Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvements in melting control of a glass-melting tank furnace

This thesis describes research into the behaviour of process loops in a glass-melting furnace at Redfearn National Glass, Barnsley. The objectives were to ascertain methods of determining improved control strategies and to study in detail the furnace parameters affecting fuel consumption. An initial survey of the literature showed a lack of consensus over the best methods to adopt, but from certain sources a basic methodology was taken. An improved methodology was derived and this was employed to identify the characteristics of the major loops. [Continues. ]
Working Memory Capacity as a Dynamic Process

A well-known characteristic of working memory (WM) is its limited capacity. The source of such limitations, however, is a continued point of debate. Developmental research is positioned to address this debate by jointly identifying the source(s) of limitations and the mechanism(s) underlying capacity increases. Here we provide a cross-domain survey of studies and theories of WM capacity development, which reveals a complex picture: dozens of studies from 50 papers show nearly universal increases in capacity estimates with age, but marked variation across studies, tasks, and domains. We argue that the full pattern of performance cannot be captured through traditional approaches emphasizing single causes, or even multiple separable causes, underlying capacity development. Rather, we consider WM capacity as a dynamic process that emerges from a unified cognitive system flexibly adapting to the context and demands of each task. We conclude by enumerating specific challenges for researchers and theorists that will need to be met in order to move our understanding forward.
Worldwide Experience with the Use of Doripenem against Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing and Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: Analysis of Six Phase 3 Clinical Studies

ABSTRACT The worldwide increase in fluoroquinolone-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae pathogens has led to doripenem and other carbapenems assuming a greater role in the treatment of serious infections. We analyzed data from 6 phase 3 multinational doripenem clinical trials on ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates consisting of all genera (CIPRE) and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates consisting of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. , and Proteus spp. with ceftazidime MICs of ≥2 μg/ml (ESBLE) for prevalence by geographic region and disease type, in vitro activities of doripenem and comparator agents, and clinical or microbiologic outcomes in doripenem- and comparator-treated patients across disease types (complicated intra-abdominal infection [cIAI], complicated urinary tract infection [cUTI], and nosocomial pneumonia [NP]). Of 1,830 baseline Enterobacteriaceae isolates, 88 (4.8%) were ESBLE and 238 (13.0%) were CIPRE. The incidence of ESBLE was greatest in Europe (7.8%); that of CIPRE was higher in South America (15.9%) and Europe (14.4%). ESBLE incidence was highest in NP (12.9%) cases; that of CIPRE was higher in cUTI (18.3%) and NP (14.9%) cases. Against ESBLE and CIPRE, carbapenems appeared more active than other antibiotic classes. Among carbapenems, doripenem and meropenem were most potent. Doripenem had low MIC90s for CIPRE (0.5 μg/ml) and ESBLE (0.25 μg/ml). Doripenem and comparators were highly clinically effective in infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae, irrespective of their ESBL statuses. The overall cure rates were the same for doripenem (82%; 564/685) and the comparators (82%; 535/652) and similar for ESBLE (73% [16/22] versus 72% [21/29]) and CIPRE (68% [47/69] versus 52% [33/64]). These findings indicate that doripenem is an important therapeutic option for treating serious infections caused by ESBLE and CIPRE.
From Exoscope into the Next Generation

An exoscope, high-definition video telescope operating monitor system to perform microsurgery has recently been proposed an alternative to the operating microscope. It enables surgeons to complete the operation assistance by visualizing magnified images on a display. The strong points of exoscope are the wide field of view and deep focus. It minimized the need for repositioning and refocusing during the procedure. On the other hand, limitation of magnifying object was an emphasizing weak point. The procedures are performed under 2D motion images with a visual perception through dynamic cue and stereoscopically viewing corresponding to the motion parallax. Nevertheless, stereopsis is required to improve hand and eye coordination for high precision works. Consequently novel 3D high-definition operating scopes with various mechanical designs have been developed according to recent high-tech innovations in a digital surgical technology. It will set the stage for the next generation in digital image based neurosurgery.
EVIDENCES FOR TESTING HYPOTHESES ABOUT THE BODY IMAGE FORMATION OF THE TURIN SHROUD

