Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utility and quality-adjusted life-years in coronary artery disease

Objectives: This study evaluated the utility and quality-of-life year measurements for patients with coronary artery disease who underwent any of 3 therapeutic strategies with a 5-year follow-up. Methods: Quality-of-life data were obtained from the Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study II trial. To obtain utilities, the 36-Item Short-Form questionnaire was converted to a 6-Dimensional Health State Classification System. Results: Of the 611 initial patients, 579 completed the questionnaire. In all, 188 patients received the surgical treatment—194 the percutaneous, and the remaining 197 the medical. The median utility scores for the 5 years analyzed were 0.809 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.794–0.842) for patients assigned to percutaneous coronary intervention, 0.755 (95% CI 0.723–0.774) for medical treatment, and 0.780 (95% CI 0.761–0.809) for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The difference between percutaneous coronary intervention and medical treatment was statistically significant (P < .05, Dunn test). The median cumulative quality-of-life years across the 5 years were 3.802 (95% CI 3.668–3.936) for percutaneous, 3.540 (95% CI 3.399–3.681) for medical, and 3.764 (95% CI 3.638–3.890) for surgery. Additionally, the median quality-of-life years between percutaneous and medical treatment was 0.262 (95% CI 0.068–0.456), between surgery and medical treatment it was 0.224 (95% CI 0.036–0.413), and between surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention it was −0.038 (95% CI −0.221 to −0.146). Conclusion: Coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention were similar regarding cumulative quality-of-life years; however, they were both superior to that of medical treatment. The results presented are valuable data for further cost-utility studies.
Improvement in Power Transmission Capacity by Simultaneous AC-DC Transmission

---------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT------------------------------------------------------Now days in power transmission systems mainly the high voltage three phase AC or HVDC transmission lines for greater efficiency at very long distances are used. In this paper, we have to show the scheme of AC and DC power transmission system which can be developed by converting double circuit ac line into composite AC and DC power transmission line and also comparing simulation results with the simple EHVAC transmission system and HVDC transmission system having six pulses PWM generator. The main object of thesis is to show that by superimposing DC in AC transmission, the capacity of the transmission line can be increased by nearly 70 % of that if only AC is transmitted. In our existing transmission system, long extra high voltage (EHV) AC lines cannot be loaded to their thermal limits in order to keep sufficient margin against transient instability. With the scheme proposed in this project, it is possible to load these lines close to their thermal limits. The conductors are allowed to carry usual ac along with dc superimposed on it, without altering the original line conductors, tower structures, and insulator strings has been presented.
Parameterized Approximation Schemes for Steiner Trees with Small Number of Steiner Vertices

We study the Steiner Tree problem, in which a set of terminal vertices needs to be connected in the cheapest possible way in an edge-weighted graph. This problem has been extensively studied from the viewpoint of approximation and also parameterization. In particular, on one hand Steiner Tree is known to be APX-hard, and W[2]-hard on the other, if parameterized by the number of non-terminals (Steiner vertices) in the optimum solution. In contrast to this we give an efficient parameterized approximation scheme (EPAS), which circumvents both hardness results. Moreover, our methods imply the existence of a polynomial size approximate kernelization scheme (PSAKS) for the assumed parameter. We further study the parameterized approximability of other variants of Steiner Tree, such as Directed Steiner Tree and Steiner Forest. For neither of these an EPAS is likely to exist for the studied parameter: for Steiner Forest an easy observation shows that the problem is APX-hard, even if the input graph contains no Steiner vertices. For Directed Steiner Tree we prove that computing a constant approximation for this parameter is W[1]-hard. Nevertheless, we show that an EPAS exists for Unweighted Directed Steiner Tree. Also we prove that there is an EPAS and a PSAKS for Steiner Forest if in addition to the number of Steiner vertices, the number of connected components of an optimal solution is considered to be a parameter.
Design and implementation of a microgrid controller for bumpless transitions between grid-connected and island operation

The transition between a grid-connected and an islanded microgrid has been examined in this paper with particular emphasis on bumpless transition between these two modes so that the power delivery to the load can be maintained. The proposed control strategy is composed of a voltage controller and a current controller. The roles of these controllers are examined to achieve a bumpless transition through coordination. The developed scheme has been validated through extensive simulation studies. Finally, a physical experimental microgrid with a 1.2 kW fuel cell power module is constructed to validate the performance of the proposed scheme in a physical environment. A grid connection interface has been designed and constructed to allow the microgrid to be connected to the utility grid (university campus grid). Experimental studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in achieving bumpless transitions between the grid-connected and the islanded modes of operation under a variety of conditions.
Bayesian variable selection for post‐analytic interrogation of susceptibility loci

