Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extended Use of Topical Nasal Decongestants

Use of sympathomimetic topical nasal decongestants to treat nasal obstruction is usually restricted to 3 to 5 days to avoid potential rebound swelling (rhinitis medicamentosa). In this study, 10 healthy volunteers used oxymetazoline (long‐acting topical nasal decongestant) nightly for 4 weeks. Subjects who used antihistamines, oral or topical decongestants, or systemic steroids or who had active sinusitis were excluded from the study. Weekly history, physical examination, and anterior rhinomanometry revealed no adverse effects. Eight (80%) subjects developed nightly nasal obstruction a few hours before the evening dose; the obstruction resolved within 48 hours if no more decongestant was used. All subjects remained responsive to oxymetazoline 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the study began. This finding suggests that long‐acting decongestants may be safely used for longer than the recommended 3 to 5 days without adverse effects if used once nightly.
Covariance Operator Based Dimensionality Reduction with Extension to Semi-Supervised Settings

We consider the task of dimensionality reduction for regression (DRR) informed by realvalued multivariate labels. The problem is often treated as a regression task where the goal is to nd a low dimensional representation of the input data that preserves the statistical correlation with the targets. Recently, Covariance Operator Inverse Regression (COIR) was proposed as an eective solution that exploits the covariance structures of both input and output. COIR addresses known limitations of recent DRR techniques and allows a closed-form solution without resorting to explicit output space slicing often required by existing IR-based methods. In this work we provide a unifying view of COIR and other DRR techniques and relate them to the popular supervised dimensionality reduction methods including the canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and the linear discriminant analysis (LDA). We then show that COIR can be eectively extended to a semi-supervised learning setting where many of the input points lack their corresponding multivariate targets. A study of benets of
The cyclophilin DIAGEOTROPICA has a conserved role in auxin signaling

Auxin has a fundamental role throughout the life cycle of land plants. Previous studies showed that the tomato cyclophilin DIAGEOTROPICA (DGT) promotes auxin response, but its specific role in auxin signaling remains unknown. We sequenced candidate genes in auxin-insensitive mutants of Physcomitrella patens and identified mutations in highly conserved regions of the moss ortholog of tomato DGT. As P. patens and tomato diverged from a common ancestor more than 500 million years ago, this result suggests a conserved and central role for DGT in auxin signaling in land plants. In this study we characterize the P. patens dgt (Ppdgt) mutants and show that their response to auxin is altered, affecting the chloronema-to-caulonema transition and the development of rhizoids. To gain an understanding of PpDGT function we tested its interactions with the TIR1/AFB-dependent auxin signaling pathway. We did not observe a clear effect of the Ppdgt mutation on the degradation of Aux/IAA proteins. However, the induction of several auxin-regulated genes was reduced. Genetic analysis revealed that dgt can suppress the phenotype conferred by overexpression of an AFB auxin receptor. Our results indicate that the DGT protein affects auxin-induced transcription and has a conserved function in auxin regulation in land plants.
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation a Case of Becker Muscular Dystrophy and Massive Myoglobinuria with Minimal Renal Manifestations

Key words: acute renal failure; Becker muscular dys-legs. These cramps were never associated with dark trophy; mitochondrial creatine kinase; myoglobinuria coloured urine. The patient's mother indicated that pregnancy and delivery were both normal. The family history was negative for neuromuscular diseases. On examination, the patient had no swelling of
Effects Of The New Hydroxy‐3‐Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitor Fluvastatin On Anti‐Oxidant Enzyme Activities And Renal Function In Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats

1. The effects of 11 week treatments with the new hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase inhibitor fluvastatin on renal intrinsic anti‐oxidant enzyme (AOE) activities and renal function were evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats.
Ontogenèse de la recherche alimentaire durant la phase juvénile : cas des prédateurs plongeurs

La periode juvenile d’especes longevives demeure peu connue malgre son importance pour la demographie et la conservation des populations. L’objectif de cette these a ete d’etudier le comportement de dispersion et de nourrissage de 52 juveniles de trois especes de predateurs marins plongeurs des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises (les manchots royaux, les manchots empereurs et les elephants de mer du Sud) pendant quasiment 1 an apres leur independance. L’approche a ete basee sur l’utilisation de balises retransmettant en direct la localisation et des donnees de plongee. Les juveniles de ces trois especes presenterent des dispersions sur de tres grandes distances dans l’Ocean Austral, avec au depart des composantes d‘orientation semblant en partie innees. Le role des courants oceaniques et des zones frontales est apparu important. Les juveniles montrerent aussi une segregation spatiale prononcee avec les adultes. Les juveniles presenterent d‘impressionnantes capacites de plongee seulement quelques jours apres leur depart. Cependant, si leurs capacites de plongee et d‘acquisition de nourriture augmenterent progressivement avec le temps, elles n‘atteignirent jamais totalement les capacites des adultes. Certains juveniles ne parvinrent pas a augmenter ces capacites alors que leur environnement devint moins favorable et apparemment decederent en mer, vraisemblablement par inanition. La premiere annee en mer apparait alors comme une phase critique puisqu'une mortalite apparente fut observee pour chaque espece. Cette these apporte des elements de comprehension nouveaux sur l’ontogenese de la dispersion et de la recherche alimentaire des predateurs marins plongeurs.
Direct imitation of human facial expressions by a user-interface robot