ShroudScience Group on Yahoo! 1 Assoc. Prof. of Mechanical Measurements, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Padua, Via Venezia 1, 35137 Padua Italy, e-mail: <giulio.fanti@unipd.it> 2 STURP Documenting Photographer and, Editor & Publisher of Shroud.com, 1094 Highland Meadows Dr., Florissant, CO 80816, U.S.A. 3 Shroud Center of Southern California 8840 Warner Avenue Suite 200 Fountain Valley, California, 92708 U.S.A. e-mail: : Sja73088@aol.com 4 Universität Regensburg Lehrstuhl für Entwicklungsbiologie. Universitätstrasse 31 D-93040. Regensburg, Deutchland e-mail : jose.botella-munoz@biologie.uni-regensburg.de 5 University of the Philippines, National Institute of Physics Instrumentation Physics Laboratory Diliman Campus, 1 101 Quezon City, Philippines, e-mail: bbuenaobra@nip.upd. edu.ph 6 PhD in Physics, member also of the Vatican Observatory e-mail: ecarreira@res.upco. es 7 Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry , University of Idaho , Moscow, Idaho83844-2343, USA , tel. 208-885-6387 e-mail: <ifcheng@uidaho.edu>; http://oxygen.chem.uidaho.edu/ifcheng/default.htm 8 Full Professor of Photogrammetry-Faculty of Engineering-University of Udine via Cotonificio 114 Udine Italyfabio.crosilla@uniud.it 9 University of New Mexico at Los Alamos 4000 University Dr, Los Alamos, NM 87544 USA Albrecht Dürer Ring 48, 83607 Holzkirchen, Germany; e-mail: Felzmann@Online.de 11 e-mail: bobbycindi@aol.com 12 Via Roma 84, 13812 Campiglia Cervo (BI) Italy, +39-015 60242 , e-mail:pieroiac@tin.it 13 Full Prof. Department of Electtrotechnics and ed Electronics, Politecnico di Bari via Orabona, 4 70125 Bari e-mail: <lattarulo@poliba.it> 14 Chem. Ph.D. Dr. Industrial Consultant; member of "Società Chimica Italiana Rome" Address: Piazza Attias, 13 p. IV 57123 Livorno, fax: +39-0586-839553 15 e-mail: JMARINO240@aol.com 16 Via Flavio Stilicone, 264 00175 Roma (Italia) +39-06-71545218 +39-338-7581847 e-mail: a.malantrucco@theolabam.it 17 e-mail: paulcm@netcarrier.com 18 Business Executive, Bronxville, New York, USA, e-mail: porter@innoval.com 19 Laboratoire de Bactériologie-VirologieGIMAP, Faculté de Médecine Jacques Lisfranc 42023 Saint-Etienne cedex 02, France e-mail : Bruno.Pozzetto@univ-st-etienne.fr 20 P.E. , Ph.D., Asst. Professor Math and Computer Science, Bridgewater College 402 E. College St. McK-231, Bridgewater, VA 22812 USA, 1-540-828-5623, e-mail: rschneid@bridgewater.edu> 21 Kalvemosevej 4, DK-4930 Maribo Denmark, Phone: +45 54715005 Fax: +45 54715393 E-mail: nsvensson@dadlnet.dk 22 Untere Augartenstraße 32, 1020, WienAustria, traudlwally@yhoo.de 23 M. D. Council for Study of the Shroud of Turin 1712 Woodburn Road Durham, North Carolina 27705 USA Tele/fax: 919-489-3279 E-mail: adw2@acpub.duke. edu Website: www.shroudcouncil. org 24 One Angelus Drive Garnerville, N.Y. , 10923-2022, e-mail: ftzugibe@msn.com
Cost-effectiveness of beer versus red wine for the prevention of symptomatic coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Until now, red wine has been the cardioprotective beverage of choice, but the convenience and lack of adverse effects make beer a more cost-effective, safe and widely available choice. A paucity of evidence in support of this led to our study. METHODS During a 6-month period, 11,780 consecutive patrons at 18 randomly selected urban and community liquor distributors were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either beer or wine daily for 5 years. Of the 10,078 people who met the inclusion criteria, 5033 were assigned to receive red wine and 5039 to receive beer every day. RESULTS Effectiveness and adverse effects were equal in the 2 groups. However, costs for beer were substantially lower. INTERPRETATION In view of its effectiveness, low cost, acceptable adverse-event profile and the fact that it is available in convenient single-dose dispensers, beer should replace red wine as the cardioprotective beverage of choice.
The building blocks of mammalian lung development