Understanding the complex interplay among protein coding genes and regulatory elements requires rigorous interrogation with analytic tools designed for discerning the relative contributions of overlapping genomic regions. To this aim, we offer a novel application of Bayesian variable selection (BVS) for classifying genomic class level associations using existing large meta‐analysis summary level resources. This approach is applied using the expectation maximization variable selection (EMVS) algorithm to typed and imputed SNPs across 502 protein coding genes (PCGs) and 220 long intergenic non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that overlap 45 known loci for coronary artery disease (CAD) using publicly available Global Lipids Gentics Consortium (GLGC) (Teslovich et al., 2010; Willer et al., 2013) meta‐analysis summary statistics for low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C). The analysis reveals 33 PCGs and three lncRNAs across 11 loci with > 50% posterior probabilities for inclusion in an additive model of association. The findings are consistent with previous reports, while providing some new insight into the architecture of LDL‐cholesterol to be investigated further. As genomic taxonomies continue to evolve, additional classes such as enhancer elements and splicing regions, can easily be layered into the proposed analysis framework. Moreover, application of this approach to alternative publicly available meta‐analysis resources, or more generally as a post‐analytic strategy to further interrogate regions that are identified through single point analysis, is straightforward. All coding examples are implemented in R version 3.2. 1 and provided as supplemental material.
Thread reinforcer: Dynamically determining number of threads via OS level monitoring

It is often assumed that to maximize the performance of a multithreaded application, the number of threads created should equal the number of cores. While this may be true for systems with four or eight cores, this is not true for systems with larger number of cores. Our experiments with PARSEC programs on a 24-core machine demonstrate this. Therefore, dynamically determining the appropriate number of threads for a multithreaded application is an important unsolved problem. In this paper we develop a simple technique for dynamically determining appropriate number of threads without recompiling the application or using complex compilation techniques or modifying Operating System policies. We first present a scalability study of eight programs from PARSEC conducted on a 24 core Dell PowerEdge R905 server running OpenSolaris.2009. 06 for numbers of threads ranging from a few threads to 128 threads. Our study shows that not only does the maximum speedup achieved by these programs vary widely (from 3.6x to 21.9x), the number of threads that produce maximum speedups also vary widely (from 16 to 63 threads). By understanding the overall speedup behavior of these programs we identify the critical Operating System level factors that explain why the speedups vary with the number of threads. As an application of these observations, we develop a framework called “Thread Reinforcer” that dynamically monitors program's execution to search for the number of threads that are likely to yield best speedups. Thread Reinforcer identifies optimal or near optimal number of threads for most of the PARSEC programs studied and as well as for SPEC OMP and PBZIP2 programs.
Acid–base regulation in the air-breathing swamp eel (Monopterus albus) at different temperatures

ABSTRACT Vertebrates reduce arterial blood pH (pHa) when body temperature increases. In water breathers, this response occurs primarily by reducing plasma HCO3− levels with small changes in the partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2). In contrast, air breathers mediate the decrease in pHa by increasing arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) at constant plasma HCO3− by reducing lung ventilation relative to metabolic CO2 production. Much less is known about bimodal breathers, which utilize both water and air. Here, we characterized the influence of temperature on arterial acid–base balance and intracellular pH (pHi) in the bimodal-breathing swamp eel, Monopterus albus. This teleost uses the buccopharyngeal cavity for gas exchange and has very reduced gills. When exposed to ecologically relevant temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35°C) for 24 and 48 h, pHa decreased by −0.025 pH units (U) °C−1 in association with an increase in PaCO2, but without changes in plasma [HCO3−]. pHi was also reduced with increased temperature. The slope of pHi of liver and muscle was −0.014 and −0.019 U °C−1, while the heart muscle showed a smaller reduction (−0.008 U °C−1). When exposed to hypercapnia (7 or 14 mmHg) at either 25 or 35°C, M. albus elevated plasma [HCO3−] and therefore seemed to defend the new pHa set-point, demonstrating an adjusted control of acid–base balance with temperature. Overall, the effects of temperature on acid–base balance in M. albus resemble those in air-breathing amniotes, and we discuss the possibility that this pattern of acid–base balance results from a progressive transition in CO2 excretion from water to air as temperature rises. Summary: The air-breathing fish Monopterus albus reduces blood and tissue pH by increasing PCO2 with elevated temperature, similar to tetrapods.
Edoxaban drug–drug interactions with ketoconazole, erythromycin, and cyclosporine

