Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of compression algorithms for automotive stereo matching

Automotive stereo-based camera systems are at the focus of new vehicle functions development. Advantageous interconnections between automotive cameras and electronic control units are possible using IP-based technology in the vehicles. Because automotive implementation of this technology allows only limited data rates camera stream compression is necessary to transmit over such a medium. The image processing algorithms can be applied after a decompressing of the camera streams. This paper introduces a method for comparing the impact of different image compression algorithms on automotive stereo algorithms. We propose a comparison metric based on disparity error to compare the effects as a function of image compression algorithms, compression ratio and vehicle velocity.
Efficacy of a Topical Agent, MAS063D (‘Atopiclair’), in the Treatment of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate-Induced Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Background: Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is commonly treated with topical corticosteroids. MAS063D (‘Atopiclair’) is a nonsteroidal effective in atopic dermatitis. Objective: To determine the efficacy of a topical agent, MAS063D, in managing ICD. Methods: Two sites of ICD were created using sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in 20 volunteers; MAS063D was then applied to one and a vehicle-only control to the other. Measurements were taken at baseline, 24, 48 and 72 h. Results: The objective measurements of blood flow volume (BFV), skin color (a*) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) all showed statistically significant benefits of MAS063D over the vehicle-only control. BFV and a* were significantly better at all time points (p = 0.046, p = 0.045, respectively, at 72 h) and TEWL at 48 and 72 h (p = 0.02 at 72 h). Conclusion: MAS063D demonstrated benefits over vehicle in three clinically meaningful outcomes of SLS-induced ICD.
Regulation of Forkhead Transcription Factor FoxO3a Contributes to Calorie Restriction‐induced Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease‐type Amyloid Neuropathology and Spatial Memory Deterioration

Forkhead transcription factor FoxO3a, also known as DAF‐16 in Caenorhabditis elegans, is a key regulator of the insulin receptor (IR)/insulin‐like growth factor‐I signaling pathway mediated extension of life span in worms and yeast. In this study, we report that calorie restriction (CR)‐mediated activation of the IR signaling pathway leads to hyperphosphorylation of FoxO3a transcription factor and, consequently, its exclusion from the nucleus. This inactivation of FoxO3a activity is correlated with attenuation of Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐type amyloid neuropathology and with preservation of spatial reference memory in the Tg2576 mouse model of AD. Further, in vitro studies reveal that exogenous expression of viral, triple‐mutant, constitutively active FoxO3a resulting in increased nuclear FoxO3a activity in primary neuron cultures derived from Tg2576 mouse embryos, causally promotes AD amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ) levels by inhibiting nonamyloidogenic α‐secretase activity, indicating the existence of an inverse correlation between FoxO3a activity and cerebral Aβ amyloidosis. Moreover, we report for the first time that the exclusion of the FoxO3a transcription factor from the nucleus in combination with inhibition of nuclear FoxO3a activity by SIRT1‐mediated deacetylation in response to CR is a mechanism resulting in the repression of Rho‐associated protein kinase‐1 gene expression, thereby activating nonamyloidogenic α‐secretase processing of the amyloid precursor protein and lowering Aβ generation. This study provides a novel metabolic pathway for prevention and/or treatment of AD.
Effect of icariin in combination with daily sildenafil on penile atrophy and erectile dysfunction in a rat model of bilateral cavernous nerves injury

The commonly utilized phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors do not lead to satisfactory penile erection after radical prostatectomy mainly because of insufficient nitric oxide drive from the damaged cavernous nerves. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and mechanisms of icariin in combination with daily sildenafil on neurogenic erectile dysfunction and penile atrophy in a rat model of bilateral cavernous nerves injury. Sixty male Sprague–Dawley rats injected with 5‐ethynyl‐2‐deoxyuridine (50 mg/kg) at postnatal day 1 for the purpose of tracking endogenous stem cells in penis. Forty‐eight rats of bilateral cavernous nerves injury were randomized equally into gavage feeding of vehicle, sildenafil (10 mg/kg), icariin (1.5 mg/kg) and sildenafil + icariin, respectively. Twelve sham‐operated rats served as control. The intracavernous pressure and mean arterial pressure was measured and mid‐penile cross sections were histologically examined 5 weeks after surgery. Western blotting of cavernous tissue protein was also performed. Animals treated with sildenafil + icariin had significantly higher mean intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure ratio relative to other rats with bilateral cavernous nerves injury (p < 0.05). The circumference and mean cross‐sectional area of the paired corpus cavernosum were effectively preserved in the sildenafil + icariin. Treatment with sildenafil + icariin significantly increased the cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentration compared with the icariin group (p < 0.05). In addition, the numbers of neuronal nitric oxide synthase‐positive nerves and 5‐ethynyl‐2‐deoxyuridine‐positive cells co‐expressing S100 in the icariin‐treated groups were greater compared with the bilateral cavernous nerves injury control group (p < 0.05). These data suggest that the combined use of icariin and daily sildenafil holds promise as a potential therapy for neurogenic erectile dysfunction in the future. The underlying mechanisms appears to involve two aspects: (i) icariin promotes differentiation of endogenous stem cells to Schwann cells, which help to repair the damaged neural pathway for erection; (ii) on this basis, sildenafil can further improve penile engorgement through the cyclic guanosine monophosphate‐dependent smooth muscle relaxation.
Comparison of Aortography, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