Progress has recently been made in identifying progenitor cell populations in the embryonic lung. Some progenitor cell types have been definitively identified by lineage‐tracing studies. However, others are not as well characterized and their existence is inferred on the basis of lung morphology, or mutant phenotypes. Here, I focus on lung development after the specification of the initial lung primordium. The evidence for various lung embryonic progenitor cell types is discussed and future experiments are suggested. The regulation of progenitor proliferation in the embryonic lung, and its coordinate control with morphogenesis, is also discussed. In addition, the relationship between embryonic and adult lung progenitors is considered. Developmental Dynamics 240:463–476, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Iterative Vessel Segmentation of Fundus Images

This paper presents a novel unsupervised iterative blood vessel segmentation algorithm using fundus images. First, a vessel enhanced image is generated by tophat reconstruction of the negative green plane image. An initial estimate of the segmented vasculature is extracted by global thresholding the vessel enhanced image. Next, new vessel pixels are identified iteratively by adaptive thresholding of the residual image generated by masking out the existing segmented vessel estimate from the vessel enhanced image. The new vessel pixels are, then, region grown into the existing vessel, thereby resulting in an iterative enhancement of the segmented vessel structure. As the iterations progress, the number of false edge pixels identified as new vessel pixels increases compared to the number of actual vessel pixels. A key contribution of this paper is a novel stopping criterion that terminates the iterative process leading to higher vessel segmentation accuracy. This iterative algorithm is robust to the rate of new vessel pixel addition since it achieves 93.2-95.35% vessel segmentation accuracy with 0.9577-0.9638 area under ROC curve (AUC) on abnormal retinal images from the STARE dataset. The proposed algorithm is computationally efficient and consistent in vessel segmentation performance for retinal images with variations due to pathology, uneven illumination, pigmentation, and fields of view since it achieves a vessel segmentation accuracy of about 95% in an average time of 2.45, 3.95, and 8 s on images from three public datasets DRIVE, STARE, and CHASE_DB1, respectively. Additionally, the proposed algorithm has more than 90% segmentation accuracy for segmenting peripapillary blood vessels in the images from the DRIVE and CHASE_DB1 datasets.
Employment and sick leave in patients with prostate cancer before, during and after radiotherapy

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to determine employment outcomes after radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and methods. The Danish DREAM database contains information about social benefits paid to Danish citizens. Data are recorded prospectively every week. From the database, it is possible to assess whether a patient is working, on sick leave or retired at a certain time. Data on 417 Danish citizens treated with RT for PCa at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, between 1 January 2005 and 1 May 2010 were obtained from the database. The data were collected during a 2 year period from 1 year before RT to 1 year after RT. Results. Among patients of working age, 75% were still available for work 1 year after RT. The degree of sick leave increased almost continuously in the year before the start of RT and reached a maximum of 56% during RT. After RT it gradually declined. There was no significant difference between the number of patients on sick leave 1 year after RT compared to 1 year before RT (p = 0.23). Patients spent a significantly higher number of weeks on sick leave in the year after the start of RT compared to the year before RT (p = 0.001). Conclusion. Except for a transient increase in sick leave during treatment, RT did not seem to affect the working lives of patients with PCa significantly.
Health Workers Adjustment for Elimination of Malaria in a Low Endemic Area