Aims Edoxaban, a novel factor Xa inhibitor, is a substrate of cytochrome P450 3 A4 (CYP3A4) and the efflux transporter P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp). Three edoxaban drug–drug interaction studies examined the effects of P‐gp inhibitors with varying degrees of CYP3A4 inhibition. Methods In each study, healthy subjects received a single oral dose of 60 mg edoxaban with or without an oral dual P‐gp/CYP3A4 inhibitor as follows: ketoconazole 400 mg once daily for 7 days, edoxaban on day 4; erythromycin 500 mg four times daily for 8 days, edoxaban on day 7; or single dose of cyclosporine 500 mg with edoxaban. Serial plasma samples were obtained for pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Safety was assessed throughout the study. Results Coadministration of ketoconazole, erythromycin, or cyclosporine increased edoxaban total exposure by 87%, 85%, and 73%, respectively, and the peak concentration by 89%, 68%, and 74%, respectively, compared with edoxaban alone. The half‐life did not change appreciably. Exposure of M4, the major active edoxaban metabolite, was consistent when edoxaban was administered alone or with ketoconazole and erythromycin. With cyclosporine, M4 total exposure increased by 6.9‐fold and peak exposure by 8.7‐fold, suggesting an additional interaction. Pharmacodynamic effects were reflective of increased edoxaban exposure. No clinically significant adverse events were observed. Conclusions Administration of dual inhibitors of P‐gp and CYP3A4 increased edoxaban exposure by less than two‐fold. This effect appears to be primarily due to inhibition of P‐gp. The impact of CYP3A4 inhibition appears to be less pronounced, and its contribution to total clearance appears limited in healthy subjects.
High risk of post‐infectious irritable bowel syndrome in patients with Clostridium difficile infection

Infectious enteritis is a commonly identified risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is on the rise. However, there is limited information on post‐infectious IBS (PI‐IBS) development following CDI and the host‐ and infection‐related risk factors are not known.
Cross‐country skiing is associated with lower all‐cause mortality: A population‐based follow‐up study

The prospective relationship between leisure‐time cross‐country skiing and any fatal events is uncertain. We aimed to assess the associations of leisure‐time cross‐country skiing habits with the risk of all‐cause mortality in a general population. A 12‐month physical activity questionnaire was used at baseline to assess the frequency, average duration, and intensity of cross‐country skiing in a prospective population‐based cohort of 2087 middle‐aged men from eastern Finland. Hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals) were calculated for all‐cause mortality. During a median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 26.1 (18.7‐28.0) years, 1028 all‐cause mortality outcomes were recorded. In analyses adjusted for several established risk factors and other potential confounders, when compared to men who did not do any cross‐country skiing, the HRs (95% CIs) of all‐cause mortality were 0.84 (0.73‐0.97) and 0.80 (0.67‐0.96) for men who did 1‐200 and >200 metabolic equivalent‐hours per year of cross‐country skiing, respectively. Similarly, compared to men who did not do any cross‐country skiing, the corresponding adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for all‐cause mortality were 0.84 (0.72‐0.97) and 0.82 (0.69‐0.97) for men who did 1‐60 min/wk and >60 min/wk of cross‐country skiing, respectively. The associations were similar across several subgroups, except for evidence of effect modification by body mass index and history of diabetes. Total volume as well as duration of leisure‐time cross‐country skiing is each inversely and independently associated with all‐cause mortality in a middle‐aged Caucasian male population.
Airborne Detection of H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Genome in Poultry Farms, France

In southwestern France, during the winter of 2016–2017, the rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 outbreaks despite the implementation of routine control measures, raised the question about the potential role of airborne transmission in viral spread. As a first step to investigate the plausibility of that transmission, air samples were collected inside, outside and downwind from infected duck and chicken facilities. H5 avian influenza virus RNA was detected in all samples collected inside poultry houses, at external exhaust fans and at 5 m distance from poultry houses. For three of the five flocks studied, in the sample collected at 50–110 m distance, viral genomic RNA was detected. The measured viral air concentrations ranged between 4.3 and 6.4 log10 RNA copies per m3, and their geometric mean decreased from external exhaust fans to the downwind measurement point. These findings are in accordance with the possibility of airborne transmission and question the procedures for outbreak depopulation.
Cladogenesis and Genomic Streamlining in Extracellular Endosymbionts of Tropical Stink Bugs

Abstract Phytophagous stink bugs are globally distributed and many harbor vertically inherited bacterial symbionts that are extracellular, yet little is known about how the symbiont’s genomes have evolved under this transmission strategy. Genome reduction is common in insect intracellular symbionts but limited genome sampling of the extracellular symbionts of distantly related stink bugs has precluded inferring patterns of extracellular symbiont genome evolution. To address this knowledge gap, we completely sequenced the genomes of the uncultivable bacterial symbionts of four neotropical stink bugs of the Edessa genus. Phylogenetic and comparative analyses indicated that the symbionts form a clade within the Pantoea genus and their genomes are highly reduced (∼0.8 Mb). Furthermore, genome synteny analysis and a jackknife approach for phylogenetic reconstruction, which corrected for long branch attraction artifacts, indicated that the Edessa symbionts were the result of a single symbiotic event that was distinct from the symbiosis event giving rise to Candidatus “Pantoea carbekii,” the extracellular symbiont of the invasive pentatomid stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Metabolic functions inferred from the Edessa symbiont genomes suggests a shift in genomic composition characteristic of its lifestyle in that they retained many host-supportive functions while undergoing dramatic gene loss and establishing a stable relationship with their host insects. Given the undersampled nature of extracellular insect symbionts, this study is the first comparative analysis of these symbiont genomes from four distinct Edessa stink bug species. Finally, we propose the candidate name “Candidatus Pantoea edessiphila” for the species of these symbionts with strain designations according to their host species.
Understanding avian egg cuticle formation in the oviduct: a study of its origin and deposition

