Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Stonehouse survey: nasopharyngeal carriage of meningococci and Neisseria lactamica

SUMMARY A total of 6234 nasopharyngeal swabs was collected during a survey of the population of Stonehouse, Gloucestershire in November 1986 as part of an investigation into an outbreak of meningococcal disease. The overall meningococcal carriage rate was 10·9%. The carriage rate rose with age from 2·1% in the 0- to 4-year-olds to a peak of 24·5% in the 15- to 19-year-olds, and thereafter declined steadily with age. Male carriers outnumbered female carriers of meningococci by 3:2. Group B (or non-groupable) type 15 sulphonamide-resistant strains which had caused the outbreak were isolated from 1·4% of subjects. The age distribution of carriers of these strains was similar to that of other meningococci apart from an additional peak in the 5–9-year age group and a more rapid decline in carriage with increasing age. Variations in the carriage rates of the outbreak strain were seen in children attending different schools and in the residents of different areas of the town. The low carriage rate of these strains in a community during a prolonged outbreak supports the hypothesis that these organisms are less transmissible but more virulent than other strains of pathogenic meningococci. Carriage of Neisseria lactamica, which is thought to be important in the development of meningococcal immunity, was most frequent in children under the age of 5 years and was six times commoner in this age group than carriage of Neisseria meningitidis. In older children and adults female carriers of N. lactamica increasingly outnumbered males in contrast to the male preponderance observed with meningococcal carriage.
Cannabis, Cigarettes, and Their Co-Occurring Use: Disentangling Differences in Gray Matter Volume

Background: Structural magnetic resonance imaging techniques are powerful tools for examining the effects of drug use on the brain. The nicotine and cannabis literature has demonstrated differences between nicotine cigarette smokers and cannabis users compared to controls in brain structure; however, less is known about the effects of co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use. Methods: We used voxel-based morphometry to examine gray matter volume differences between four groups: (1) cannabis-dependent individuals who do not smoke tobacco (Cs); (2) cannabis-dependent individuals who smoke tobacco (CTs); (3) cannabis-naïve, nicotine-dependent individuals who smoke tobacco (Ts); and (4) healthy controls (HCs). We also explored associations between gray matter volume and measures of cannabis and tobacco use. Results: A significant group effect was observed in the left putamen, thalamus, right precentral gyrus, and left cerebellum. Compared to HCs, the Cs, CTs, and Ts exhibited larger gray matter volumes in the left putamen. Cs also had larger gray matter volume than HCs in the right precentral gyrus. Cs and CTs exhibited smaller gray matter volume than HCs in the thalamus, and CTs and Ts had smaller left cerebellar gray matter volume than HCs. Conclusions: This study extends previous research that independently examined the effects of cannabis or tobacco use on brain structure by including an examination of co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use, and provides evidence that cannabis and tobacco exposure are associated with alterations in brain regions associated with addiction.
Motivating participation in internet routing overlays

PeerWise is an Internet routing overlay that reduces end-to-end latencies by allowing peers to forward through a relay instead of connecting directly to their destinations. Fundamental to PeerWise is the notion of peering agreements between two peers, wherein they agree to forward for one another. In this paper, we consider the problem of motivating users to establish and maintain peerings in a completely decentralized, scalable manner. We show that routing overlays present unique challenges and goals. For instance, since participants can always "fall back" on standard Internet routing, we must encourage users to stay in the system and maintain long-lived peering agreements. To address these challenges, we propose two mechanisms: First, we use Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to expressively negotiate peers' demands and the recourses they will take when SLAs are violated. Second, we propose a mechanism to address SLA violations that differs from the standard notion of punishment via service degradation. Our simulation results demonstrate that our mechanism causes peers to avoid SLA violators in favor of long-lived peerings. Lastly, we discuss potential, emergent behaviors in a selfish routing overlay.
Legacies of the agricultural past in the forested present: an assessment of historical land‐use effects on rich mesic forests