Background: Malaria elimination efforts face with substantial challenges and the role of health workers in address this challenge, particularly advocates and mobilizes communities. The aim of the study was to explore perceptions of health workers in relation to eliminating malaria in order to better understand the level their involvement in malaria elimination efforts. A qualitative approach was adopted based on key informant interviews with 26 health workers who working at community-level in malaria low endemic areas, southern Iran. Methods: Data were collected through key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: Findings reveal that the majority of participants concerned with the imported malaria cases, without to address an effective solution to the issue. Health workers had positive perceptions on their basic knowledge and opinions in relation to their field work with emphases to integrate methods. Participants expressed willingness to contribute to malaria elimination effort. They also emphasized on continuous training, resource mobilization, and support. In addition, their perceptions on malaria elimination policy such as sustained financial investment to achieve elimination and integrated management of vector control were rather negative. Conclusions: A mechanism should be considered that allow the health workers to feedback positively on their quality of their practice to health providers.
A Review of Fetal Scarless Healing

Wound healing is a complex process involving a number of processes. Fetal regeneration has been shown to have a number of differences compared to scar-forming healing. This review discusses the number of differences identified in fetal regeneration. Understanding these differences may result in new therapeutic targets which may reduce or even prevent scarring in adult healing.
Early childhood caries update: A review of causes, diagnoses, and treatments

Dental caries (decay) is an international public health challenge, especially amongst young children. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in both developing and industrialized countries. ECC can begin early in life, progresses rapidly in those who are at high risk, and often goes untreated. Its consequences can affect the immediate and long-term quality of life of the child's family and can have significant social and economic consequences beyond the immediate family as well. ECC can be a particularly virulent form of caries, beginning soon after dental eruption, developing on smooth surfaces, progressing rapidly, and having a lasting detrimental impact on the dentition. Children experiencing caries as infants or toddlers have a much greater probability of subsequent caries in both the primary and permanent dentitions. The relationship between breastfeeding and ECC is likely to be complex and confounded by many biological variables, such as mutans streptococci, enamel hypoplasia, intake of sugars, as well as social variables, such as parental education and socioeconomic status, which may affect oral health. Unlike other infectious diseases, tooth decay is not self-limiting. Decayed teeth require professional treatment to remove infection and restore tooth function. In this review, we give detailed information about ECC, from its diagnosis to management.
Leveraging Problem Classification in Online Meta-Cognition

Open environments are characterized by their uncertainty and non-determinism. This poses an inevitable challenge to the construction of agents operating in such environments. The agents need to adapt their processing to available resources, deadlines, the goal criteria specified by the clients as well as their current problem solving context in order to survive. Our research focuses on constructing a meta-cognition framework that will enable agents to adapt to their dynamic environment. This will include deciding which environmental changes to address, how quickly they should be addressed and which of the different planning, scheduling and negotiation modes to use to address these changes. In this paper, we also describe how the classification of environmental changes plays a pivotal role in making the meta-level decisions.
Newton for non-parametric simultaneous localization and mapping − Gaussian Process Gauss

In this paper, we present Gaussian Process Gauss–Newton (GPGN), an algorithm for non-parametric, continuous-time, nonlinear, batch state estimation. This work adapts the methods of Gaussian process (GP) regression to address the problem of batch simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) by using the Gauss–Newton optimization method. In particular, we formulate the estimation problem with a continuous-time state model, along with the more conventional discrete-time measurements. Two derivations are presented in this paper, reflecting both the weight-space and function-space approaches from the GP regression literature. Validation is conducted through simulations and a hardware experiment, which utilizes the well-understood problem of two-dimensional SLAM as an illustrative example. The performance is compared with the traditional discrete-time batch Gauss–Newton approach, and we also show that GPGN can be employed to estimate motion with only range/bearing measurements of landmarks (i.e. no odometry), even when there are not enough measurements to constrain the pose at a given timestep.
Increased circulating 92 kDa matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) activity in exacerbations of asthma

