Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The benefit‐to‐risk profile of melagatran is superior to that of hirudin in a rabbit arterial thrombosis prevention and bleeding model

Summary. Although hirudin is better than heparin at preventing recurrent ischemia in patients with unstable angina, hirudin produces more bleeding. The purpose of this study was to use a rabbit arterial thrombosis prevention and ear bleeding model to determine whether for equivalent efficacy, melagatran, a synthetic direct thrombin inhibitor, is safer than hirudin. A combination of balloon injury and stasis was used to induce thrombosis in the distal aorta, and patency and blood flow were continuously monitored with ultrasonic flow probes. Rabbits were randomized to melagatran (in total doses of 78–313 nmol kg−1), hirudin (in total doses of 18–107 nmol kg−1), or saline over 90 min. To assess safety, blood loss from standardized ear incisions was measured. Both melagatran and hirudin produced dose‐dependent increases in patency and blood flow. At doses that maintained the highest levels of patency, however, melagatran produced 2–3‐fold less bleeding than hirudin. Thus, at maximally effective doses, melagatran causes less bleeding than hirudin in this model. These findings raise the possibility that some direct thrombin inhibitors are safer than others.
Robust Dictionary based Data Representation

The robustness to noise and outliers is an important issue in linear representation in real applications. We focus on the problem that samples are grossly corrupted, which is also the 'sample specific' corruptions problem. A reasonable assumption is that corrupted samples cannot be represented by the dictionary while clean samples can be well represented. This assumption is enforced in this paper by investigating the coefficients of corrupted samples. Concretely, we require the coefficients of corrupted samples be zero. In this way, the representation quality of clean data can be assured without the effect of corrupted data. At last, a robust dictionary based data representation approach and its sparse representation version are proposed, which have directive significance for future applications.
On Efficient Recommendations for Online Exchange Markets

Presently several marketplace applications over online social networks are gaining popularity. An important class of applications is online market exchange of items. Examples include peerflix.com and readitswapit.co.uk. We model this problem as a social network where each user has two associated lists. The item list consists of items the user is willing to give away to other users. The wish list consists of items the user is interested in receiving. A transaction involves a user giving an item to another user. Users are motivated to transact in expectation of realizing their wishes. Wishes may be realized by a pair of users swapping items corresponding to each other's wishes, but more generally by means of users exchanging items through a cycle, where each user gives an item to the next user in the cycle, in accordance with the receiving user's wishes.The problem we consider is how to efficiently generate recommendations for item exchange cycles, for users in a social network. Each cycle has a value which is determined by the number of items exchanged through the cycle. We focus on the problem of generating recommendations under two models. In the deterministic model, the value of a recommendation is the total number of items exchanged through cycles. In the probabilistic model, there is a probability associated with a user transacting with another user and a user being willing to trade an item for another. The value of a recommendation then is the expected number of items exchanged. We show that under both models, the problem of determining an optimal recommendation is NP-complete and develop efficient approximation algorithms for both. We show that our algorithms have guaranteed approximation factors of 2k (for greedy), 2k −1 (for local search), and(2k + 1)/3 (for combination of greedy and local search) where k is the max cycle length. We also develop a so-called maximal algorithm, which does not have an approximation guarantee but is more efficient. We conduct a comprehensive set of experiments. Our experiments show that in practice, the approximation quality achieved by maximal is competitive w.r. t. that of the other algorithms. On the other hand, maximal outperforms all other algorithms on scalability w.r. t. network size.
Volume Rendering in an Optical Tracking based Virtual Environment

In the last five-eight years the three dimensional displaying come into focus again. When it is amended by a tracking system it is called mixed reality. This paper presents a mixed reality environment (its hardware and software elements) developed by us on the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Our system uses a dual projector stereo display for three dimensional visualization and a computer-vision based tracking system. The hardware configuration consists of two projectors, polar filters, video cameras, cheap passive coloured markers and an average PC. Volumetric data visualization in a virtual environment has several benefits. It decreases the depth information loss caused by the 3D→ 2D projection, tracked tools can affect many properties of the visualization, that can be set or modify using the classic keyboard, mouse input in a difficult way. The final goal of this project is to improve this virtual environment with general tracking therefore it can be used for augmented reality applications.
Women's Perspectives on Cervical Screening and Treatment in Developing Countries: Experiences with New Technologies and Service Delivery Strategies

