Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is pathologic intimal thickening the key to understanding early plaque progression in human atherosclerotic disease?

The term “ P athologic I ntimal T hickening” (PIT) was recently introduced to define an early stage of atherosclerosis described in human coronary lesions found at autopsies of sudden death victims.1 This descriptive identifier is based on the AHA type III (intermediate) lesion and, as originally presented by Stary and collegues, it’s believed to be the morphological and chemical bridge to more advanced plaques.2 The precise histological features and clinical relevance of PIT remains unsettled, and use of the term is still far from widespread. In short, PIT identifies a lesion with an extracellular lipid pool with intimal smooth muscle cell loss typically adjacent to the medial wall in addition to varying degrees of macrophage infiltration near the lumen. These morphological features indicate a progressive lesion in the earlier stages of atherosclerosis, although there is yet the presence of a necrotic core. As recently studied by Nakashima and colleagues in this issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology , it may provide a key in settling the chicken-versus-egg debate of atherosclerotic plaque progression: does lipid come first, or do macrophages? 3 Is PIT the precursor lesion of fibroatheroma? The study in this issue uses 3-dimensional histology to attempt to address some of these issues, and, in doing so, may raise as many questions as it answers. See page 1159 Although there are many detailed autopsy studies describing various lesion morphologies, little is known how human atherosclerosis progresses from early to more advanced plaques, marked by the formation of a necrotic core. This important question remains, in part, from a lack of direct experimental testing in prospective models of human disease. Moreover, potentially relevant finding in animals are difficult to associate with humans because the pathologic change of atherosclerosis in man cannot be definitely equated with animals. Although …
Phylogenetically and Spatially Close Marine Sponges Harbour Divergent Bacterial Communities

Recent studies have unravelled the diversity of sponge-associated bacteria that may play essential roles in sponge health and metabolism. Nevertheless, our understanding of this microbiota remains limited to a few host species found in restricted geographical localities, and the extent to which the sponge host determines the composition of its own microbiome remains a matter of debate. We address bacterial abundance and diversity of two temperate marine sponges belonging to the Irciniidae family - Sarcotragus spinosulus and Ircinia variabilis – in the Northeast Atlantic. Epifluorescence microscopy revealed that S. spinosulus hosted significantly more prokaryotic cells than I. variabilis and that prokaryotic abundance in both species was about 4 orders of magnitude higher than in seawater. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) profiles of S. spinosulus and I. variabilis differed markedly from each other – with higher number of ribotypes observed in S. spinosulus – and from those of seawater. Four PCR-DGGE bands, two specific to S. spinosulus, one specific to I. variabilis, and one present in both sponge species, affiliated with an uncultured sponge-specific phylogenetic cluster in the order Acidimicrobiales (Actinobacteria). Two PCR-DGGE bands present exclusively in S. spinosulus fingerprints affiliated with one sponge-specific phylogenetic cluster in the phylum Chloroflexi and with sponge-derived sequences in the order Chromatiales (Gammaproteobacteria), respectively. One Alphaproteobacteria band specific to S. spinosulus was placed in an uncultured sponge-specific phylogenetic cluster with a close relationship to the genus Rhodovulum. Our results confirm the hypothesized host-specific composition of bacterial communities between phylogenetically and spatially close sponge species in the Irciniidae family, with S. spinosulus displaying higher bacterial community diversity and distinctiveness than I. variabilis. These findings suggest a pivotal host-driven effect on the shape of the marine sponge microbiome, bearing implications to our current understanding of the distribution of microbial genetic resources in the marine realm.
A Review on Machine Translation Approaches

There is need to fill the gap between two entities which use different languages to communicate which can be done either via human translation or machine translation means. The world has over 7000 living natural languages, thus making it costly if human translation route is taken hence need for machine translation. There is need to know the available machine translation approaches and their requirement in order to decide which one suits for particular languages or not, hence the motivation for this survey. The survey provide overview and architectures of the three major techniques available namely: rule based translation, corpus based translation and hybrid based translation plus their subcategories available in each approach.
Horn clauses as an intermediate representation for program analysis and transformation*

Abstract Many recent analyses for conventional imperative programs begin by transforming programs into logic programs, capitalising on existing LP analyses and simple LP semantics. We propose using logic programs as an intermediate program representation throughout the compilation process. With restrictions ensuring determinism and single-modedness, a logic program can easily be transformed to machine language or other low-level language, while maintaining the simple semantics that makes it suitable as a language for program analysis and transformation. We present a simple LP language that enforces determinism and single-modedness, and show that it makes a convenient program representation for analysis and transformation.
Cerebro-cerebellar Implementation of Gainscheduled Feedback Control