Background: The 72 kDa matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and the 92 kDa matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) are type IV collagenases implicated in various aspects of inflammation including accumulation of inflammatory cells, tissue injury, and development of remodelling. The role of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of asthma exacerbations is unknown. Methods: Circulating levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins and the expression of their inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), were measured in 21 patients experiencing an asthma exacerbation and 21 age matched patients with stable asthma. Circulating gelatinolytic activity was compared during the asthma exacerbation and during subsequent convalescence by gelatin zymography in the same individuals. In addition, MMP-9 specific activity was quantified with a colorimetric assay which uses an artificial proenzyme containing a specific domain recognised by MMP-9 in the same paired samples. Results: A significant increase in the circulating level of MMP-9 was seen in patients with an asthma exacerbation compared with patients with stable asthma (202.9 (22.0) v 107.7 (9.9) ng/ml, p=0.0003). There were no significant differences in the circulating levels of MMP-2 or TIMP-1. Gelatin zymography identified two major circulating gelatinolytic activities corresponding to MMP-2 and MMP-9, and showed that asthma exacerbations are characterised by markedly increased MMP-9 activity with no significant change in MMP-2 activity compared with the activities during convalescence in the same individuals. Direct measurement showed that MMP-9 specific activity is significantly increased during asthma exacerbations compared with subsequent convalescence (269.6 (31.7) v 170.4 (12.6) ng/ml, p=0.0099). Conclusions: Asthma exacerbations are characterised by increased circulating MMP-9 activity. This increased activity may be related to exaggerated airway inflammation and airway remodelling.
Expression and Function of Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 in the Ovarian Follicle in Cattle1

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) are involved in paracrine signaling between cell types in the ovarian follicle. FGF8, for example, is secreted by oocytes and controls cumulus cell metabolism. The closely related FGF18 is also expressed in oocytes in mice. The objective of this study was to assess the potential role of FGF18 in follicle growth in a monovulatory species, the cow. Messenger RNA encoding FGF18 was detected primarily in theca cells, and in contrast to the mouse, FGF18 was not detected in bovine oocytes. Addition of FGF18 protein to granulosa cell cultures inhibited estradiol and progesterone secretion as well as the abundance of mRNA encoding steroidogenic enzymes and the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor. In vivo, onset of atresia of the subordinate follicle was associated with increased thecal FGF18 mRNA levels and FGF18 protein in follicular fluid. In vitro, FGF18 altered cell cycle progression as measured by flow cytometry, resulting in increased numbers of dead cells (sub-G1 peak) and decreased cells in S phase. This was accompanied by decreased levels of mRNA encoding the cell cycle checkpoint regulator GADD45B. Collectively, these data point to a unique role for this FGF in signaling from theca cells to granulosa cells and suggest that FGF18 influences the process of atresia in ovarian follicles.
Personalization and privacy

84 August 2000/Vol. 43, No. 8 COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM Many people don’t like to have others learn information about them. Ironically, those same people are usually quite happy to learn information about others, and sometimes resent it when legal barriers block them from learning such information. Nonetheless, when it comes to information about us, many believe we should have (in the words of various privacy advocates) a legal “right to control information about ourselves. ” Do we currently have such a legal right to control the flow of information about ourselves by stopping others from speaking about us? The answer, as is typical in law, is “sometimes. ” First, the one thing that’s not helpful here is to talk in general terms about our right to privacy. The Personalization and PRIVACY Eugene Volokh