ABSTRACT This review of studies conducted by partners in the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention (ACCP) examines women's perspectives on, and acceptability of, new cervical cancer screening and treatment approaches, management by mid-level staff, single-visit strategies, treatment side effects, and post-treatment abstinence requirements in low-resource settings. All screening, managed by female nurses and irrespective of method or constellation of methods, appeared to be highly acceptable. Similarly, cryotherapy treatment, including cryotherapy managed by nurses immediately after screening, was well-received by women in the studies. Minor side effects, although rather prevalent, and difficulties with post-treatment abstinence, did not appear to significantly deter women from recommending the procedure to friends. Rather, a sense of relief was evident, a feeling that it was better to be treated than not treated, and better to be treated sooner rather than later. While full replication may not be possible, this does not lessen the fact that screening and treatment in developing countries, even with new technologies, immediate treatment and even using mid-level providers, can be very acceptable to women if provided in a safe, caring and preferably all-female environment.
Volatile Semiochemicals Released from Undamaged Cotton Leaves (A Systemic Response of Living Plants to Caterpillar Damage)

Cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.), attacked by herbivorous insects release volatile semiochemicals (chemical signals) that attract natural enemies of the herbivores to the damaged plants. We found chemical evidence that volatiles are released not only at the damaged site but from the entire cotton plant. The release of volatiles was detected from upper, undamaged leaves after 2 to 3 d of continuous larval damage on lower leaves of the same plant. Compounds released systemically were (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (E)-[beta]-ocimene, linalool, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, (E)-[beta]-farnesene, (E,E)-[alpha]-farnesene, and (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene. All systemically released compounds are known to be induced by caterpillar damage and are not released in significant amounts by undamaged plants. Other compounds, specifically indole, isomeric hexenyl butyrates, and 2-methylbutyrates, known to be released by cotton in response to caterpillar damage, were not released systemically. However, when upper, undamaged leaves of a caterpillar-damaged plant were damaged with a razor blade, they released isomeric hexenyl butyrates, 2-methylbutyrates, and large amounts of constitutive compounds in addition to the previously detected induced compounds. Control plants, damaged with a razor blade in the same way, did not release isomeric hexenyl butyrates or 2-methylbutyrates and released significantly smaller amounts of constitutive compounds. Indole was not released systemically, even after artificial damage.
Will the “Real Boy” Please Behave: Dosing Dilemmas for Parents of Boys with ADHD

The use of Ritalin and other stimulant drug treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) raises distinctive moral dilemmas for parents; these moral dilemmas have not been adequately addressed in the bioethics literature. This paper draws upon data from a qualitative empirical study to investigate parents' use of the moral ideal of authenticity as part of their narrative justifications for dosing decisions and actions. I show that therapeutic decisions and actions are embedded in valued cultural ideals about masculinity, self-actualization and success, as well as in moral conceptions of authenticity and personal freedom. I argue that this investigation of parents' moral justifications and dosing dilemmas raises questions about the validity of authenticity as a transcendent moral principle. Moreover, this study demonstrates that in order to be relevant, bioethical analysis of neurocognitive enhancement must engage with ground-up studies of moral principles and decision-making in context.
Temporal–Spatial Scales of Observed and Simulated Precipitation in Central U.S. Climate

Abstract Precipitation intensity spectra for a central U.S. region in a 10-yr regional climate simulation are compared to corresponding observed spectra for precipitation accumulation periods ranging from 6 h to 10 days. Model agreement with observations depends on the length of the precipitation accumulation period, with similar results for both warm and cold halves of the year. For 6- and 12-h accumulation periods, simulated and observed spectra show little overlap. For daily and longer accumulation periods, the spectra are similar for moderate precipitation rates, though the model produces too many low-intensity precipitation events and too few high-intensity precipitation events for all accumulation periods. The spatial correlation of simulated and observed precipitation events indicates that the model's 50-km grid spacing is too coarse to simulate well high-intensity events. Spatial correlations with and without very light precipitation indicate that coarse resolution is not a direct cause of excessi.
Towards a Reliable Statistical Oracle and its Applications

It is shown how—based on the idea of the Heuristic Oracle—a Statistical Oracle can be implemented based on statistical tests. Whereas the decision of a Heuristic Oracle may be wrong, it will be demonstrated how this can be avoided with the Statistical Oracle, using techniques from the field of randomized algorithms. As with all types of oracles, the Statistical Oracle is not universially applicable. If explicit formulae for the mean, variance, or distribution of characteristics computable from the test output are available, it is possible to apply the Statistical Oracle. Especially in the field of image processing, where inputs can be very complex and are thus difficult to generate, random testing is very useful. It is shown, how the Statistical Oracle has been used to test implementations of image processing operations, namely dilation, erosion, and distance transform.
Adaptive feature extractions in an EEG-based alertness estimation system