Imitating the facial expressions of another person is a meaningful signal within interpersonal communication. Providing a robot with the capability of imitating the face of an interactant marks a first step towards implementing a communication model of mimicry. In this paper, we present a novel approach to facial expression imitation which does not require observed expressions to be assigned to a set of basic emotional expressions. Rather, arbitrary expressions are directly imitated exclusively based on camera images of the interactant's face. Consequently, the repertoire of displayable expressions is extended significantly and becomes more appropriate for interactions with humans.
Time-Based Authoring Tools for Informal Information Management

When we generate writings and drawings in creative knowledge work, such as in producing a company report, writing a paper, making presentation slides, or in developing programs, we often go back to what we have previously authored. This paper presents our history-centric approach to support such types of authoring. The approach first saves all editing actions in an editor in its history database, and then provides the Time-based Slicing mechanism to interactively visualize the historical data in various levels of granularity. We instantiate the approach through the design and development of HeEditor (History-Enriched Editor) for writing, and HeSketch (History-Enriched Sketch) for drawing.
Domain Engineering: A Practical Application in Analysis and Design of a Generative Query Language

New and difficult analysis and design problems have emerged with the evolution of the Domain Specific Language which replaces generality for expressiveness in a restricted domain. In an effort to solve them, diverse techniques have been introduced which, when combined, have resulted in confusing and problematic analysis and design flows. In this paper, we outline our ongoing domain engineering research in Domain Specific Language. We identify requirements, components and a reference architecture, which are put together in a conception and construction phase of a Generative Query Language called Carbon QL for domain of forest dynamics. We describe and evaluate our approach in a case study. The domain engineering phase produced domain and design models and led to a reference architecture that follows the Model Driven Engineering approach. The application engineering contributed effectively to the Carbon QL implementation based on an explicit knowledge representation (Car bontology), and a generative query engine that translates from Carbon QL to SQL using Hibernate as object-relational framework. Our preliminary results indicate that the effective configuration, componentization and reuse are possible, and optimize the development process for this domain.
Effects of different preparation techniques on the microleakage of compomer and resin fissure sealants.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the microleakage of a compomer and resin sealant in vitro using different surface preparation techniques. METHODS Microleakage of a compomer (Dyract Seal, DeTrey) and a resin sealant (Helioseal F, Vivadent) was investigated on 125 intact third molars. Materials and the surface preparation techniques were: Group 1--phosphoric acid (37%)+Helioseal F; Group 2--AlO2 air abrasion+Helioseal F; Group 3--nonrinse conditioner (NRC)+Prime&Bond+Dyract Seal; Group 4--phosphoric acid+Dyract Seal; Group 5--AlO2 air abrasion+Dyract Seal. RESULTS Pretreatment with phosphoric acid produced the lowest microleakage scores when applied with compomer and resin fissure sealants and there was no statistical difference (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS Compomer sealant used with a nonrinse conditioner (NRC) was not as successful as pretreatment with phosphoric acid etching, whereas AlO2 air abrasion pretreatment was ineffective in preventing microleakage in both sealants.
Auditory Cortex Basal Activity Modulates Cochlear Responses in Chinchillas

Background The auditory efferent system has unique neuroanatomical pathways that connect the cerebral cortex with sensory receptor cells. Pyramidal neurons located in layers V and VI of the primary auditory cortex constitute descending projections to the thalamus, inferior colliculus, and even directly to the superior olivary complex and to the cochlear nucleus. Efferent pathways are connected to the cochlear receptor by the olivocochlear system, which innervates outer hair cells and auditory nerve fibers. The functional role of the cortico-olivocochlear efferent system remains debated. We hypothesized that auditory cortex basal activity modulates cochlear and auditory-nerve afferent responses through the efferent system. Methodology/Principal Findings Cochlear microphonics (CM), auditory-nerve compound action potentials (CAP) and auditory cortex evoked potentials (ACEP) were recorded in twenty anesthetized chinchillas, before, during and after auditory cortex deactivation by two methods: lidocaine microinjections or cortical cooling with cryoloops. Auditory cortex deactivation induced a transient reduction in ACEP amplitudes in fifteen animals (deactivation experiments) and a permanent reduction in five chinchillas (lesion experiments). We found significant changes in the amplitude of CM in both types of experiments, being the most common effect a CM decrease found in fifteen animals. Concomitantly to CM amplitude changes, we found CAP increases in seven chinchillas and CAP reductions in thirteen animals. Although ACEP amplitudes were completely recovered after ninety minutes in deactivation experiments, only partial recovery was observed in the magnitudes of cochlear responses. Conclusions/Significance These results show that blocking ongoing auditory cortex activity modulates CM and CAP responses, demonstrating that cortico-olivocochlear circuits regulate auditory nerve and cochlear responses through a basal efferent tone. The diversity of the obtained effects suggests that there are at least two functional pathways from the auditory cortex to the cochlea.
A Comparison of Techniques for Web Effort Estimation