During a three-year period 51 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) computed tomography (CT) and aortography to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and role of each study. Ct and MRI were 100% accurate in establishing the diagnosis of AAA, whereas aortography did not visualize the AAA in 3 patients nor the associated iliac aneurysms in 3 other patients. MRI and aortography were superior to CT in evaluating the celiac, superior mesenteric, and renal arteries. CT should be the screening method of choice to identify AAA, and when operation is contemplated, aortography will best demonstrate the mesenteric and renal anatomy. If aortography is deemed too hazardous, MRI will yield the most information and should then be the noninvasive test of choice.
Sperm DNA damage measured by sperm chromatin structure assay in men with a history of undescended testes

The aim of this study was to compare sperm DNA damage between men with a history of congenital undescended testis (UDT) and men with a history of acquired UDT. A long‐term follow‐up study of men with previous UDT was performed. Fifty men with congenital UDT who had undergone orchiopexy at childhood age, 49 men with acquired UDT after a ‘wait‐and‐see’‐protocol (e.g. awaiting spontaneous descent until puberty and perform an orchiopexy in case of non‐decent), and 22 healthy proven fertile men were included. The DNA fragmentation index (DFI) using sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was used to express the level of sperm DNA damage. Decreased fertility potential was considered if DFI was above 30%. Sperm DNA damage was not statistically different between cases of congenital and acquired UDT. DFI was significantly more often >30% in the complete group of men with congenital UDT (9/50; 18%) and in the subgroup with bilateral congenital UDT (3/7; 43%) in comparison with the controls (none) (p‐value 0.049 and 0.01, respectively). Age at orchiopexy in congenital UDT had no statistical effect on DNA damage. In men with acquired UDT, DFI did not statistically differ between those having undergone orchiopexy and those experiencing spontaneous descent. This study supports the hypothesis that UDT is a spectrum representing both congenital UDT and acquired UDT. Sperm DNA damage at adult age is not influenced by age at orchiopexy in congenital UDT cases and by orchiopexy or spontaneous descent in acquired UDT cases.
Serotonin (5‐HT) Transporter Ligands Affect Plasma 5‐HT in Rats

Dual dopamine (DA)/serotonin (5‐HT)–releasing agents are promising candidate medications for stimulant addiction and other disorders. However, certain 5‐HT transporter (SERT) substrates are associated with development of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and valvular heart disease (VHD). According to the “5‐HT hypothesis,” SERT substrates increase the risk for developing IPAH and VHD by increasing plasma 5‐HT. To test this hypothesis directly, we determined the effects of acute and chronic fenfluramine, and other SERT ligands, on plasma 5‐HT in male rats. For acute treatments, rats received i.v. vehicle or test drug (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg), and serial blood samples were withdrawn. For chronic treatments, vehicle or test drug was infused via osmotic minipump (3 and 10 mg/kg/d) for 2 weeks. On the last day of infusion, rats received i.v. fenfluramine challenge (1 mg/kg), and serial blood samples were withdrawn. Plasma 5‐HT was measured using ex vivo microdialysis in whole‐blood samples. Baseline plasma 5‐HT was <1.0 nM. Acute injection of fenfluramine or other SERT substrates caused large (up to 24‐fold) dose‐dependent increases in plasma 5‐HT. Chronic fenfluramine at 3 and 10 mg/kg/d produced 1.7‐ and 3.5‐fold increases in baseline plasma 5‐HT, while chronic fluoxetine had no effect. Chronic infusions of fenfluramine or fluoxetine diminished the ability of acute fenfluramine to elevate dialysate 5‐HT, and both drugs markedly reduced whole‐blood 5‐HT. Acute fenfluramine increases plasma 5‐HT to concentrations that are below the micromolar levels necessary to produce adverse cardiovascular effects. Chronic fenfluramine and fluoxetine have minimal effects on plasma 5‐HT, suggesting that the increased risk for IPAH associated with fenfluramine does not depend upon elevations in plasma 5‐HT.
Service quality measurement in a medical imaging department

