Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiplane Convex Proximal Support Vector Machine

As an effective method for XOR problems, generalized eigenvalue proximal support vector machine (GEPSVM) recently has gained widespread attention accompanied with many variants proposed. Although these variants strengthen the classification performance to different extents, the number of fitting hyperplanes, similar to GEPSVM, for each class is still limited to just one. Intuitively, using single hyperplane seems not enough, especially for the datasets with complex feature structures. Therefore, this article mainly focuses on extending the fitting hyperplanes for each class from single one to multiple ones. However, such an extension from the original GEPSVM is not trivial even though, if possible, the elegant solution via generalized eigenvalues will also not be guaranteed. To address this issue, we first make a simple yet crucial transformation for the optimization problem of GEPSVM and then propose a novel multiplane convex proximal support vector machine (MCPSVM), where a set of hyperplanes determined by the features of the data are learned for each class. We adopt a strictly (geodesically) convex objective to characterize this optimization problem; thus, a more elegant closed-form solution is obtained, which only needs a few lines of MATLAB codes. Besides, MCPSVM is more flexible in form and can be naturally and seamlessly extended to the feature weighting learning, whereas GEPSVM and its variants can hardly straightforwardly work like this. Extensive experiments on benchmark and large-scale image datasets indicate the advantages of our MCPSVM.
Heterogeneous State Cannabis Policies: Potential Implications for Patients and Health Care Professionals.

As of November 2021, cannabis has become legalized for medical purposes in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Eighteen states also authorize nonmedical use of cannabis by adults. The rapid expansion of access to cannabis has coincided with increased use across a number of demographic groups. In 2019, an estimated 48 million people in the US reported using cannabis, a 60% increase from 2002.1 Among adults aged 65 years and older, the prevalence of cannabis use increased 10-fold between 2006 and 2018, from approximately 0.4% to more than 4%. 2 Yet amid the increasing availability and use of cannabis nationwide, regulatory policies and sources of information for patients remain fragmented and inconsistent. Approximately 10% of adults who use cannabis report using this drug primarily to treat a medical condition.3 However, few reliable resources are available for patients and clinicians to facilitate evidencebased discussions about the effects of cannabis on health. An information vacuum created by limited public health messaging and restrictions on research has been filled instead by advertising campaigns, anecdotal information, and improvised health policy, which may
DEVELOPMENT OF AN AQUIFER, STORAGE AND RECOVERY (ASR) SITE SELECTION SUITABILITY INDEX IN SUPPORT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PROJECT