Clarifying the way in which the central nervous system (CNS) controls motor behavior is an area of ongoing investigation in biology and medicine. Many of the neurophysiological details of how even the simplest voluntary movements are organized and executed remain to be established. Part of the motivation is basic scientific interest in achieving a better understanding of the brain, spinal cord and neuromuscular system. Another part relates to the neurological interest in understanding disorders of movement and, hopefully, eventually means of their management through neurocompatible prosthetic and orthotic devices. At the same time, there is growing interest in possibly using neurophysiological principles in robot control. The fluid, stable movement of many animals in open, highly diverse environments is generally not achievable by current robots. This is especially with respect to stability and performance robustness to uncertainty and/or variability in body dynamics, and in terms of behavioral flexibility and adaptivity. The motor performance of animals is all the more impressive when it is considered that control computation is performed by neurons that are in general very much slower, noisier, and much less precise than electronic circuits and microprocessors. Nature has somehow learned to leverage architectural hierarchy and massive parallelism to achieve control that is in important ways unrivaled by artificial devices. It is thus possible that control engineering may both inform and be informed by neurobiology. Although no consensus has been achieved about many neurophysiological motor control mechanisms, a wealth of experimental data has been accumulated, and agreement is building on many points. Most investigators view the cerebrum as the primary driver of voluntary movements. The brainstem and spinal cord are concerned with reflex and simple patterned behaviors such as breathing or sneezing. The cerebellum, which is strongly interconnected with the cerebrum, brainstem and spinal cord, which is a structure long felt to be important for motor “coordination”, has become viewed as some type of adaptive controller (Barlow 2002; Massaquoi and Topka 2002) in the engineering sense. The principal connections of the anterior lobe of the cerebellum, which is the principal motor control portion, are shown in Figure 1. These are involved in an extremely large number of feedback loops traversing pathways that are among the most rapidly conducting in the nervous system. Characteristic motor control deficits associated with damage to the cerebellum include ataxia, tremors and impaired motor learning (Massaquoi and Hallett 2002). Ataxia comprises sluggishness (reduced acceleration and jerk), sloppiness with frequent target overshoot, increased variability in the temporal evolution of multijoint and multi-stage movements (impaired “coordination”) and degraded balance (inability to stabilize otherwise unstable postures). Tremors (oscillations related to Forty-Fifth Annual Allerton Conference Allerton House, UIUC, Illinois, USA September 26-28, 2007 FrA6.3
Solutions to a class of linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) stochastic team problems with nonclassical information

We consider a stochastic dynamic team problem with two controllers and nonclassical information, which can be viewed as the transmission of a garbled version of a Gaussian message over a number of noisy channels under a fidelity criterion. We show that the optimum solution (under a quadratic loss functional) consists of linearly transforming the garbled message to a certain (optimum) power level P* and then optimally decoding it by using a linear transformation at the receiving end. The power level P* is determined by the solution of a fifth order algebraic equation. The paper also discusses an extension of this result to the case when the channel noise is correlated with the input random variable, and shows that for the single channel case the optimum solution is again linear.
Tracking of multiple maneuvering targets using multiscan JPDA and IMM filtering

The paper considers the problem of tracking multiple maneuvering targets in the presence of clutter using switching multiple target motion models. A novel suboptimal filtering algorithm is developed by applying the basic interacting multiple model (IMM) approach and the joint probabilistic data association (JPDA) technique. Unlike the standard single-scan JPDA approach, the authors exploit a multiscan joint probabilistic data association (mscan-JPDA) approach to solve the data association problem. The algorithm is illustrated via a simulation example involving tracking of four maneuvering targets and a multiscan data window of length two
A 32-Site 4-Channel High-Density Electrode Array for a Cochlear Prosthesis

This paper describes a 32-site 4-channel high-density intracochlear electrode array. Combining MEMS-based processing technology with active circuitry, the thin-film device realizes a stimulating site density three times that of commercial systems, delivering 500 muA biphasic current levels with 8-bit resolution and less than 1% charge mismatch. The minimum pulsewidth is 4 mus, and the per-channel power dissipation is 2.5 mW from plusmn2.5 V. The active circuit chip has a footprint of 2.4mmtimes2. 9 mm. Serving as the end-effector of a cochlear prosthesis, the active array also provides site-impedance measurement and position-sensing functions
The development of heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems from ages 18 to 37 in a U.S. national sample.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to add to the understanding of the development of heavy alcohol use and alcohol-related problems by examining data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), a general population sample that contains information on alcohol use for the ages 18-37. A key question in this study is how background characteristics of the individual influence this development and whether the influence of these background characteristics changes over time. METHOD The data used in this study are a general population sample (N = 7,859) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). This study uses a multivariate outcome approach that focuses on individual variation in trajectories over age. The statistical analysis uses random coefficients in a latent variable framework. Across-age changes in the importance of the influence of background variables on the outcomes are modeled using varying centering points. RESULTS A key finding is that dropping out of high school has no effect on alcohol-related problems for individuals in their mid-twenties, but is associated with significantly increased levels of alcohol-related problems for individuals in their mid-thirties. In contrast, going on to college is associated with lower levels of heavy drinking when individuals reach their late twenties and their thirties. Strong gender and ethnicity effects seen in the twenties diminish when individuals reach their thirties. CONCLUSIONS The trajectory analysis expands the knowledge of problematic alcohol development for individuals in their late twenties and thirties. The increasing detrimental effect of dropping out of high school up to the age 37 endpoint of the study raises questions about the effects in later life of dropping out of high school.
Conception d'une plate-forme d'expérimentations pour réseaux ad hoc et hybrides. Application à l'évaluation d'un protocole d'auto-organisation et de routage