This project evaluates the quality of service provided for ambulatory clients at the Bone Densitometry Unit in the Royal Brisbane Hospital using the Servqual instrument. Every adult outpatient visiting the Bone Densitometry Unit over a six‐month period was invited to participate in the survey. On each of the five measured dimensions of service quality: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy, there were high satisfaction ratings with both perception scores and expectation‐minus‐perception gap scores. Of the five dimensions, responsiveness, assurance and empathy factors were more important predictors of overall service satisfaction. Perception scores better predict overall satisfaction than gap scores. Therefore, Servqual is useful if knowledge of the pattern of expectation trends is important in managerial decision making. Otherwise, the measurement of perception scores appears sufficient to assess service quality for ambulatory clients in a medical imaging department.
Lane-level positioning with sparse visual cues

Vehicle localization and autonomous navigation consist of accurately positioning a vehicle in a lane. This paper presents topological localization methods by matching the visual cues from the on-board monocular camera images and the preprocessed database. We propose two methods for vehicle localization. The first exploits the 3D information of the sparse visual cues from the database. The relative vehicle rotation and translation are extracted using SOREPP method which is able to handle challenging scenarios with extremely low inlier fractions. The translation length is selected among multiple triangulation candidates. In order to select the best candidate, we suggest a robust soft-threshold estimation method which is not prone to local maxima even when the inliers' fragment is very small. The other method seeks for a refined test vehicle position estimation using a soft-threshold on Sampson distances and Cross-ratio measurements given a current noisy vehicle pose and several near-by database images. This method does not require any 3D knowledge for operation. The main challenge our optimization algorithm addresses is due to the camera and scene configurations. The database images and the test image are all taken from positions which are approximately co-linear. In addition, the scene points visible in all these images are almost co-linear with the camera positions. In this configuration, standard localization algorithms will exhibit difficulties in obtaining accurate results. The novel algorithm we present here is able to overcome this problem. The suggested localization methods are initialized by a rough position estimation thus require a regular vehicle GPS on-board. A monocular camera is required for the topological localization. We evaluate the proposed methods on real data from the KITTI database with the RTK-GPS output as ground truth.
Relaxed disjointness based clustering for joint blind source separation and dereverberation

We propose a novel clustering technique based on a relaxed disjointness assumption for joint blind source separation (BSS) and dere-verberation. A disjointness assumption in conventional clustering techniques for BSS is that, at each time-frequency point, observed mixtures consist of a single source only. However, this is not the case in reverberant environments, which causes the performance of the conventional techniques to degrade. To deal with reverberant environments, we introduce a relaxed disjointness assumption: at each time-frequency point, dereverberated mixtures consist of a single source only. Under this assumption, the proposed algorithm alternates dereverberation and clustering-based source separation it-eratively, where clustering is performed on dereverberated mixtures. This algorithm is derived based on maximum a posteriori (MAP) fitting of a probabilistic generative model to observed reverberant mixtures. In experiments, the proposed method outperformed a state-of-the-art clustering technique in terms of a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) by 0.6-4 dB.
3D gender recognition using cognitive modeling

We use 3D scans of human faces and cognitive modeling to estimate the “gender strength”. The “gender strength” is a continuous class variable of the gender, superseding the traditional binary class labeling. To visualize some of the visual trends humans use when performing gender classification, we use linear regression. In addition, we use the gender strength to construct a smaller but refined training set, by identifying and removing ill-defined training examples. We use this refined training set to improve the performance of known classification algorithms. Results are presented using a 5-fold cross-validation scheme and also reproduced using an unseen data set.
Evaluation of cerebral artery perforators and the pipeline embolization device using optical coherence tomography

Introduction Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides high resolution imaging of tissue; this technology has been validated using intra-arterial catheters in the evaluation of arterial anatomy, pathology and treatments. The perforating cerebral arteries and intracranial stents have not been previously visualized with an OCT catheter. Methods Using a standard transfemoral endovascular technique, a LightLab C7 Dragonfly catheter was inserted in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries of a fresh frozen cadaver. OCT images of the cerebral vessels and a deployed Pipeline Embolization Device were acquired using the LightLab C7-XR OCT Intravascular Imaging System. Results Distal cerebral artery access with the imaging catheter was feasible via the femoral artery using a distal access catheter instead of the standard monorail system used in coronary investigations. Imaging of perforators and stent struts had exceptional resolution. Conclusion The first use of a commercial OCT catheter in the evaluation of intracranial vessels using transfemoral endovascular techniques is described. Challenges of intracranial OCT include blood clearance and vessel tortuosity. This technology may aid in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular disease in the future.
Assessing tissue damage in multiple sclerosis: a biomarker approach

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord is the gold standard for assessing disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). MRI is an excellent instrument for determination of accumulated damage to the brain and spinal cord, but tells us little about ongoing tissue damage. In this study, biomarkers of oligodendrocyte, axonal and astrocyte injury were related to MRI and clinical findings and used to assess tissue damage in MS.
Clinical Informatics and Patient Safety at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