In support of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, South Florida Water Management District, and others, are currently engaged in the execution of four Aquifer, Storage and Recovery (ASR) pilot projects located throughout the Everglades region. Through data collection efforts and thorough testing, the four pilot projects will enable the project team to better grasp the technical uncertainties associated with implementing ASR on a grand scale. At the same time, the ASR Regional Study is focused upon the development of a numerical model to provide a better understanding of the south Florida environment’s ability to support a proposed 333 well ASR system, the largest such system in the world. One effort that has been completed as part of the Regional Study is the preliminary optimization of ASR well site selection in support of the proposed 333 well system. After developing an ASR site selection suitability index, an interagency team utilized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the new site suitability methodology to evaluate and propose an initial array of potential ASR well locations. The suitability index was based on the premise of maximizing ASR effectiveness while minimizing any attendant impacts.
The cost and impact of distributing naloxone to people who are prescribed opioids to prevent opioid-related deaths: findings from a modelling study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Although most opioid-related mortality in Australia involves prescription opioids, most research to understand the impact of naloxone supply on opioid-related mortality has focused upon people who inject heroin. We aimed to examine the cost and probable impact of up-scaling naloxone supply to people who are prescribed opioids. DESIGN Decision-tree model. Four scenarios were compared with a baseline scenario (the current status quo): naloxone scale-up between 2020 and 2030 to reach 30 or 90% coverage by 2030, among the subgroups of people prescribed either ≥ 50 or ≥ 100 mg of oral morphine equivalents (OME). SETTING Australia. PARTICIPANTS People who are prescribed opioids. MEASUREMENTS Possible deaths averted, costs (ambulance and naloxone distribution) and cost per life saved for different scenarios of naloxone scale-up. FINDINGS Maintaining the status quo, there would be an estimated 7478 [uncertainty interval (UI) = 6868-8275] prescription opioid overdose deaths between 2020 and 2030, resulting in Australian dollars (A$)51.9 million (49.4, 56.0) in ambulance costs. If naloxone were scaled-up to 90% of people prescribed > 50 mg OME, an estimated 657 (UI = 245, 1489) deaths could be averted between 2020 and 2030 (a 20% reduction in the final year of the model compared with the no naloxone scenario), with a cost of A$43 600 (20 800-110 500) per life saved. If naloxone were scaled-up to 30% of people prescribed > 50 mg OME an estimated 219 (82-496) deaths could be averted with the same cost per live saved. If naloxone were restricted to those prescribed > 100 mg OME, an estimated 130 (UI = 44-289) deaths would be averted if scaled-up to 30% or 390 (UI = 131-866) deaths averted if scaled-up to 90%, with the cost per life saved for both scenarios A$38 200 (UI = 12 400-97 400). CONCLUSION In Australia, scaling-up take-home naloxone by 2030 to reach 90% of people prescribed daily doses of ≥ 50 mg of oral morphine equivalents would be cost-effective and save more than 650 lives.
Effect of therapeutic hypothermia against renal injury in a rat model of asphyxial cardiac arrest: A focus on the survival rate, pathophysiology and antioxidant enzymes

Although multi-organ dysfunction is associated with the survival rate following cardiac arrest (CA), the majority of studies to date have focused on hearts and brains, and few studies have considered renal failure. The objective of the present study, therefore, was to examine the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on the survival rate, pathophysiology and antioxidant enzymes in rat kidneys following asphyxial CA. Rats were sacrificed one day following CA. The survival rate, which was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, was 42.9% one day following CA. However, hypothermia, which was induced following CA, significantly increased the survival rate (71.4%). In normothermia rats with CA, the serum blood urea nitrogen level was significantly increased one day post-CA. In addition, the serum creatinine level was significantly increased one day post-CA. However, in CA rats exposed to hypothermia, the levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine significantly decreased following CA. Histochemical staining revealed a significant temporal increase in renal injury after the normothermia group was subjected to CA. However, renal injury was significantly decreased in the hypothermia group. Immunohistochemical analysis of the kidney revealed a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes (copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, manganese superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) with time in the normothermia group. However, in the hypothermia group, these enzymes were significantly elevated following CA. Collectively, the results revealed that renal dysfunction following asphyxial CA was strongly associated with the early survival rate and therapeutic hypothermia reduced renal injury via effective antioxidant mechanisms.
Computational study, synthesis and evaluation of active peptides derived from Parasporin-2 and spike protein from Alphacoronavirus against colorectal cancer cells

Abstract Parasporin-2Aa1 (PS2Aa1) is a toxic protein of 37 KDa (30 kDa, activated form produced by proteolysis) that was shown to be cytotoxic against specific human cancer cells, although its mechanism of action has not been elucidated yet. In order to study the role of some native peptide fragments of proteins on anticancer activity, here we investigated the cytotoxic effect of peptide fragments from domain-1 of PS2Aa1 and one of the loops present in the binding region of the virus spike protein from Alphacoronavirus (HCoV-229E), the latter according to scientific reports, who showed interaction with the human APN (h-APN) receptor, evidence corroborated through computational simulations, and thus being possible active against colon cancer cells. Peptides namely P264-G274, Loop1-PS2Aa, and Loop2-PS2Aa were synthesized using the Fmoc solid-phase synthesis and characterized by mass spectrometry (MS). Additionally, one region from loop 1 of HCoV-229E, Loop1-HCoV-229E, was also synthesized and characterized. The A4W-GGN5 anticancer peptide and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were taken as a control in all experiments. Circular dichroism revealed an α-helix structure for the peptides derived from PS2Aa1 (P264-G274, Loop1-PS2Aa, and Loop2-PS2Aa) and β-laminar structure for the peptide derived from Alphacoronavirus spike protein Loop1-HCoV-229E. Peptides showed a hemolysis percentage of less than 20% at 100 µM concentration. Besides, peptides exhibited stronger anticancer activity against SW480 and SW620 cells after exposure for 48 h. Likewise, these compounds showed significantly lower toxicity against normal cells CHO-K1. The results suggest that native peptide fragments from Ps2Aa1 may be optimized as a novel potential cancer-therapeutic agents.
Analysis of the formation and elimination of loops in twisted cable

