Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimates of drowning morbidity and mortality adjusted for exposure to risk

Mitchell, Williamson and Olivier's1 study estimated drowning rates for the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) in 2005 based on resident population person-time exposure to swimming. The authors state (p. 261) that ‘failure to adjust injury rates for exposure to a hazard necessarily results in poor estimates of risk’ and, based on their findings, conclude (p. 264) drowning mortality rates to be ‘more than 200 times higher than equivalent exposure-adjusted rates for road traffic fatalities. ’ This fact is cited in the Royal Life Saving Society's 2010 National Drowning Report2 (p. 3). However, comparison data detailed below suggest that the reported time exposure drowning rate presents a gross overestimation of swimming risk. This is due to deficiencies in reported numerator data and denominator estimates. The majority of unintentional drowning death cases included in the reported numerator would be unlikely to come from the population denominator (swimmers). This is a key principle for calculating population rates.3 Australia-wide unintentional drowning deaths reported for July 2004 to June 2005 identified 97 …
Two-Level Additive Schwarz Methods for a Discontinuous Galerkin Approximation of Second Order Elliptic Problems

We present some two-level nonoverlapping and overlapping additive Schwarz methods for a discontinuous Galerkin method for solving second order elliptic problems. It is shown that the condition numbers of the preconditioned systems are of the order $O(\frac{H}{h})$ for the nonoverlapping Schwarz methods and of the order $O(\frac{H}{\delta})$ for the overlapping Schwarz methods, where h and H stand for the fine-mesh size and the coarse-mesh size, respectively, and $\delta$ denotes the size of the overlaps between subdomains. Numerical experiments are provided to gauge the efficiency of the methods and to validate the theory.
Lactoperoxidase and Iodo-Gen-catalyzed iodination labels inner and outer membrane proteins of Haemophilus influenzae

Both inner and outer membrane proteins of Haemophilus influenzae type b were labeled by iodination procedures believed to be specific for exposed surface proteins only. It is suggested that this is due to specific properties of the outer membrane of H. influenzae and that use of these procedures with other gram-negative bacteria be evaluated carefully.
Real time ridge orientation estimation for fingerprint images

Fingerprint verification is an important bio-metric technique for personal identification. Most of the automatic verification systems are based on matching of fingerprint minutiae. Extraction of minutiae is an essential process which requires estimation of orientation of the lines in an image. Most of the existing methods involve intense mathematical computations and hence are performed through software means. In this paper a hardware scheme to perform real time orientation estimation is presented which is based on pipelined architecture. Synthesized circuits proved the functionality and accuracy of the suggested method.
Formulation, Evaluation and Optimization of Fast dissolving tablet containing Tizanidine Hydrochloride

Tizanidine HCl is a centrally acting �-2 adrenergic agonist muscle relaxant. It is slightly bitter in taste. In the present study an attempt has been made to prepare bitterless fast dissolving tablet of Tizanidine Hydrochloride using Eudragit E 100 as a taste masking agent. Mass extrusion was the technique used for preparing taste masked granules. The tablet was prepared with three super disintegrants e.g. sodium starch glycolate, crosscarmellose sodium and crospovidone. The blend was examined for angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density and hausner’s ratio. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, drug content and friability and disintegration time. The disintegration in oral cavity was also tested and was found to be 22 sec. Other tablets were prepared by using camphor as sublimating agent. It was concluded that tablets prepared by addition of superdisintegrant has less disintegration time than those prepared by sublimation method.
Phonological Representation of Tone Systems of Some Tone Languages Based on the Command-Response Model for F 0 Contour Generation

After reviewing three traditional approaches to the description of tones and their essential shortcomings in deriving the phonological structure of a tone language, the present paper describes the authors’ own approach to extract both quantitative and qualitative characteristics of tones from the contours of fundamental frequency, and presents a novel framework for describing the phonological structure of the tone system of a tone language, based on the pattern of tone commands obtained from the fundamental frequency contours using the command-response model. The classification of tone command patterns is based on ternary distinction (positivenull-negative) of command polarity and binary distinction (early-late) of timing of occurrence of tone commands. The validity of the approach is demonstrated by several example languages including Mandarin, Shanghainese, Thai, Vietnamese and Lanqi. It is also shown that a finer distinction of tone command amplitude becomes necessary for the tone system of Cantonese.
Time-consistent segmentation of indoor depth video frames

