Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endogenous Markers for Estimation of Renal Function in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

♦ Objective: This method comparison study, conducted at the peritoneal dialysis (PD) outpatient clinic of the Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, set out to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of methods for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on endogenous markers in PD patients. ♦ Patients: The 12 consecutive patients included in the study were examined twice while in a stable condition. All patients finished the study. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older, ability to collect 24-hour urine, and urine production greater than 300 mL in 24 hours. ♦ Main Outcome Measures: The methods for estimating GFR using endogenous markers included the average of urinary clearances of creatinine and urea [U-Cl(crea-urea)] and two equations using the serum concentration of cystatin C [eGFR(CysC)]. The resulting GFR estimates were compared with those obtained using urinary and corrected plasma clearances of 51Cr-EDTA [U-Cl(EDTA) and cP-Cl(EDTA)], the corrected plasma clearance being plasma clearance minus dialysate clearance. ♦ Results: Compared with the U-Cl(EDTA), the U-Cl(crea-urea) GFR estimate was 12% higher [95% confidence limits (CL): 3%, 21%]. Although significantly different (p = 0.01), the latter two methods showed the best agreement. The estimates obtained using the eGFR(CysC) methods were skewed from y = x compared with the estimates obtained using other methods, indicating strong bias, probably because of extrarenal elimination. The cP-Cl(EDTA) estimate was 34% (95% CL: 26%, 42%), higher than the U-Cl(EDTA) estimate (p < 0.001). The reproducibility (coefficients of variation) differed significantly between methods: cP-Cl(EDTA), 7%; U-Cl(EDTA), 14%; U-Cl(crea-urea), 18%; and both eGFR(CysC) methods, 3%. ♦ Conclusions: In PD patients, GFR may be estimated as U-Cl(crea-urea) when complete urine collection is performed, taking into account an overestimation of approximately 12%. The available equations for eGFR(CysC) seem to be inaccurate; further development and validation is desirable. Omitting the eGFR(CysC) methods, cP-Cl(EDTA) was the most reproducible method and might be useful in certain situations.
Preparation of epitaxial HfO2 film (EOT=0.5 nm) on Si substrate using atomic-layer deposition of amorphous film and rapid thermal crystallization (RTC) in an abrupt temperature gradient

A new process route for preparing epitaxial dielectric films on Si substrates is proposed. It uses atomic layer deposition and rapid thermal crystallization instead of molecular beam epitaxy. The key is to create an abrupt temperature gradient along the thickness of an amorphous film by exploiting non-equilibrium heat conduction so that the film crystallizes film from the Si interface. The effectiveness of this technique was demonstrated by fabricating epitaxial HfO2 films on Si substrates and achieving an equivalent oxide thickness of 0.5 nm. This technique has the potential to fabricate single-crystal gate dielectric structures in future MOSFETs.
Manual Ventilation with a Few Large Breaths at Birth Compromises the Therapeutic Effect of Subsequent Surfactant Replacement in Immature Lambs

The reason why some infants with respiratory distress syndrome fail to respond to surfactant, or respond only transiently, is incompletely understood. We hypothesized that resuscitation with large breaths at birth might damage the lungs and blunt the effect of surfactant. Five pairs of lamb siblings were delivered by cesarean section at 127-128 d of gestation. One lamb in each pair was randomly selected to receive six manual inflations of 35-40 mL/kg (“bagging”) before the start of mechanical ventilation, a volume roughly corresponding to the inspiratory capacity of lamb lungs after prophylactic surfactant supplementation. Both siblings were given rescue porcine surfactant, 200 mg/kg, at 30 min of age. Blood gases and deflation pressure-volume (P-V) curves of the respiratory system were recorded until the lambs were killed at 4 h. The P-V curves became steeper after surfactant in the control group, but no such effect was seen in those subjected to bagging. At 4 h, inspiratory capacity and maximal deflation compliance were almost three times higher (p < 0.01) in the controls than in the bagged lambs. The latter were also more difficult to ventilate and tended to have less well expanded alveoli and more widespread lung injury in histologic sections. We conclude that a few inflations with volumes that are probably harmless in other circumstances might, when forced into the surfactant-deficient lung immediately at birth, compromise the effect of subsequent surfactant rescue treatment. Our findings challenge current neonatal resuscitation practice of rapidly establishing a normal lung volume by vigorous manual ventilation.
Random Values of the Cosmological Constant Typeset Using Revt E X