In 1998, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report on medical errors, which estimated that up to 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year from errors. This report raised concerns that medical errors have become a national public health problem that should be addressed in the same manner as other epidemics such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. In 2001, the IOM released a follow-up report encompassing a broader range of quality issues. They concluded that the U.S. healthcare system is outmoded and incapable of providing consistent, high-quality care. They outlined a strategy for redesigning U.S. healthcare delivery to achieve safe, dependable, high-quality care, which emphasizes information technology as an integral part of the solution. AHRQ's fiscal year 2001 appropriation included $50 million dollars for initiatives to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety. AHRQ responded to this mandate by developing a series of research solicitations that form an integrated set of activities to design and test best practices for reducing errors in multiple health care settings. This paper discusses the components of this program and the central role of medical informatics research in the Agency's efforts to improve the safety of medical care in America.
Reliability and Repeatability of Methods for Measuring Muscle in Physiotherapy

The reliability and repeatability of various methods of measuring muscle size, strength and activation are discussed. The examples used in this review describe methods which the author has used in her experience of investigations of skeletal muscle. The importance of measuring muscle after injury and in disease is highlighted, and physiotherapists are encouraged to develop and improve methods of measurement.
An Investigation of the Carriage Rate of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Pigs in the Western Province of Vietnam

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission between pigs and humans can be a dangerous infection source for the community. To control and prevent such disease, MRSA research in healthy pigs has been conducted in the US and Holland. This paper reports the first such study in Vietnam. This study aims to optimize the method for investigating MRSA carriage in tonsil and nasal swabs of healthy pigs. Potential samples were selected rapidly by Multiplex PCR (M-PCR) assay with 3 primers (Staph 756, mecA, Sa442) and then combined with conventional methods to detect and pick up MRSA strains. These strains were grouped based on genome pattern by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). This study showed that we successfully isolated MRSA and the rate of MRSA carriage samples was 3.63%, much lower than that reported in the USA (49%) and Holland (39%), however the USA and Holland studies investigated pigs from industrial scale piggeries, whereas our study investigated pigs from small farms, which is the usual approach to pig farming in Vietnam. The MRSA patterns identified and associated MRSA strains were different from identified MRSA strains in other countries. This research provides important information about the carriage rate of MRSA in pigs in the Western province of Vietnam and demonstrates the importance of ongoing investigations in this area.
Early detachment of the Solitaire stent during thrombectomy retrieval: an in vitro investigation

Objective To elucidate the early detachment of the Solitaire stent during mechanical thrombectomy, we tested the stent in vitro under various conditions and evaluated with microscopy. Methods A total of five stents were tested. Using a dynamic mechanical analysis machine, we calculated the tensile force needed for separation of the four stents from the pusher wire. Stent Nos 1 and 2 were tested without any prior manipulation. During the retraction test, no sheathing around the stent–wire junction was applied to stent No 1 whereas stent No 2 was partially covered with a sheath in accordance with instructions for use (IFU) recommendations. Stent No 3 was tested after deployment and retrieval were performed three times in an in vitro vascular replica with sheathing during retrieval. Stent No 4 was tested after one deployment and retrieval using the same replica as in stent No 3 without sheathing. In addition, forward pushing force was applied intentionally during retraction to induce excessive bending of the stent. Stent No 5 was pulled apart by both hands. After separation, stent tips and pusher wires were studied for all stents under the microscope. Results The tensile force needed for separation was about 6 N for stent Nos 1, 2, and 3, and about 4 N for stent No 4. All of the stents showed separation at the proximal marker, not at the detachment zone. Conclusions Detachment of the Solitaire stent during thrombectomy can be due to separation around or inside the proximal marker. Adherence to the manufacturer's IFU of partial re-sheathing during retraction and not using the device for more than two passes might decrease the possibility of such device failure.
Improving Performance of Internet Services Through Reward-Driven Request Prioritization

Meeting client QoS expectations proves to be a difficult task for the providers of modern Internet services, especially when Web servers experience overload conditions (steady or transient), which cause increased response times and request rejections, leading to user frustration, lowered usage of the service and reduced revenues. In this paper, we propose a server-side request scheduling mechanism that addresses these problems. Our reward-driven request prioritization (RDRP) algorithm gives higher execution priority to client Web sessions that are likely to bring more service profit (or any other application-specific reward). The method works by predicting future session structure by comparing its requests seen so far with aggregated information about recent client behavior, and using these predictions to preferentially allocate Web server resources. Our experiments using the TPC-W benchmark application and CBMG-based Web workloads, with an implementation of the RDRP techniques in the JBoss application server, show that RDRP can significantly boost reward attained by the service, while providing better QoS to clients that bring more reward