We propose a new method for segmenting indoor scenes captured with RGBD or depth cameras with a simple and fast iterative CPU segmentation. The segmentation consists of three main steps. In the first stage, regions grow by adding new pixels based on depth information and normal vectors. Next, multiple regions are merged into bigger surfaces based on adjacency and region statistics. The last stage of the method ensures interframe consistency based on a cost function between regions from subsequent frames. The planar segmentation can be used both for identifying indoor objects, which in general have planar faces, as well as for estimating the camera motion and then reconstructing the environment.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Resistance in Surgical Site Infection After Immediate Tissue Expander Reconstruction of the Breast

BackgroundA recent survey of plastic surgeons showed that the majority prescribed prophylactic antibiotics after hospital discharge for breast reconstruction. There is no clinical evidence that this practice reduces surgical site infection (SSI) after immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction. Furthermore, multiple studies have suggested that current antibiotic choices may not be appropriately covering the causative organisms of SSI. MethodsAn institutional breast reconstruction database from January 2005 to December 2011 was queried to identify patients undergoing immediate tissue expander reconstruction of the breast. The bacteriology of the infection, prophylactic and empiric antibiotic use, and antibiotic sensitivities were analyzed. ResultsIn 557 cases of immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction performed in 378 patients, SSIs were diagnosed in 50 (9.0%) cases. Two hundred patients were given oral antibiotics at discharge; 178 did not receive antibiotics. Surgical site infection developed in 12.0% of patients given oral antibiotics and in 13.5% of those not receiving antibiotics (P = 0.67). Wound culture data were obtained in 34 SSIs. Twenty-nine had positive cultures. The most common offending organisms were methicillin-sensitive (11) and methicillin-resistant (6) Staphylococcus aureus. Despite increased use of postoperative prophylaxis over the years, SSI incidence remained unchanged. However, trends toward increased resistance of SSI organisms to the preoperative and postoperative prophylaxis agents were observed. When first-generation cephalosporins were used as prophylaxis, SSI organisms showed resistance rates of 20.5% (preoperative cefazolin) and 54.5% (postoperative cephalexin). ConclusionsAdministration of extended prophylactic antibiotics does not reduce overall risk of SSI after expander-based breast reconstruction but may influence antibiotic resistance patterns when infections occur. The organisms most commonly responsible for SSI are often resistant to cefazolin.
Optimal background subtraction in GPR for humanitarian demining

Comparative study of different background subtraction methods has been performed. A criterion for quantitative comparison of different algorithms has been introduced. Based on this criterion, performance of different algorithms has been tested for scenarios with relatively smooth ground surface and very rough one. Optimal algorithms for each type of surfaces have been determined. Different ground bounce removal techniques influence GPR imaging. This dependency has been evaluated, after focusing, by means of the ratio between signal energy and remaining clutter. A very exigent scenario has served to this end.
Accelerating persistent scatterer pixel selection for InSAR processing

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a remote sensing technology used for estimating displacement of the earth's surface. Phase unwrapping is the most important step in InSAR processing and relies on successful selection of points that appear stable across a set of satellite images taken over time. This paper presents a new algorithm for selecting these points, a problem known as persistent scatterer selection. The algorithm computes the temporal coherence on the wrapped phase derivative by subtracting phases of a pixel and one of its nearby neighbours. It does not require model assumptions, yet preserves accuracy. Motivated by the abundance of parallelism the algorithm exposes, we have implemented it for GPUs. Evaluation using real-world data shows that the GPU implementation not only offers widely superior performance but also scales linearly with GPU count and workload size. We compare the GPU implementation against a parallel CPU implementation: A consumer grade GPU offers an 18× speedup over a 16-core Ivy Bridge Xeon System, while four GPUs offer 65× speedup. Roofline analysis shows that, on a single GPU, our implementation achieves 83% of the peak FLOP-rate of the dual-CPU system. Additionally, the GPU-based solution consumes 29× less energy than the CPU-only solution.
Exploring the Method for Analyzing Interval Censored Data Using Imputation in Competing Risks Model

We consider the problem of analyzing interval censored data comparing cumulative incidence functions by demographic variables in the presence of competing risks. In this paper, we explore two methods based on imputation, the EM-type method and Multiple Imputation. Basically, we imputed the exact event time for interval censored data and take advantage of standard estimation methods for right censored data. We analyzed data from the National Children’s Study to estimate cumulative risks of transition between Probability of Pregnancy Statuses and to examine the effect of major demographic variables.
Preparation of polyethersulfone / graphene oxide microcellular foam using supercritical CO2