The objective of this paper is to extend the work by Mendes (2007), and to compare four techniques for Web effort estimation to identify which one provides best prediction accuracy. We employed four effort estimation techniques - Bayesian networks (BN), forward stepwise regression (SWR), case-based reasoning (CBR) and Classification and regression trees (CART) to obtain effort estimates. The dataset employed was of 150 Web projects from the Tukutuku dataset. Results showed that predictions obtained using a BN were significantly superior to those using other techniques. A model that incorporates the uncertainty inherent in effort estimation, can outperform other commonly used techniques, such as those used in this study.
Prediction of coefficients from coarse to fine scales in the complex wavelet transform

Prediction of fine scale DWT coefficients from coarser scales is not generally possible. On the other hand, the redundancy of the shift-invariant complex wavelet transform (CWT) should allow good coarse-to-fine scale prediction. The CWT's magnitude and phase step responses are well-behaved functions of a coefficient's normal distance to an edge. We present a coefficient prediction algorithm which assumes an edge-based image model. The algorithm infers information about local edges from coarse scale coefficients, and predicts the effect of these edges on the magnitudes and phases of finer level coefficients. Accurate coarse-to-fine prediction of coefficients has important potential benefits for image coding and resolution enhancement systems.
Return Forecasting and Risk Analysis of Purchasing New Issues in Chinese Primary Market Based on Simulation

Based on simulation, we research the return and risk of purchasing new issues in Chinese primary market. The major conclusions of the paper are listed below: (1) an investor can make more profit if he sells a new issue at closing price rather than opening price on its first trading day; (2) purchasing a new issue in the primary market can get no-risk return in general; (3) we get the fact that the rate of successfully purchasing a new issue in the primary market plays more important role in return than percentage increase on first trading day by sensitivity analysis.
EXPLICIT MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A HYBRID SYSTEM USING SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINES

Abstract The objective of this work is to study the capabilities of support vector machines for approximating the complex control law arising from model predictive control of a hybrid MIMO-system. By approximating the control law, an explicit formulation can be obtained, which is computationally less intensive for on-line use. The explicit model predictive control approach is applied to a simulated hybrid system consisting of two tanks in series. The system has real-valued, integer-valued, and binary-valued control inputs. A model predictive controller is first designed to control the entire system. This controller is then approximated using support vector machines, with separate approximators for each control input. Reasonable control results were achieved with the approximators.
A role of autoantibody‐mediated platelet destruction in thrombocytopenia in patients with cirrhosis

Thrombocytopenia is a common manifestation in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), but its underlying mechanism remains controversial. This study examined the role of anti‐platelet autoimmunity in cirrhotic thrombocytopenia by determining the autoantibody response to GPIIb‐IIIa, a major platelet surface autoantigen recognized by anti‐platelet antibodies in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Circulating B cells producing anti‐GPIIb‐IIIa antibodies as well as platelet‐associated and plasma anti‐GPIIb‐IIIa antibodies were examined in 72 patients with LC, 62 patients with ITP, and 52 healthy controls. In vitro anti‐GPIIb‐IIIa antibody production was induced in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by stimulation with GPIIb‐IIIa. The frequency of anti‐GPIIb‐IIIa antibody‐producing B cells in patients with LC was significantly greater than in healthy controls (10.9 ± 6.2 vs. 0.4 ± 0.3/105 PBMCs; P < .0001) and was even higher than the frequency in patients with ITP (8.2 ± 5.2; P = .007). Anti‐GPIIb‐IIIa antibodies in the patients with LC and ITP were mainly present on the surfaces of circulating platelets rather than in the plasma in an unbound form. Furthermore, PBMCs from patients with LC and ITP produced anti‐GPIIb‐IIIa antibodies on antigenic stimulation with GPIIb‐IIIa in vitro, and the specific antibodies produced had the capacity to bind normal platelet surfaces. In conclusion, the similar profile of the anti‐GPIIb‐IIIa autoantibody response in patients with LC and ITP suggests that autoantibody‐mediated platelet destruction may contribute at least in part to cirrhotic thrombocytopenia.
Novel research framework on SN's NoSQL databases for efficient query processing