Serious failures of ocean cable have resulted from the phenomenon known as hockling. When a cable is under tension, helical windings can cause the cable to twist. With relaxation of the tension, loops can form. Reapplication of tension tightens the loop, and at some point the loop in the cable may be eliminated or pop out. If it does not but hockles instead, serious damage will result. An analysis is made of the conditions for loop formation and pop-out. The force versus displacement at the ends of a twisted cable and the point at which the cable flips into a loop are derived in closed form from the basic differential equations of an elastica. From this, the maximum allowable cable slack is derived as a function of the cable's twist per unit length. For a cable in the looped configuration, the cable tension at which the loop pops out and the maximum curvature in the loop at the instant of pop-out are found as functions of the cable diameter, torque, and mechanical properties. >
The Design and Development of a Modular Avionics System

The need for a low-cost, modular avionics system is proposed. Past efforts to develop modular avionics are examined. An examination of past designs showed a primary focus on the use of custom components to provide modularity. A new design methodology is then formulated. This new methodology focuses not only on the use of custom parts, but also on the extensive use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology. Examinations of COTS sensor and computer technologies leads to design parameters being based on industry standards. This new design is then implemented on a small UAV helicopter airframe. An instruction manual is developed and included as an appendix. Extensive flight tests are carried out to verify the reliability and functionality of the design. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations were used to examine system performance both in flight and on the ground. Results of these tests showed that the design methodology resulted in a fully functional and highly reliable system. Future system modifications include increasing computer power, better sensors, distributed computing, and redundancy.
Total-Body PET Multiparametric Imaging of Cancer Using a Voxelwise Strategy of Compartmental Modeling

Visual Abstract Quantitative dynamic PET with compartmental modeling has the potential to enable multiparametric imaging and more accurate quantification than static PET imaging. Conventional methods for parametric imaging commonly use a single kinetic model for all image voxels and neglect the heterogeneity of physiologic models, which can work well for single-organ parametric imaging but may significantly compromise total-body parametric imaging on a scanner with a long axial field of view. In this paper, we evaluate the necessity of voxelwise compartmental modeling strategies, including time delay correction (TDC) and model selection, for total-body multiparametric imaging. Methods: Ten subjects (5 patients with metastatic cancer and 5 healthy volunteers) were scanned on a total-body PET/CT system after injection of 370 MBq of 18F-FDG. Dynamic data were acquired for 60 min. Total-body parametric imaging was performed using 2 approaches. One was the conventional method that uses a single irreversible 2-tissue-compartment model with and without TDC. The second approach selects the best kinetic model from 3 candidate models for individual voxels. The differences between the 2 approaches were evaluated for parametric imaging of microkinetic parameters and the 18F-FDG net influx rate, Ki. Results: TDC had a nonnegligible effect on kinetic quantification of various organs and lesions. The effect was larger in lesions with a higher blood volume. Parametric imaging of Ki with the standard 2-tissue-compartment model introduced vascular-region artifacts, which were overcome by the voxelwise model selection strategy. Conclusion: The time delay and appropriate kinetic model vary in different organs and lesions. Modeling of the time delay of the blood input function and model selection improved total-body multiparametric imaging.
Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease 2019 at a County Jail—Alameda County, California, March 2020-March 2021