L'evaluation des reseaux ad hoc est essentiellement faite par simulation bien que la propagation radio soit modelisee de facon non fidele dans les simulateurs reseau. Il est donc necessaire de valider les protocoles a l'aide d'une demarche experimentale. Nous proposons ici l'implementation et le deploiement d'une plate-forme de tests pour reseaux ad hoc interconnec-tes a internet, permettant la creation d'un internet multi-saut. Nous fournissons un descriptif materiel et logiciel detaille pour constituer une telle plate-forme de tests afin de valider tout protocole pour reseau ad hoc ou hybride. Nous evaluons sur cette plate-forme les performances d'un protocole d'auto-organisation et de routage. Les performances obtenues demontrent la faisabilite et la pertinence d'une telle approche.
RadarSLAM: Biomimetic SLAM using ultra-wideband pulse-echo radar

This paper presents a novel method for using an ultra-wideband (UWB), super high frequency (SHF) pulse-echo radar sensor as a biomimetic sensing mechanism to successfully solve the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) problem. Due to recent advances in consumer radar technology it has become possible to sample the received echo signals well above their Nyquist frequency. This Nyquist-conform sampling permits the conversion of the signal waveforms into spectrograms which contain spatiospectral cues caused by the interactions of the echoes with features of the environment and the antenna's radiation pattern. Such spectrograms can therefore serve as distinct labels for individual locations, allowing for the identification and recognition of these locations. By adapting an existing acoustic SLAM system (BatSLAM) we have developed a system that demonstrates the feasibility of our proposed method; the results validate the potential of using pulse-echo radar as an exteroceptive sensory modality in topological SLAM systems.
A review of reflux esophagitis around the world.

In the Western world, esophageal reflux is a common condition. In other parts of the world, the prevalence is less well defined, but appears to be swiftly approaching the levels seen in the West. As complications of this condition such as Barrett’s epithelium and esophageal adenocarcinoma have seen huge increases over the past several decades in the West, there seems a likelihood that the rest of the world is at risk for a similar explosion in esophageal complications. This article will review the epidemiologic information about esophageal reflux, and pathophysiologic components of acid migration and altered peristaltic motility, and examine the advantages of treating this growing medical illness with acid suppression and prokinetic medication, as well as other nonpharmacologic therapies. EPIDEMIOLOGY The prevalence and incidence of esophageal reflux are difficult to establish. These values are dependent on the population under study. Reported frequencies tend to be lower if the studied population is based on the general population as opposed to a study of patients from a medical facility. Frequencies based upon endoscopic observation tend to be substantially lower than symptom surveys, which is consistent with the observation that endoscopic evidence of damage is present in only 10% of symptomatic patients. Despite the differences in methods for collecting prevalence and incidence data, there appears to be variability in frequencies of reflux around the world (Table 1). In a 1997 U.S. report, the prevalence of weekly heartburn symptoms in the general population was 19. 8% (95% confidence interval 17.7-21.9) [1] . This appears to be higher than the often quoted weekly heartburn rate of 14% from 1976 [2] , suggesting an increase in reflux over the past two decades. Reflux was reported to be rare in Nigeria fifteen years ago [3] , and the low frequency was postulated to be due to protective differences in the structure of the lower esophageal sphincter. The frequency of symptoms in Taiwan recently was thought to be similar to the U.S. frequency reported two decades ago [4] , and the authors expressed concern that westernization of the diet, aging of the population, and increasing obesity would put the Taiwanese at higher risk of reflux and its sequelae. Table 1 Prevalence of reflux in various geographic sites(%)
CFH Y402H Confers Similar Risk of Soft Drusen and Both Forms of Advanced AMD