Abstract Aim and location The research investigated the long‐term effects of human disturbance, namely nineteenth century agricultural land‐use, on the modern species composition, structure and distribution of Rich Mesic Forests (RMF) in western Massachusetts, USA. RMF are a species‐rich north‐eastern variant of the Mixed Mesophytic Forest Type of eastern North America.
Myeloid Related Protein (MRP)-8/14 Stimulates IL-8 Production in Airway Epithelial Cells

A matrix tray feeder includes a matrix tray platform, which includes a pan for receiving a component, and an adjustment mechanism connected to the pan. The adjustment mechanism is activatable to move the pan from a first position to a second position while maintaining a surface of the pan in one of an infinite number of substantially parallel planes. A position indicator is positionable adjacent to the surface of the pan, and includes an arrangement for indicating when the component is in a desired position during the activation of the adjustment mechanism.
Review of New World Aegialiini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), with descriptions of two new genera from South America.

TwonewtaxaofAegialiini(Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Aphodiinae)aredescribedfromSouthAmerica: Argeremazus neuquen Stebnicka and Dellacasa, n.gen, n.sp, and Amerisaprus valdivia Stebnicka and Skelley, n.gen,n.sp. Bothgeneraarepresentlymonotypic.DiscussiononthegenericstatusofCaeliusLewisispresented. A key to genera and checklist of aegialiine taxa occurring in the New World are presented.
Is Federer Stronger in a Tournament Without Nadal? An Evaluation of Odds and Seedings for Wimbledon 2009

Wimbledon is one of the most popular annual sports tournament. In the Gentlemen's Single 2009 the top seeded and defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from the tournament due to injury days prior to the tournament. Here, we try to analyze the effects of Nadal's withdrawal especially on the ability/strength of the main competitor Roger Federer by using bookmakers expectancies to estimate the unknown abilities of the players and compare them for two different odds sets. The comparison shows that the bookmakers did not incorporate Nadal's withdrawal adequately, assigning too high expected winning probabilities to Federer and Murray.
Accuracy vs. comprehensibility in data mining models

This paper addresses the important issue of the tradeoff between accuracy and comprehensibility in data mining. The paper presents results which show that it is, to some extent, possible to bridge this gap. A method for rule extraction from opaque models (Genetic Rule EXtraction – G-REX) is used to show the effects on accuracy when forcing the creation of comprehensible representations. In addition the technique of combining different classifiers to an ensemble is demonstrated on some well-known data sets. The results show that ensembles generally have very high accuracy, thus making them a good first choice when performing predictive data mining.
Reliability of a rapid hematology stain for sputum cytology*

Objective: To determine the reliability of a rapid hematology stain for the cytological analysis of induced sputum samples. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comparing the standard technique (May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain) with a rapid hematology stain (Diff-Quik). Of the 50 subjects included in the study, 21 had asthma, 19 had COPD, and 10 were healthy (controls). From the induced sputum samples collected, we prepared four slides: two were stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa, and two were stained with Diff-Quik. The slides were read independently by two trained researchers blinded to the identification of the slides. The reliability for cell counting using the two techniques was evaluated by determining the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intraobserver and interobserver agreement. Agreement in the identification of neutrophilic and eosinophilic sputum between the observers and between the stains was evaluated with kappa statistics. Results: In our comparison of the two staining techniques, the ICCs indicated almost perfect interobserver agreement for neutrophil, eosinophil, and macrophage counts (ICC: 0.98-1.00), as well as substantial agreement for lymphocyte counts (ICC: 0.76-0.83). Intraobserver agreement was almost perfect for neutrophil, eosinophil, and macrophage counts (ICC: 0.96-0.99), whereas it was moderate to substantial for lymphocyte counts (ICC = 0.65 and 0.75 for the two observers, respectively). Interobserver agreement for the identification of eosinophilic and neutrophilic sputum using the two techniques ranged from substantial to almost perfect (kappa range: 0.91-1.00). Conclusions: The use of Diff-Quik can be considered a reliable alternative for the processing of sputum samples.
Differential expression of two glial glutamate transporters in the rat brain: quantitative and immunocytochemical observations

Glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in brain, is almost exclusively intracellular due to the action of the glutamate transporters in the plasma membranes. To study the localization and properties of these proteins, we have raised antibodies specifically recognizing parts of the sequences of two cloned rat glutamate transporters, GLT-1 (Pines et al., 1992) and GLAST (Storck et al., 1992). On immunoblots the antibodies against GLT-1 label a broad heterogeneous band with maximum density at around 73 kDa, while the antibody against GLAST labels a similarly broad band at around 66 kDa in the cerebellum and a few kilodaltons lower in other brain regions. GLT-1 is expressed at the highest concentrations in the hippocampus, lateral septum, cerebral cortex, and striatum, while GLAST is preferentially expressed in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. However, both transporters are present throughout the brain, and have roughly parallel distributions in the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem. Preembedding light and electron microscopical immunocytochemistry shows that both GLT-1 and GLAST are restricted to astrocytes, which appear to express both proteins concomitantly, but in different proportions in different parts of the brain. Nerve terminal labeling was not observed. Both the amino and carboxyl terminals of GLT- 1 and GLAST are located intracellularly, indicating an even number of transmembrane segments. Antibodies against a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acid residues 2–11 of the proposed sequence of GLT-1 recognize the native rat brain GLT-1 protein, confirming that the translation initiation site is at the first ATG.
Subpopulation-Wise Conditional Correlation Modeling and Analysis

Correlation analysis is frequently used in analyzing interdependence among variables in practical applications. However, traditional correlation analysis is overly simplistic – it limits itself to examining correlation relationships over the entire underlying data space all together. Hence it may miss strong correlations that exist locally in subpopulations. This is not satisfactory for high dimensional and fast evolving Big Data which often contains heterogeneous subpopulations. This paper introduces the subpopulation correlation analysis (SCA) approach. Specifically, the concepts of subpopulation-wise correlations (SCRs) are introduced to capture unusual correlations in subpopulations. The paper uses simple patterns as logical definitions for subpopulations, which makes the SCRs more robust and allows SCRs to be applied conditionally to data instances satisfying their patterns as conditions. Moreover, the paper discusses how to mine such SCRs, provides measures on the unusualness of SCRs, and introduces a population correlation heterogeneity index to measure the richness and diversity of SCRs in applications. It uses experiments to evaluate and illustrate the SCA approach and SCRs, which show that strong SCRs can be found while the global correlation is very weak. The paper uses SCRs to illustrate the challenges and opportunities, as well as possible new knowledge types and models, for Big Data analysis.
Optimal Listing of Cycles and st-Paths in Undirected Graphs

The classical problem of efficiently listing all the simple cycles in a graph has been studied since the early 70s. For a graph with n vertices and m edges, containing η cycles, the most efficient solution was presented by Johnson [SIAM J. Computing, 1975] and takes O((η + 1)(m + n)) time. This solution is not optimal for undirected graphs: nevertheless, no theoretical improvements have been proposed in the past decades. We present the first optimal solution to list all the simple cycles in an undirected graph G. Specifically, let C(G) denote the set of all these cycles (|C(G)| = η). For a cycle c e C(G), let |c| denote the number of edges in c. Our algorithm requires
A group-theoretic approach to fast matrix multiplication

We develop a new, group-theoretic approach to bounding the exponent of matrix multiplication. There are two components to this approach: (1) identifying groups G that admit a certain type of embedding of matrix multiplication into the group algebra /spl Copf/[G], and (2) controlling the dimensions of the irreducible representations of such groups. We present machinery and examples to support (1), including a proof that certain families of groups of order n/sup 2+o(1)/ support n /spl times/ n matrix multiplication, a necessary condition for the approach to yield exponent 2. Although we cannot yet completely achieve both (1) and (2), we hope that it may be possible, and we suggest potential routes to that result using the constructions in this paper.
Convergence Time Evaluation of Algorithms in MANETs