Context: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence rates are 2- to 5-fold higher among persons incarcerated in the United States than in the general population. Program or Policy: We describe an outbreak investigation of COVID-19 at a jail (jail A) in Alameda County during March 2020-March 2021. Implementation: To prevent COVID-19 cases among incarcerated persons and employees, staff at jail A and the county public health department worked to develop and recommend infection control measures implemented by jail A including, but not limited to, face covering use among incarcerated persons and staff; cohorting incarcerated persons at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 in dedicated housing units; quarantining all newly detained individuals for 14 days; and offering testing for all symptomatic incarcerated persons, newly incarcerated persons at day 2 and day 10, and all persons who resided in a housing unit where a COVID-19 case was detected. Evaluation: A total of 571 COVID-19 cases were detected among incarcerated persons at jail A during March 2020-March 2021, which represented a total incidence of 280 per 1000 population, 5 times higher than the rate in Alameda County. Of the 571 cases among incarcerated persons, 557 (98%) were male; 415 (73%) were aged 18 to 40 years; 249 (44%) were Latino; and 180 (32%) were African American; 354 (62%) were not symptomatic; and 220 (39%) had no comorbidities. Less than 2% of infected incarcerated persons were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. Discussion: COVID-19 disproportionately impacted persons incarcerated at jail A, with higher numbers among Latinos and African Americans. Implementation of COVID-19 infection control and testing measures, and collaboration between public health, law enforcement, and health care providers may have, in part, led to reductions in morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 at jail A.
Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III Study of Fosnetupitant Versus Fosaprepitant for Prevention of Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: CONSOLE

PURPOSE We evaluated the efficacy and safety of fosnetupitant (FosNTP) versus fosaprepitant (FosAPR) for preventing highly emetogenic chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. This phase III study was the first head-to-head comparison between two different neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists in combination with palonosetron and dexamethasone. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients scheduled to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned 1:1 to FosNTP 235 mg or FosAPR 150 mg in combination with palonosetron 0.75 mg and dexamethasone. The primary end point was overall (0-120 hours) complete response (CR; no emetic event and no rescue medication) rate, stratified by sex and age category, to show the noninferiority of FosNTP to FosAPR (noninferiority margin, –10% for the difference in the overall CR rate). RESULTS Overall, 795 patients were randomly assigned, of whom 785 received the study drug (FosNTP [N = 392] v FosAPR [N = 393]) and were evaluated for efficacy and safety. The overall CR rate was 75.2% versus 71.0%, respectively (Mantel-Haenszel common risk difference, 4.1%; 95% CI, –2.1% to 10.3%), demonstrating noninferiority of FosNTP to FosAPR. The CR rates in the acute (0-24 hours), delayed (24-120 hours), and beyond delayed (120-168 hours) phases, and at 0-168 hours were 93.9% versus 92.6%, 76.8% versus 72.8%, 86.5% versus 81.4%, and 73.2% versus 66.9%, respectively. The incidence rates of treatment-related adverse events with FosNTP versus FosAPR were 22.2% versus 25.4%, whereas adverse events or treatment-related adverse events relevant to injection site reactions were 11.0% versus 20.6% (P < .001) and 0.3% versus 3.6% (P < .001), respectively. CONCLUSION FosNTP demonstrated noninferiority to FosAPR, with a favorable safety profile and lower risk for injection site reactions. Thus, FosNTP is valuable in the prophylaxis of acute, delayed, and beyond delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. CONSOLE: the first head to head study of Fosnetupitant showed noninferiority to Fosaprepitant for preventing CINV.
Assessing suicide ideation among older adults: a systematic review of screening and measurement tools.