Cell size and cell density heavily influence the properties of polymeric foams and are therefore important to control. By using nanoparticles in polymers and supercritical fluids as foaming agent, it is possible to create microcellular foams with a controlled morphology. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized through the oxidization of graphite, and was characterized by XRD and FTIR techniques to confirm the chemical structure of the synthesized GO. Consequently, GO was used as nanoparticle to prepare a polyethersulfone (PES) nanocomposite. Moreover, Dry ice was used as the source of supercritical CO2 in foam production. Microcellular foams were prepared from PES/GO nanocomposites, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study cell morphology and the effect that the GO particles had on the morphology of the foams.
Response to Radioimmunotherapy Correlates with Tumor pO2 Measured by EPR Oximetry in Human Tumor Xenografts

Abstract O'Hara, J. A. , Blumenthal, R. D. , Grinberg, O. Y. , Demidenko, E. , Grinberg, S. , Wilmot, C. M. , Taylor, A. M. , Goldenberg, D. M. and Swartz, H. M. Response to Radioimmunotherapy Correlates with Tumor pO2 Measured by EPR Oximetry in Human Tumor Xenografts. The efficacy of radiation treatment depends upon local oxygen concentration. We postulated that the variability in responsiveness of tumor xenografts to a fixed dose of radioimmunotherapy might be related to the tumor pO2 at the time that radioimmunotherapy was administered. We evaluated the growth of xenografts of CALU-3 tumors, a non-small cell lung carcinoma, in response to an 8.9-MBq dose of 131I-RS-7-anti-EGP-1 and correlated tumor growth rate with initial tumor pO2 measured by EPR oximetry. The greatest growth delay in response to radioimmunotherapy had the highest initial pO2, and the fastest-growing tumors had the lowest initial pO2. We then determined the dynamic effect of radioimmunotherapy on tumor pO2 by serial measurements of pO2 for 35 days after radioimmunotherapy. This information could be important for ascertaining the likelihood that a tumor will respond to additional doses as part of a multiple dose scheme. Serial tumor pO2 measurements may help identify a window of opportunity when the surviving tumor regions will be responsive to a second round of radioimmunotherapy or a second therapeutic modality such as chemotherapy or an anti-vascular agent. After radioimmunotherapy, there was an increase in tumor pO2 followed by a decrease below initial levels in most mice. Thus defined times may exist when a tumor is more or less radiosensitive after radioimmunotherapy.
Cell cycle control of microRNA-mediated translation regulation

MicroRNAs are small regulatory RNA molecules that exert post-transcriptional control over expression of specific target mRNAs. AU-rich elements (AREs) are highly conserved 3′UTR sequences that alter the stability and translation of mRNAs of clinical importance as a rapid and transient response to external and internal changes. We recently demonstrated that a reporter mRNA containing the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) ARE activates translation in response to quiescence via microRNA target sites in the ARE. Further studies revealed that microRNAs in general have the potential to regulate translation in a cell-cycle determined manner: in quiescent cells, microRNAs activate translation while in cycling/proliferating cells, microRNAs repress translation. In this study, we have analyzed microRNA regulation of translation at additional stages of the cell cycle. We observe the strongest repressive potential in the S and S/G2 phases with minimal repression in the G1 phase. Since asynchronously growing cells are predominantly in G1, these data may explain the variable magnitude of microRNA-mediated repression reported in the literature. Importantly, we observe activation in contact-inhibited G0 quiescent cells, reaffirming that the quiescent state and not serum-starvation-induced stress causes microRNA-mediated translation upregulation. In addition, we find that siRNPs, unlike microRNPs, downregulate expression of a reporter in serum-starvation-induced G0 arrested cells, as well as in proliferating cells. Our data underscore the importance of the quiescent state for microRNA-mediated translation activation and suggest the potential for further novel functions of microRNAs in distinct cell fates.
Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from pericardial fluid using the new Xpert MTB/RIF assay

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is common in HIV-infected patients, especially at lower CD4 cell counts, yet is often difficult to diagnose with certainty. A 35-year-old man presented with dyspnoea and constitutional symptoms of tuberculosis (TB). Laboratory investigations included a positive HIV test and a CD4 cell count of 138 cells/μL. Chest radiography revealed a globular-shaped heart and bilateral pleural effusions, while echocardiography confirmed a massive pericardial effusion. The new Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assay detected rifampicin-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pericardial as well as sputum samples. Smear of the pericardial sample was negative. The patient was started on anti-TB treatment and is presently well. He will initiate antiretroviral therapy after 4–6 weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of EPTB diagnosed on pericardial fluid using the Xpert assay in Africa. This report also summarises the use of this assay in the diagnosis of EPTB in HIV-associated TB.
Metacognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Methods of assessment and associations with neurocognition and function