One way that an anthropic selection mechanism may be manifest in a physical theory involves multiple domains in the universe with different values of the physical parameters. If this mechanism is to be relevant for understanding the small observed value of the cosmological constant, it may involve a mechanism by which some contributions to the cosmological constant can be fixed at a continuous range of values in the different domains. I study the difficulties of four possible mechanisms. A commonly cited possibility, the Hubble damping of a scalar field with a very flat potential, is seen to require unnatural fine-tuning in the initial conditions. More promising is the possibility of having fixed random values of non-dynamical form fields, and a cosmological mechanism is suggested. Further requirements needed for a consistent cosmology are discussed. Typeset using REVTEX
THE 2009 LABROSA PRETRAINED AUDIO CHORD RECOGNITION SYSTEM

Our pre-trained audio chord recognition system relies on labeled data to train Gaussian models of each chord class, based on a beat-synchronous chroma representation developed for cover song detection [1]. All chord models are based on two prototype models, one for major chords and one for minor, which are trained on all available examples, suitably transposed to align their tonality. Chord recognition is accomplished with a hidden Markov model using the perchord Gaussians to calculate observation likelihoods [4]. The system estimates a single key for each track, based on a single Gaussian full-covariance model of the chroma distribution, then transposing the track’s chroma representation to maximize its likelihood under this model. This key model was trained using ground-truth labels for each track as reported in the Allan Pollack annotations [3]. Recognition then uses a transition matrix derived from the training labels which is normalized relative to the estimated key. Our submission is a complete model that we trained inhouse on all 180 tracks corresponding to the set of chord transcriptions released by Chris Harte [2]. Testing this model on the same 180 songs gives a time-weighted accuracy of around 74% (over a set of 25 classes consisting of 12 Major, 12 minor, and one “no chord” class). Four-way crossvalidated training of the same approach, in which testing albums were disjoint from the training set, yielded performance less than 2% lower absolute. This system is essentially the same as the one we submitted to the “train-test” chord evaluation in MIREX 2008, except for the key-estimation and key-relative transition matrices. We are also using maximal gamma values (from forward-backward calculation) instead of Viterbi path to compute the final reported class. Both of these changes contributed improvements of under 2% absolute each. The main change is that we have correctly aligned Harte’s labels to our local versions of the audio, based on a forced alignment of earlier models, followed by manual tuning of the results. We found timing skews of the order of 1 second or more, and overall tempo differences of up to 1%, in almost all files, with no clear systematic pattern. Fixing these alignments for both train and test data improved reported system performance by close to 20% absolute, and made it worthwhile to submit a pre-trained system. The entire codebase and all the data used in training the model is available at http://labrosa.ee. columbia. edu/projects/chords/ .
Coordination of Multiple Energy Storage Units in a Low-Voltage Distribution Network

A method for the coordination of multiple battery energy storage systems (BESSs) is proposed for voltage control in low-voltage distribution networks (LVDNs). The main objective of this method is to solve over-voltage problems with multiple suitably sized energy storage systems. The performance of coordinated control is compared with noncoordinated control using both a real-time digital simulator and a MATLAB model of a real U.K. LVDN with a high installed capacity of solar photovoltaics. This is used to show that coordinated control is robust and effective at preventing voltage rise problems in LVDNs. The proposed coordinated control scheme is able to use the BESSs more evenly, and therefore reduces the costs of battery replacement to the storage operator in terms of both number of batteries and maintenance visits.
Automated Extraction of Cytoplasm and Nuclei from Cervical Cytology Images by Fuzzy Thresholding and Active Contours

In this paper, a novel method for automated diagnosis of cervical cancer by extracting cytoplasm and nuclei from cervical cytology images is described. The background is removed by preprocessing methods like Edge sharpening and Adaptive Histogram Equalization. Fuzzy thresholding and Active contours are used for extracting the region of interest containing the cytoplasm and nuclei. The nuclei are separated from the cytoplasm using linear contrast stretching. The nucleus to cytoplasm ratio is used to determine the stage of cancer. General Terms Image Processing, Cervical Cancer
A miniaturized fluorescence detection system with an integrated organic light emitting diode

The organic light emitting diode (OLED) is proposed as a novel source in the microchip because it has ideal merits (various wavelengths, thin-film structure and overall emitting) for the integration. In this paper, we fabricated finger-type PIN photodiodes for the fluorescence detection and an advanced microchip with an integrated OLED. The finger-type in the diode design extended the depletion region and its internal resistance was reduced about 32% than that of a rectangular-type. The photodiodes had 0.1 nA leakage current and 8,720 sensitivity (I/sub light//I/sub dark/) at -1 V bias. The interference filter with 32 layers (SiO/sub 2/, TiO/sub 2/) was directly deposited on the photodiode. Deposited OLEDs increased the excitation efficiency and extremely simplified the integration process. The monolithically integrated microchip had a high sensitivity of 0.256 nA//spl mu/M and the LOD (limit of detection, S/N =2) of 0.01 /spl mu/M.
Formal production features of infant and toddler DVDs.

