scheme for permanent magnet (PM) machine with non-sinusoidal back emf is investigated in this article. The conventional ETC scheme for the PM machines with non-sinusoidal back emf furnishes a wide band for the switching frequency and offers a faster response in the torque. In this article, a modified scheme for switching vector selection is proposed to reduce the switching frequency while maintaining the advantage of faster torque response. Other than the conventional two-phase excitation, which uses opposite vectors for switching to get the speedier response in torque, the modifications proposed for the ETC of PM machine are (i) a closer vector selection from the available two-phase vector plane and (ii) a combination of two phase and three phase excitation. Both these modifications gives a faster response in the torque as that of conventional ETC, while this offers a reduction in the switching frequency. Switching frequency variations are expressed mathematically, and experimental results are presented for the modified schemes of ETC and for the conventional ETC based to validate the proposed scheme.
Unsupervised brain segmentation using T2 window

Measurement of brain structures could lead to important diagnostic information and could indicate the success or failure of a certain pharmaceutical drug. We have developed a totally unsupervised technique that segments and quantifies brain structures from T2 dual echo MR images. The technique classified four different tissue clusters in a scatter plot (air, CSF, brain, and face). Several novel image-processing techniques were implemented to reduce the spread of these clusters and subsequently generate tissue based T2 windows. These T2 windows encompassed all the information needed to segment and subsequently quantify the corresponding tissues in an automatic fashion. We have applied the technique on nineteen MR data sets (16 normal and 3 Alzheimer diseased [AD] patients). The measurements from the T2 window technique differentiated AD patients from normal subjects. The mean value of the %CSF from total the brain was %29.2 higher for AD patients from the %CSF for normal subjects. Furthermore, the technique ran under 30 seconds per data set on a PC with 550 MHz dual processors.