OBJECTIVES Rates of suicide in older adults may be higher than reported due to poor understandings of presentation of suicide ideation in this group. The objectives of this paper were to (i) review current measurement tools designed for older adults to detect suicide ideation and (ii) assess their psychometric properties. DESIGN We used a systematic review approach to identify measurement tools developed specifically for older adults without cognitive decline or impairment. RESULTS Ten articles that reported on a total of seven different measurement tools were identified. These included tools that focused on resiliency to suicide and those that measured risk of suicide behavior. There was wide variation across the articles: some were adaptations of existing scales to suit older populations, others were developed by authors; they varied in length from four to 69 items; a range of settings was used, and there was a mix of self-report and clinician-administered measures. Most displayed good psychometric properties, with both approaches showing similar quality. Limitations in terms of samples, settings, and measurement design are discussed. CONCLUSION The case for specific measures for older adults is clear from this review. There appear to be unique factors that should be considered in understanding suicide ideation and behavior among older adults that may not be directly assessed in non-specific measurements. However, there is a need to expand the diversity of individuals included in measurement development to ensure they are appropriate across gender, culture and minority status, and for the views of professionals to be considered.
Ligament and Droplet Generation by Oil Film on a Rotating Disk

The lubrication and heat transfer designs of bearing chamber depend on an understanding of oil/air two-phase flow. As initial and boundary conditions, the characteristics of ligament and droplet generation by oil film on rotating parts have significant influence on the feasibility of oil/air two-phase flow analysis. An integrated model to predict the oil film flow, ligament number, and droplet Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of a rotating disk, which is an abstraction of the droplet generation sources in a bearing chamber, is developed based on the oil film force balance analysis and wave theory. The oil film thickness and velocity, ligaments number, and droplet SMD are calculated as functions of the rotating disk radius, rotational speed and oil volume flow rate and oil properties. The theoretical results show that the oil film thickness and SMD are decreased with an increasing rotational speed, while the radial, transverse velocities, and ligament number are increased. The oil film thickness, radial velocity, and SMD are increased with an increasing oil flow rate, but the transverse velocity and ligament number are decreased. A test facility is built for the investigation into the ligament number of a rotating disk, and the measurement of ligament number is carried out by means of a high speed photography.
Continuous Mode High Efficiency Power Amplifier Design for X Band

This thesis is focused on the investigation and implementation of novel techniques for the design of X band (8 - 12GHz) power amplifiers. One of the main topics is the expansion and novel implementation of continuous mode theory, with the intention of improving the bandwidth and efficiency of X band power amplifiers. This work builds upon the Class B/J continuous mode theory to incorporate cases where <[ZF0] 6= RL, not described by the original Class B/J theory, with a tool called the “clipping contour”. The clipping contour tool shows a graphical representation on the Smith chart of the boundary between impedances generating a voltage waveform which will modulate or “clip” the current waveform, and a voltage waveform which will leave the current waveform unaltered. This non-clipping space is shown, with measured load pull and amplifier data, to represent the maximum efficiency case for a given ZF0, thus the clipping contour tool thus gives designers the ability to predict the areas of highest efficiency and power given any ZF0, without the need to use costly, time consuming multi harmonic load pull techniques. Push pull amplifiers using quarter wave coupled line baluns are proposed as an ideal matching topology to exploit this new tool. Various balun topologies are studied using a novel extended transmission line model. This model is shown to predict accurately and explain the “trace separation” effect seen in planar baluns and not their 3D coaxial cable equivalents. It also forms the basis of analysis which results in a powerful new equation capable of guaranteeing the elimination of trace separation completely, without compromising performance. This equation is used to design an optimal balun which possesses the largest fractional bandwidth (130%) of any balun ever published on single layer thin film Alumina, whilst simultaneously eliminating trace separation. The optimised Alumina baluns are used to construct push pull output demonstrator circuits which show efficiencies of 40% over greater than an octave bandwidth, a significant advancement of any other comparable published work. These techniques demonstrate the potential to exceed double octave bandwidths with efficiencies greater than 40% once optimised. Initial investigations on MMIC and 2.5D processes show the potential to replicate the Alumina performance over octave and decade bandwidths respectively.