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible visual impairment in the developed world. The two forms of advanced AMD, geographic atrophy and neovascular AMD, represent different pathological processes in the macula that lead to loss of central vision. Soft drusen, characterized by deposits in the macula without visual loss, are considered to be a precursor of advanced AMD. Recently, it has been proposed that a common missense variant, Y402H, in the Complement Factor H (CFH) gene increases the risk for advanced AMD. However, its impact on soft drusen, GA, or neovascular AMD—or the relationship between them—is unclear. Methods and Findings We genotyped 581 Icelandic patients with advanced AMD (278 neovascular AMD, 203 GA, and 100 with mixed neovascular AMD/GA), and 435 with early AMD (of whom 220 had soft drusen). A second cohort of 431 US patients from Utah, 322 with advanced AMD (244 neovascular AMD and 78 GA) and 109 early-AMD cases with soft drusen, were analyzed. We confirmed that the CFH Y402H variant shows significant association to advanced AMD, with odds ratio of 2.39 in Icelandic patients (p = 5.9 × 10−12) and odds ratio of 2.14 in US patients from Utah (p = 2.0 × 10−9) with advanced AMD. Furthermore, we show that the Y402H variant confers similar risk of soft drusen and both forms of advanced AMD (GA or neovascular AMD). Conclusion Soft drusen occur prior to progression to advanced AMD and represent a histological feature shared by neovascular AMD and GA. Our results suggest that CFH is a major risk factor of soft drusen, and additional genetic factors and/or environmental factors may be required for progression to advanced AMD.
Supplemental Online Material for Camouflage and Display for Soft Machines

S1 Materials and Methods Materials. Soft robots and the various color layers were fabricated from silicone rubbers and polyethylene tubing. Ecoflex ® two part platinum cure silicone rubber kits (0010, 0030, and 0050) were purchased from Smooth-On, Inc. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was purchased from Dow Corning Corp. (Sylgard ® 184). Polyethylene tubing, Intramedic TM PE60 and PE160 by Becton Dickinson and Company, for creating both pneumatic inlets and microfluidic inlets/outlets was purchased from VWR ®. All materials were used as received and prepared following the manufacturers protocols. Solutions flowed through the color layers were prepared in-house. Opaque watercolor gouache paints were purchased from Savoir-Faire. Bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO) was purchased from Fluka. Fluorescent dyes were created from Premium Décor® paints purchased from General Paint and Manufacturing Company. All other reagents and solvents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich ®. All chemicals were used as received without further purification. Preparation of Visible Wavelength Dye Solutions. With the exception of the blue and red solutions used to show the design of the various color layers (Fig. 1, Fig. S1), we made aqueous solutions colored in the visible spectrum (and ultraviolet, although we have not demonstrated this capability; silicone elastomers such as polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, are transparent to 250 nm (31)), by mixing and adjusting the relative proportions of different colored gouache watercolor paints and diluting the resulting mixtures with water. The blue and red dye solutions were prepared by diluting aqueous stock solutions of methylene blue (0.6 mg/mL) and of amaranth dye (0.5 mg/mL) with water respectively. More hydrophobic dyes, such as methylene blue, were S2 absorbed by the color layers over time (several minutes), but the absorbed dye was easily removed by pumping solvents such as ethanol or methanol through the color layer. Preparation of Chemiluminescent Solutions. A mixture of TCPO (179 mg, 0.4 mmol) and 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)-anthracene (10 mg) was dissolved in diethyl phthalate (100 mL) and vigorously stirred with a magnetic stirbar in a 125-mL Erlenmyer flask for 30 min at room temperature to afford a yellow solution (reagent A). In a separate 125-mL Erlenmyer flask, a solution of 80:20 diethyl phthalate/ tert-butanol (v/v) (60 mL) was added 50% aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution (w/w) (20 mL), forming a mixture of two immiscible liquids (reagent B). Immediately before the initiation of chemiluminescence, reagent B was vigorously swirled and a volume of 20 mL of the reagent was measured out with a 100-mL graduated cylinder. The reagent …
Evaluation of Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction

The term "job satisfaction" is derived from the humanities, psychology and sociology. In the field of psychology, it is a state where an employee has an emotional perception of his situation and reacts with feelings of pleasure or pain. In sociology, it is considered a variable in different categories related to how each employee evaluates and thinks about his work. Job satisfaction is closely related to the performance and quality of work performed by an employee and, consequently, translates into the success of an organization, because a satisfied employee builds and participates in the success of any organization. This article presents the results of the research conducted by the author in 2012 on a sample of 215 people. Respondents represented different organizations. The aim of the study was to identify and assess the significance of individual factors influencing satisfaction and dissatisfaction with work and demonstrate their impact on the overall assessment of job satisfaction. The study showed that between the weight attributed to individual factors and overall job satisfaction there are many statistically significant correlations referring mainly to selected on the basis of analysis respondents’ groups. The study confirms the raised thesis concerning the validity of research in the factors affecting the general feeling of satisfaction by the employees.