During the past years, the public security has become an important issue, especially, the safe manipulation and control of various vehicles. Maintaining high cognition is particularly important for the drivers behind the steering wheel. It requires an optimal estimation system to online continuously detect drivers' cognitive state related to abilities in perception, recognition, and vehicle control. In this paper, we proposed an EEG-based alertness estimation system with automatic feature selection mechanism. The independent component analysis (ICA) is used first to decompose the measured electroencephalogram (EEG). Then, a time-frequency analysis is performed to evaluate the time-frequency characteristic of each ICA component. We also proposed a new adaptive feature extracting mechanism for selections of frequency bands and ICA components. Different ranges of the alpha rhythm of subjects can be evaluated by the adaptive feature extracting mechanism according to the correlation coefficient between the ICA time-frequency response and the driving performance. The extracted features are then trained both by linear regression model and self-constructing neuro-fuzzy inference network (SONFIN) for the estimation of driving performance. The training and testing results of SONFIN are 96% and 91%, while the results of linear regression model are 90% and 85%, respectively. It demonstrates that the proposed adaptive feature extracting mechanism can achieve a great performance in alertness estimation with frequency band and component selection.
Buprenorphine: a reappraisal of its antinociceptive effects and therapeutic use in alleviating post-operative pain in animals

Buprenorphine has been widely used for post-operative analgesia in laboratory animals. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated in both subjective and objective pain assessment schemes, however doubts have been expressed as to its value as an analgesic. Initial dosage recommendations were based on analgesiometric studies. It is unlikely, however, that the pain elicited in analgesiometric tests is comparable to post-operative pain. This has resulted in recommendations of excessive dose rates and inappropriate clinical indications. Studies involving tests of the efficacy of buprenorphine for alleviating behavioural or other signs of tonic (post-surgical) pain provide a more appropriate estimation of the analgesic capabilities of the drug. However, buprenorphine also has major effects upon the behaviour of normal (unoperated) animals, and this makes assessments of efficacy difficult with some of the systems used for scoring clinical pain. Nevertheless, our most recent studies of the effects of buprenorphine upon pain-related behaviours in rats support the view that it is an effective post-operative analgesic. This short review critically reappraises the role of buprenorphine in this capacity and discusses a rational approach to the relief of pain in laboratory animals. We conclude that buprenorphine remains a valuable agent for pain relief in a wide range of animal species when used in an appropriate manner.
Towards very large aperture massive MIMO: A measurement based study

Massive MIMO is a new technique for wireless communications that claims to offer very high system throughput and energy efficiency in multi-user scenarios. The cost is to add a very large number of antennas at the base station. Theoretical research has probed these benefits, but very few measurements have showed the potential of Massive MIMO in practice. We investigate the properties of measured Massive MIMO channels in a large indoor venue. We describe a measurement campaign using 3 arrays having different shape and aperture, with 64 antennas and 8 users with 2 antennas each. We focus on the impact of the array aperture which is the main limiting factor in the degrees of freedom available in the multiple antenna channel. We find that performance is improved as the aperture increases, with an impact mostly visible in crowded scenarios where the users are closely spaced. We also test MIMO capability within a same user device with user proximity effect. We see a good channel resolvability with confirmation of the strong effect of the user hand grip. At last, we highlight that propagation conditions where line-of-sight is dominant can be favourable.
Utility of PCR in Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections: Real-Life Data from a Multicenter Study

ABSTRACT Prospective studies addressing the clinical value of broad-range PCR using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) for diagnosis of microscopy-negative fungal infections in nonselected patient populations are lacking. We first assessed the diagnostic performance of ITS rRNA gene PCR compared with that of routine microscopic immunofluorescence examination. Second, we addressed prospectively the impact and clinical value of broad-range PCR for the diagnosis of infections using samples that tested negative by routine microscopy; the corresponding patients' data were evaluated by detailed medical record reviews. Results from 371 specimens showed a high concordance of >80% for broad-range PCR and routine conventional methods, indicating that the diagnostic performance of PCR for fungal infections is comparable to that of microscopy, which is currently considered part of the “gold standard. ” In this prospective study, 206 specimens with a negative result on routine microscopy were analyzed with PCR, and patients' clinical data were reviewed according to the criteria of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group. We found that broad-range PCR showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 57.1%, 97.0%, 80%, and 91.7%, respectively, for microscopy-negative fungal infections. This study defines a possible helpful role of broad-range PCR for diagnosis of microscopy-negative fungal infections in conjunction with other tests.
Conception et analyse des biopuces à ADN en environnements parallèles et distribués. (Design and analysis of DNA microarrays in parallel and distributed environments)