Background and Objectives: Research has confirmed that many with schizophrenia experience deficits in metacognitive capacity defined as impairments in the ability to think about thinking, both with regards to their own thinking and the thinking of others. These difficulties are related to, but not reducible to symptoms. One question posed here regards how these deficits are linked to other forms of cognitive deficits, including deficits in neurocognition, and how they and other forms of cognitive deficits are related to the ability to function. As neurocognition is degraded in schizophrenia, does the ability to think about one's own thinking diminish? Do deficits in metacognition affect function in a manner semi-independent of deficits in neurocognition? Methods: To explore these possibilities, this paper reviews recent studies of metacognition as assessed within personal narratives of self and illness spontaneously generated by adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Results: Studies are reviewed which suggest that impairments in verbal memory and executive function may interfere with the ability to form and sustain representation of one's own internal state as well as the internal states of others. Additionally, results are de-tailed which suggest that metacognitive deficits directly affect function prospectively and may mediate the impact of neurocognitive deficits on functioning. Conclusions: Results are consistent with the possibility that a certain level of neurocognition is needed to think about thinking in a complex manner and that the ability to think about thinking is intimately related to the ability to work and relate to others among persons with schizophrenia.
Deep sequencing of Salmonella RNA associated with heterologous Hfq proteins in vivo reveals small RNAs as a major target class and identifies RNA processing phenotypes

The bacterial Sm-like protein, Hfq, is a key factor for the stability and function of small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) in E. coli. Homologues of this protein have been predicted in many distantly related organisms yet their functional conservation as sRNA-binding proteins has not entirely been clear. To address this, we expressed in Salmonella the Hfq proteins of two eubacteria (Neisseria meningitides, Aquifex aeolicus) and an archaeon (Methanocaldococcus janaschii), and analyzed the associated RNA by deep sequencing. This in vivo approach identified endogenous Salmonella sRNAs as a major target of the foreign Hfq proteins. New Salmonella sRNA species were also identified, and some of these accumulated specifically in the presence of a foreign Hfq protein. In addition, we observed specific RNA processing defects, e.g., suppression of precursor processing of SraH sRNA by Methanocaldococcus Hfq, or aberrant accumulation of extracytoplasmic target mRNAs of the Salmonella GcvB, MicA, or RybB sRNAs. Taken together, our study provides evidence of a conserved inherent sRNA-binding property of Hfq, which may facilitate the lateral transmission of regulatory sRNAs among distantly related species. It also suggests that the expression of heterologous RNA-binding proteins combined with deep sequencing analysis of RNA ligands can be used as a molecular tool to dissect individual steps of RNA metabolism in vivo.
Primer tRNA3Lys on the viral genome exists in unextended and two-base extended forms within mature human immunodeficiency virus type 1

In human immunodeficiency virus type 1, tRNALys3 is placed upon the primer binding site, where it serves as the primer for reverse transcription. We show herein that genomic placement occurs independently of precursor protein processing and that the placed tRNALys3 exists in two major forms: unextended or in a form extended by the first two DNA bases incorporated, C and T. The two-base extended form of the tRNALys3 is absent in a protease-negative mutant, indicating a requirement for mature viral proteins to initiate reverse transcription within the virus.
Difference-of-Convex optimization for variational kl-corrected inference in dirichlet process mixtures

Variational methods for approximate inference in Bayesian models optimise a lower bound on the marginal likelihood, but the optimization problem often suffers from being nonconvex and high-dimensional. This can be alleviated by working in a collapsed domain where a part of the parameter space is marginalized. We consider the KL-corrected collapsed variational bound and apply it to Dirichlet process mixture models, allowing us to reduce the optimization space considerably. We find that the variational bound exhibits consistent and exploitable structure, allowing the application of difference-of-convex optimization algorithms. We show how this yields an interpretable fixed-point update algorithm in the collapsed setting for the Dirichlet process mixture model. We connect this update formula to classical coordinate ascent updates, illustrating that the proposed improvement surprisingly reduces to the traditional scheme.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Lutjanus erythopterus (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) with phylogenetic consideration

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of the Lutjanus erythopterus is presented in this study. The mitochondrial genome is 16,509 bp long and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region. The gene order and the composition of Lutjanus erythopterus mitochondrial genome were similar to that of most other vertebrates. The nucleotide compositions of the light strand in descending order are 29.74% of G, 28.14% of T, 25.95% of A, and 16.17% of C. With the exception of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (ND6) and eight tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The phylogenetic analysis by maximum-likelihood (ML) method shows that the Lutjanus erythopterus was closer to Lutjanus russellii in the phylogenetic relationship.