Abstract The cuticle is a unique invisible oviduct secretion that protects avian eggs from bacterial penetration through gas exchange pores. Despite its importance, experimental evidence is lacking for where, when, and what is responsible for its deposition. By using knowledge about the ovulatory cycle and oviposition, we have manipulated cuticle deposition to obtain evidence on these key points. Cuticle deposition was measured using staining and spectrophotometry. Experimental evidence supports the location of cuticle deposition to be the shell gland pouch (uterus), not the vagina, and the time of deposition to be within the final hour before oviposition. Oviposition induced by arginine vasotocin or prostaglandin, the penultimate and ultimate factors for the induction of oviposition, produces an egg with no cuticle; therefore, these factors are not responsible for cuticle secretion. Conversely, oviposition induced by GNRH, which mimics the normal events of ovulation and oviposition, results in a normal cuticle. There is no evidence that cuticle deposition differs at the end of a clutch and, therefore, there is no evidence that the ovulatory surge of progesterone affects cuticle deposition. Overall, the results demonstrate that the cuticle is a specific secretion and is not merely an extension of the organicmatrix of the shell. Cuticle deposition was found to be reduced by an environmental stressor, and there is no codependence of the deposition of pigment and cuticle. Defining the basic facts surrounding cuticle deposition will help reduce contamination of hen's eggs and increase understanding of the strategies birds use to protect their eggs. Summary Sentence The cuticle is an invisible but important defense against microbes entering avian eggs. Where and when in the oviduct it is deposited on the egg and what influences its deposition have been demonstrated in the paper.
Space vector modulated four-quadrant active current-source rectifier with DFT based power factor control for DC motor drive

In high-power applications, current-source rectifiers are still popular due to their simple topology, robustness and nearly sinusoidal grid current. They can be also operated with unity or variable power factor. In this way, the rectifier can serve as a power factor compensator. Beside this, they directly control load current which makes them sufficient for direct supply of DC motor. However, the significant disadvantage of the common CSR topology is that they are not able to change load current direction - they operate only in two quadrants. In this paper, three phase space vector modulated four quadrant active current-source rectifier with DFT based power factor control for dc motor drive is introduced. Developed control algorithm is widely described and its behavior verified by simulation study.
Formation and Reduction of Large Growth Pits on 100 mm 4° 4H-SiC

The large growth pits (LGPs) dependence of substrate quality, growth rate, and C/Si ratio have been discussed in the 4H-SiC epitaxial growth on 100 mm N-type 4H-SiC Si-face substrates misoriented by 4° toward [11-20] with a warm-wall planetary reactor. The formation and reduction of LGPs have been investigated by adjusting the growth process parameters. With the optimized process, the perfect surface morphology with lower LGPs density has been obtained on the high quality substrate.
Optical angular momentum and atoms

Any coherent interaction of light and atoms needs to conserve energy, linear momentum and angular momentum. What happens to an atom’s angular momentum if it encounters light that carries orbital angular momentum (OAM)? This is a particularly intriguing question as the angular momentum of atoms is quantized, incorporating the intrinsic spin angular momentum of the individual electrons as well as the OAM associated with their spatial distribution. In addition, a mechanical angular momentum can arise from the rotation of the entire atom, which for very cold atoms is also quantized. Atoms therefore allow us to probe and access the quantum properties of light’s OAM, aiding our fundamental understanding of light–matter interactions, and moreover, allowing us to construct OAM-based applications, including quantum memories, frequency converters for shaped light and OAM-based sensors. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Optical orbital angular momentum’.
Combining Global with Local Texture Information for Image Retrieval Applications

This paper proposes a new texture descriptor to guide the search and retrieval in image databases. It extracts rich information from global and local primitives of textured images. At a higher level, the global macro-features in textured images are characterized by exploiting the multiresolution properties of the Steerable Pyramid Decomposition. By doing this, the global texture configurations are highlighted. At a finer level, the local arrangements of texture micro-patterns are encoded by the Local Binary Pattern operator.Experiments were carried out on the standard Vistex dataset aiming to compare our descriptors against popular texture extraction methods with regard to their retrieval accuracies. The comparative evaluations allowed us to show the superior descriptive properties of our feature representation methods.