Les microorganismes constituent la plus grande diversite du monde vivant. Ils jouent un role clef dans tous les processus biologiques grâce a leurs capacites d’adaptation et a la diversite de leurs capacites metaboliques. Le developpement de nouvelles approches de genomique permet de mieux explorer les populations microbiennes. Dans ce contexte, les biopuces a ADN representent un outil a haut debit de choix pour l'etude de plusieurs milliers d’especes en une seule experience. Cependant, la conception et l’analyse des biopuces a ADN, avec leurs formats de haute densite actuels ainsi que l’immense quantite de donnees a traiter, representent des etapes complexes mais cruciales. Pour ameliorer la qualite et la performance de ces deux etapes, nous avons propose de nouvelles approches bioinformatiques pour la conception et l’analyse des biopuces a ADN en environnements paralleles. Ces approches generalistes et polyvalentes utilisent le calcul haute performance (HPC) et les nouvelles approches du genie logiciel inspirees de la modelisation, notamment l’ingenierie dirigee par les modeles (IDM) pour contourner les limites actuelles. Nous avons developpe PhylGrid 2.0, une nouvelle approche distribuee sur grilles de calcul pour la selection de sondes exploratoires pour biopuces phylogenetiques. Ce logiciel a alors ete utilise pour construire PhylOPDb: une base de donnees complete de sondes oligonucleotidiques pour l’etude des communautes procaryotiques. MetaExploArrays qui est un logiciel parallele pour la determination de sondes sur differentes architectures de calcul (un PC, un multiprocesseur, un cluster ou une grille de calcul), en utilisant une approche de meta-programmation et d’ingenierie dirigee par les modeles a alors ete concu pour apporter une flexibilite aux utilisateurs en fonction de leurs ressources materiel. PhylInterpret, quant a lui est un nouveau logiciel pour faciliter l’analyse des resultats d’hybridation des biopuces a ADN. PhylInterpret utilise les notions de la logique propositionnelle pour determiner la composition en procaryotes d’echantillons metagenomiques. Enfin, une demarche d’ingenierie dirigee par les modeles pour la parallelisation de la traduction inverse d’oligopeptides pour le design des biopuces a ADN fonctionnelles a egalement ete mise en place.
Comments on Hornstein

Hornstein represents minimalism in linguistics as a project that takes certain generalizations about the human language faculty, or universal grammar, to be (roughly) empirically correct and whose aim it is to deduce these properties from a more fundamental theory of the human mind/brain. According to him, the stock of empirically correct claims about the language faculty comes from the work in the principles and parameters framework, generalized phrase structure grammar, relational grammar, and lexical-functional grammar—all of which Hornstein views as ‘much the same theories in slightly different notation. ’ The properties of the language faculty described by these theories are the targets of deduction. To make progress on this project, the properties of the language faculty have to be stated in terms as simple and parsimonious as possible. Further, some of the properties of the language faculty might follow from what the literature calls ‘interface conditions’—conditions placed on the linguistic system by other cognitive modules that use the products of the linguistic system. Third, and this is crucial to the project described by Hornstein, some of the properties of the language faculty might follow from the way in which linguistic computations proceed. In this connection Hornstein introduces the following consideration: He assumes that the language faculty evolved in the human species rapidly, mentioning 50–100,000 years, which, if true, suggests that parochial, domain specific structure and computation within the language faculty must be quite limited; the time necessary for evolutionary tinkering to take place is simply not available. This, in turn, suggests that general computational principles (such as computational efficiency) or computational methods known to be involved in other cognitive domains can and must be invoked in an explanation of the properties of the language faculty. After laying out this general program, Hornstein discusses the canonical binding theory, which was developed within government and binding theory, with the aim of illustrating how its properties can be thus deduced.
Differences in health estimates using telephone and door‐to‐door survey methods‐a hypothetical exercise

Telephone interviewing is increasingly being used to obtain data on health issues. Properly applied telephone interviewing may have considerable cost benefits, but careful thought has to be put into the design of surveys, weighting and analysis of data to avoid major sources of bias. This study is a hypothetical exercise comparing health estimates from a systematic, self‐weighting, multistage, clustered, area sample of households using a face‐to‐face interview method, with hypothetical samples of people obtained from Random Digit Dialling and Electronic White Pages. In a comparison of the population health estimates obtained for a number of health problems in a hypothetical analysis of these samples, the confidence intervals for the estimates overlapped. Since the estimates are not statistically significantly different, it appears that well‐planned, appropriately weighted and analysed telephone surveys can be a less expensive way of obtaining health information, however, some caution is expressed in using this method.