OBJECTIVE To describe how DVDs designed for very young children are constructed, focusing on the formal production features used to present the program content. DESIGN Descriptive study of the concentrations of perceptually salient, nonsalient, and reflective formal features. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-nine DVDs designed for children younger than 3 years. Main Exposure The presence and absence of specific formal features. OUTCOME MEASURES Concentrations of reflective (singing, rhyming, camera zooms, and moderate character action), perceptually salient (rapid pacing, fast action, camera cuts, sound effects, character vocalizations, and visual special effects), and nonsalient (low-action sequences, narration, and dialogue by men, women, or children) formal features. RESULTS Programs were composed of high concentrations of perceptually salient features, such as rapid pace and camera cuts, which are difficult even for older children to understand. Reflective features, which provide opportunities to rehearse content, were relatively rare. Character action was typically nonsalient. The DVDs used speech only 24% of the time and failed to selectively use speakers, such as choosing a child over an adult for dialogue and narration, which garners slightly older children's visual attention. CONCLUSIONS Producers who claim that their programs are educational should pay more attention to how they transmit content. Most programs directed at infants and toddlers rely on perceptually salient features like rapid pacing and camera cuts, which may elicit attention and interest but are most likely very difficult for a young audience to understand.
Mutualistic Fermentative Digestion in the Gastrointestinal Tract: Diversity and Evolution1

Abstract All animals, including humans, are adapted to life in a microbial world. Anaerobic habitats have existed continuously throughout the history of the earth, the gastrointestinal tract being a contemporary microniche. Since microorganisms colonize and grow rapidly under the favorable conditions in the gut they could compete for nutrients with the host. This microbial challenge has modified the course of evolution in animals, resulting in selection of complex animal-microbe relationships that vary tremendously, ranging from competition to cooperation. The ecological and evolutionary interactions between herbivorous dinosaurs and the first mammalian herbivores and their food plants are reconstructed using knowledge gained during the study of modern living vertebrates, especially foregut and hindgut fermenting mammals. The ruminant is well adapted to achieve maximal digestion of roughage using the physiological mechanism at the reticulo-omasal orifice which selectively retains large particles in the reticulo-rumen. However, the most obvious feature of all ruminants is the regurgitation, rechewing and reswallowing of foregut digesta termed rumination. Foregut fermenting mammals also share interesting and unique features in two enzymes, stomach lysozyme and pancreatic ribonuclease which accompany and are adaptations to this mode of digestion. The microbial community inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract is represented by all major groups of microbes (bacteria, archaea, ciliate protozoa, anaerobic fungi and bacteriophage) and characterized by its high population density, wide diversity and complexity of interactions. The development and application of molecular ecology techniques promises to link distribution and identity of gastrointestinal microbes in their natural environment with their genetic potential and in situ activities.
Central and proprioceptive influences on the activity of levator costae motoneurones in the cat.

The role of central respiratory drive, muscle spindles and tendon organs in producing respiratory movements has been studied in the cat by recording from motoneurones supplying a set of small axial muscles inserted between each rib and the vertebra immediately rostral, the levatores costae. The levator costae muscles are active during normal inspiration but activity is progressively stronger in the muscles located in more caudal thoracic segments. Intracellular recordings from levator costae motoneurons show a characteristic central respiratory drive potential (c.r.d.p.), comprising phases of depolarization during inspiration alternating with expiratory phased hyperpolarization due to post‐synaptic inhibition. Loading or unloading the levator costae muscles increases and decreases, respectively, their normal inspiratory activity. Electrophysiological and histological analysis of levator costae afferents reveals that each muscle contains three to five spindles and two to three tendon organs. By dissecting the levator costae nerve, afferent discharges from muscle spindle primary and secondary endings and those from tendon organs were recorded ‘in continuity’ and used to trigger an averager for analysing the synaptic potentials they evoke in levator costae motoneurones. Monosynaptic excitation and oligosynaptic inhibition originate from spindle (primary and secondary endings) and from tendon organ afferents respectively. Peculiarly a monosynaptic excitation has been evoked from a tendon organ. The action of the levator costae muscle on the respiratory movements of the ribs in the different thoracic spaces was analysed in relation to their anatomical properties and to the activity of the other respiratory muscles. The levator costae muscles, because of their relatively small size and well‐defined population of proprioceptors, appear to provide a favourable preparation for studying the integrative action of the motoneurone.
Factors in obesity: current views.