A new database model called NoSQL plays a vital role in BigData analytics. NoSQL databases are non-relational open source data stores, which have employed massively scaled web site scenarios and upgraded in better performance by retrieving multiple data sets from commodity machines. NoSQL databases can be a hybrid mix of different databases based on specific use case applications. In this paper, we focus on four different NoSQL databases used by social networking sites. Their features are compared and analysed. These features are compared for the sub categories of the four NoSQL databases for fast querying from social networks. In the detailed analysis presented, the features like data storage and fast retrieval phase of query processing are given primary importance. We also present a comparison of the time taken during insert and read operations of social network data of Facebook. The results are compared and most suitable database from NoSQL graph database subcategories for insert and read operations in Facebook is identified.
Speaker independent bimodal phonetic recognition experiments

A speaker independent bimodal phonetic classification experiment regarding Italian plosive consonants is described. The phonetic classification scheme is based an a feedforward recurrent back-propagation neural network working on audio and visual information. The speech signal is processed by an auditory model producing spectral-like parameters, while the visual signal is processed by specialized hardware, called ELITE, computing lip and jaw kinematics parameters.
Haemodialysis prescription, adherence and nutritional indicators in five European countries: results from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS).

BACKGROUND The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) is a prospective, observational study designed to evaluate practice patterns in random samples of haemodialysis facilities and patients across three continents. Participating countries include France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK (Euro-DOPPS), Japan and the USA. DOPPS data collection has used the same questionnaires and protocols across all participating countries to assess components of dialysis therapy and outcomes. This study focuses on dialysis prescription, adherence and nutrition among the Euro-DOPPS countries. METHODS In each Euro-DOPPS country, patients were selected randomly from 20-21 representative facilities. Simple means and frequencies were calculated to compare relevant data elements to gain insights into differences in therapeutic aspects among nationally representative patients. Participants entering the study within 90 days of beginning dialysis therapy were excluded from these analyses. RESULTS Among the five countries, mean delivered dose as measured by normalized urea clearance (Kt/V) varied from 1.28 to 1.50 and was accompanied by differences in dialysis prescription components, including blood flow rates, treatment times, and dialyser membrane and flux characteristics. By country, a nearly 2-fold difference was observed in indicators of patient adherence and management (skipping and shortening dialysis, hyperkalaemia, hyperphosphataemia and high interdialytic weight gain). Indicators of malnutrition varied substantially. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates differences in the management of haemodialysis patients across Euro-DOPPS and offers opportunities for improving dialysis dose, adherence and nutrition. Correlation of differences in practice patterns at the dialysis unit level with patient outcomes will offer new insights into improving dialysis therapy.
Efficiency-Optimized Reconfigurable Transmitter Architecture by Matching Networks for Multi-band OFDM-Based Standards

An efficiency-optimized transmitter architecture for multi-band and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)-based standards operation is proposed and evaluated. It utilizes a power amplifier (PA) stood on a VDMOS transistor and two reconfigurable matching networks (RMNs). By means of frequency-independent both source and load mismatch correction, the reconfigurability provided by the RMNs allow the architecture to improve power-added efficiency (PAE) at several frequency bands for different OFDM-based standards. In order to obtain the optimum parameters (RMNs state), a meticulous optimization process is completed. Refer to a fixed design approach, PAE is improved for both continuous and OFDM-modulated signals. For the OFDM-modulated wave approach, PAE is improved 52.03% at 410 MHz and 5.86% at 700 MHz, referred to the fixed design. Thus, significant PAE enhancement is achieved, specially at the low frequency band.
Extraction de dates saillantes pour la construction de chronologies thématiques [Salient date extraction for building query-based timelines]

We present an approach for detecting salient (important) dates in texts in order to automatically build event timelines from a search query (e.g. the name of an event or person, etc.). This work was carried out on a corpus of newswire texts in English provided by the Agence France Presse (AFP). In order to extract salient dates that warrant inclusion in an event timeline, we first recognize and normalize temporal expressions in texts and then use a machine-learning approach to extract salient dates that relate to a particular topic. For the time being, we have focused only on extracting the dates and not the events to which they are related.
Achieving Spatial Disjointness in Multipath Routing without Location Information

We develop an on-demand multipath routing protocol for multi-hop wireless networks (MWNs), capable of finding spatially disjoint paths without the need of location information. Multipath routing can enable various applications and enhancements in MWNs, such as load balancing, bandwidth aggregation, reliability and secure communications. The use of spatially disjoint routes is important to effectively achieve these gains, due to the non-interfering nature of the paths. Most of the proposed multipath protocols for MWNs focus on reliability and do not find spatially disjoint paths. We propose a new on-demand protocol called Spatially Disjoint Multipath Routing (SDMR), capable of finding multiple paths in one route discovery, measuring the distance between them and choosing paths with most separation. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the protocol in finding spatially separate routes.