Since the advent of wireless communication, the need for mobile ad hoc networks has been growing exponentially. This has opened up a Pandoras Box of algorithms for dealing with mobile ad hoc networks, or MANETs, as they are generally referred to. Most attempts made at evaluating these algorithms so far have focused on parameters such as throughput, packet delivery ratio, overhead etc. An analysis of the convergence times of these algorithms is still an open issue. The work carried out fills this gap by evaluating the algorithms on the basis of convergence time. Algorithms for MANETs can be classified into three categories: reactive, proactive, and hybrid protocols. In this project, we compare the convergence times of representative algorithms in each category, namely Ad hoc On Demand Distance Vector (AODV) reactive, Destination Sequence Distance Vector protocol (DSDV) proactive, and Temporally Ordered Routing Algorithm (TORA) hybrid. The algorithm performances are compared by simulating them in ns2. Tcl is used to conduct the simulations, while perl is used to extract data from the simulation output and calculate convergence time. The design of the experiments carried on is documented using Unified modeling Language. Also, a user interface is created using perl, which enables the user to either run a desired simulation and measure convergence time, or measure the convergence time of a simulation that has been run earlier.
An automated system for semantic object labeling with soft object recognition and dynamic programming segmentation

This paper presents an automated system for generating a semantic map of inventory in a retail environment. Developing this map involves assigning a department label to each discrete section of shelving. We use a priori information to boost data from laser and camera sensors for object recognition and semantic labeling. We introduce a soft object map and a dynamic programming algorithm for point cloud segmentation. The primary contribution of this work is the integration of multiple systems including an automated path planning and navigation subsystem and a semantic mapping object recognition system. This work also represents an important contribution to robots working reliably in human environments. To our knowledge this is the first actual implementation of a fully automated robot inventory labeling system for a retail environment. The framework presented in this paper is easily scalable to other retail environments and is also relevant in any indoor environment with organized shelves, such as business storage facilities and hospital pharmacies.
Chromosomal abnormalities in infertile men and preimplantation embryos

Sinds 1979 is bekend dat mannen met verminderde zaadkwaliteit vaker chromosoomafwijkingen hebben. Toen het in 1992 mogelijk werd om met IVF-ICSI zwangerschappen te bewerkstelligen met zaad van verminderd vruchtbare mannen dacht men dat dit het aantal kinderen met aangeboren afwijkingen zou doen toenemen. Om die reden werd het in de landelijke richtlijn verplicht een chromosoomanalyse uit te voeren bij alle mannen die voor ICSI in aanmerking kwamen. Er werden echter maar weinig chromosoomafwijkingen in deze groep mannen gevonden, terwijl de analyse duur en tijdrovend is. Wij onderzochten bij welke groep onvruchtbare mannen de hoogste kans bestaat op het vinden van chromosoomafwijkingen en bij welke mannen chromosomenonderzoek achterwege gelaten kan worden. Pre-implantatie genetische diagnostiek (PGD) wordt toegepast bij paren die een verhoogde kans hebben op een embryo met een genetische afwijking. Alleen niet-aangedane embryo’s worden gebruikt om een zwangerschap te bewerkstelligen. De analyse gebeurt op 1 cel van een embryo. Hierbij wordt er van uitgegaan dat alle cellen van het embryo dezelfde genetische samenstelling hebben. Dit is niet zo bij chromosomaal mozaicisme. Mogelijk staat het optreden van dit fenomeen onder invloed van omstandigheden in het laboratorium tijdens het kweken van de embryo’s. Wij onderzochten of de zuurstofspanning tijdens het kweken van invloed is op de mate van mozaicisme. Bij dragerschap van bepaalde chromosoomveranderingen, de zogenaamde reciproke translocaties, is de kans op embryo’s met een afwijkend chromosomenpatroon bij PGD vaak opvallend hoog. Wij onderzochten of bepaalde kenmerken van deze translocaties zouden kunnen voorspellen wat de kans is op een succesvolle PGD-procedure.
Profile Monitoring via Linear Mixed Models