This discussion of factors in obesity will address three major topics: genetic determinants of obesity, the distribution of body fat in obesity, and the influences of social factors, particularly socioeconomic status (SES). Any consideration of the role of social factors in the determination of obesity today must consider what we know about the role of genetic determinants of obesity. This information is of recent origin and it is necessary to put it into context so that genetic influences are neither exaggerated nor minimized.
Co-Operative Processes: An Approach From Social Constructionism

Keynote address to the 7th International Conference on Multi-Organisational Partnerships and Co-operative Strategy. Leuven, Belgium, July 6th-8th, 2000 Organisational worlds increasingly are felt to be fragmented, equivocal, and constantly changing. ’Today’s’ knowledge may be found to be more local than anticipated and seems quickly out of date. Factors such as globalisation and webbased communications mean that organising involves interdependent relations between diverse and changing interests and identities. How then to facilitate & support co-operation in this ’postmodern’ context? The present contribution suggests that social constructionist arguments about possible people and possible worlds may have much to offer. More narrowly, arguments about the processes of social construction - rather than socially constructed ’products’ - are offered. These will suggest one view of how identities, relations, and cultures are made, maintained, and changed in ongoing processes. Of particular importance is the argument that construction processes very often construct ’mono-logical’ relations between separate and independent identities where knowledge is ’about’ Other and power is ’power over’ Other. However social constructionism opens up other possible ways of relating - multi-logical ways in which identities and cultures are understood to be interdependent, power is ’power to’, and knowing is in action. This chapter finishes with an overview of multilogical ’construction principles’ and practices.
Identification and characterization of a yeast nucleolar protein that is similar to a rat liver nucleolar protein

We have produced monoclonal antibodies against purified nuclei from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and have characterized three different antibodies that recognize a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 38,000, termed p38. Subcellular fractionation shows that virtually all of p38 occurs in the nuclear fraction. High concentrations of salt (1 M) or urea (6 M) effectively solubilize p38 from a nuclear envelope fraction prepared by digestion of nuclei with DNase. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrates a crescent shaped distribution of p38 at the inner periphery of the nucleus, with p38 extending between dividing pairs of cells during (closed) mitosis. Postembedding immunogold electron microscopy shows decoration of the densely stained "crescent" region of the yeast nucleus, confirming the localization of p38 to the nucleolus. One of the monoclonals, D77, cross reacts on immunoblots with a single protein of molecular weight 37,000 from purified rat liver nuclei. Indirect immunofluorescence localizes this protein to the nucleolus, and shows that it is dispersed throughout the cell during mitosis. The yeast and rat liver nucleolar proteins behave similarly when electrophoresed in two dimensions, and appear to have basic pI values. Analysis of immunological cross-reactivity using D77, and antibodies specific for nucleolar proteins from other sources, suggests that the rat liver protein is fibrillarin, and demonstrates that p38 shares epitopes with fibrillarin, as well as with other vertebrate nucleolar proteins.
The role of affective states on cognitive processes of assimilation and accommodation

Este artigo objetivou investigar se o humor positivo induz ativacao de conhecimento previo (funcao assimilativa) e se o humor negativo aciona processos cognitivos dirigidos pelos dados (funcao acomodativa). A amostra foi composta de 32 participantes, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 17 e 38 anos. O experimento testou o efeito de geracao ativa de conhecimento. Induziram-se inicialmente humores positivos e negativos nos participantes. A tarefa final consistiu em recordar livremente uma lista de palavras completas (favorecendo processos dirigidos pelos dados) ou incompletas (favorecendo processos cognitivos dirigidos por conhecimento previo via geracao ativa), apresentadas anteriormente. Sob humor positivo, os participantes recordaram mais palavras completadas por eles durante a fase de codificacao (efeito de geracao ativa), sugerindo prevalencia de funcoes assimilativas. Sob estado de humor negativo, recordaram mais palavras completas oferecidas pelo experimentador, indicando predominio de funcoes acomodativas. Conclui-se que os estados afetivos atuam sobre a selecao e regulacao dos processos cognitivos de assimilacao e acomodacao.
Paisagem Sonora: uma proposta de análise

This paper discuss the use of environmental sounds in musical composition, specially in the so-called Soundscape music. The use of such sounds in compositions created with technological support after the 60’s have started a controversial discussion on the musical syntax that such sounds can generate. The environmental sounds also raised important debates related to theories of auditory perception. Related to this point we present the processes of listening based on the ecological approach to auditory perception, which comes from J. J. Gibson’s theory of direct perception. This theory is taken as base to a new approach to environmental sonic materials and its insertion in the compositional processes. Our goal is to raise the issues that had lead to all those problems, and to briefly expose the theory of direct perception of J.J. Gibson as well. We conclude showing a possibility to use the notions of the ecological approach to perception as alternative analytic tools for soundscape music.