Profile monitoring is a relatively new technique in quality control used when the product or process quality is best represented by a profile (or a curve) at each time period. The essential idea is often to model the profile via some parametric method and then monitor the estimated parameters over time to determine if there have been changes in the profiles. Previous modeling methods have not incorporated the correlation structure within the profiles. We propose the use of linear mixed models to monitor the linear profiles in order to account for the correlation structure within a profile. We consider various data scenarios and show using simulation when the linear mixed model approach is preferable to an approach that ignores the correlation structure. Our focus is on Phase I control chart applications.
Effects of halothane anesthesia on patients with abnormal liver function tests

This study done randomly in Basrah General Hospital during the period between March to December 2006, Forty five patients (age range 6 -75 years), (21) 46.8% males and 24 (53.2%) females, for evaluating of the safety and laboratory data for halothane anesthesia, all of them presented with mild abnormal liver functions during routine investigations to elective surgeries under general anesthesia (the common use of halothane known to cause hepatotoxicity). Five milliliters from venous blood were taken before the operation then immediately after the operation, and on the first and third day postoperatively. Blood was tested for serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin, using appropriate kits. Twenty two (48.89%) had repeated exposure to halothane by underwent previous surgeries, and 23 (51.11%) are newly exposed to halothane. No significance change had been observed in relation to the gender of the patients for all parameters. None of the patients showed severe changes in each type of the parameters when analyzed individually (more than 3 times their upper normal limits). We conclude that laboratory values immediately after surgical operations and for 3 days later have no trend for a major derangement in the patients with abnormal liver functions.
Impact of Inherited Prothrombotic Disorders on the Long-Term Clinical Outcome of Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in Patients with Diabetes

The aim of our study was to analyse inherited thrombotic disorders that influence the long-term outcome of PTA. Methods. Diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) treated by PTA in our centre between 2008 and 2011 were included in the study. Patients were divided into unsuccessful PTA group (75 patients), successful PTA group (58 patients), and control group (65 patients, with diabetes but no PAD). Diagnosis of inherited thrombotic disorders included mutation in factor V (Leiden), factor II (prothrombin), and mutation in genes for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase—MTHFR (C677T and A1298C). Results. The genotypic frequency of Leiden allele G1691A was significantly associated with a risk of unsuccessful PTA in comparison with successful PTA group and control group (OR 8.8 (1.1–70.6), p = 0.041, and OR 9.8 (1.2–79.2), p = 0.032, resp. ). However, we only observed a trend for the association of the prothrombin allele G20210A and risk of PTA failure. The frequencies of alleles of MTHFR 677 or 1298 did not differ significantly among the groups. Conclusion. Our study showed higher frequency of heterozygous form of Leiden mutation in diabetic patients with unsuccessful outcome of PTA in comparison with patients with successful PTA and diabetic patients without PAD.
Mode and Lasing Characteristics for Hybrid Square-Rectangular Lasers

Whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microlasers are potential light sources for monolithic photonic integration circuits and optical interconnects. In this study, stable single-mode hybrid square-rectangular lasers (HSRLs) are reported, based on mode coupling between WGM and Fabry–Pérot (FP) modes. Mode selection mechanisms are explained based on numerical results of the resonant reflection of the square microcavity and energy distributions of coupled mode in the two cavities, and the reduction of effective linewidth enhancement factor is expected as two cavities are modulated individually. HSRLs with different sizes are fabricated by contact photolithography and dry-etching techniques. For a hybrid laser with a square-side length <italic>a</italic> = 15 μm and the FP cavity length and width of <italic>L</italic> = 300 μm and <italic>d</italic> = 2 μm, stable single-mode operation with a side-mode suppression ratio up to 47 dB is obtained, and a small-signal modulation bandwidth of 13.3 GHz is realized by modulating the current of the FP cavity. The dynamic characteristics are further investigated for the hybrid laser. Furthermore, threshold currents and tunable behaviors are compared for HSRLs with <italic>a </italic> = 10, 15, and 20 μm and <italic>d</italic> = 1.5 and 2 μm.