Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Minimizing the Perception of Chromatic Noise in Digital Images

A psychophysical experiment was performed to measure the visibility of chromatic noise. Through Principle Component Analysis (PCA) on the results of this experiment, an orthogonal color space with the luminance channel independent of chromatic channels was constructed. By transforming noise images into this space, the visibility of chromatic noise can be predicted. Comparison with other opponent color spaces illustrates their relative properties regarding cross-talk of chromatic noise into the luminance channel (or vice versa).
The role of the bronchial provocation challenge tests in the diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in elite swimmers

Background The International Olympic Committee–Medical Commission (IOC-MC) accepts a number of bronchial provocation tests for the diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in elite athletes, none of which have been studied in elite swimmers. With the suggestion of a different pathogenesis involved in the development of EIB in swimmers, there is a possibility that the recommended test for EIB in elite athletes, the eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH) challenge, may be missing the diagnosis in elite swimmers. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the EVH challenge, the field swim challenge and the laboratory cycle challenge in the diagnosis of EIB in elite swimmers. Design 33 elite swimmers were evaluated on separate days for the presence of EIB using 3 different bronchial provocation challenge tests: an 8 minute field swim challenge, a 6 minute laboratory EVH challenge, and an 8 minute laboratory cycle challenge. Main outcome measurements Change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) pre and post test protocol. A fall in FEV1 from baseline of ≥10% post challenge was diagnostic of EIB. Results Only 1 of the 33 subjects (3%) had a positive field swim challenge with a fall in FEV1 of 16% from baseline. 18 of the 33 subjects (55%) had a positive EVH challenge, with a mean fall in FEV1 of 20.4 (SD 11.7)% from baseline. 4 of the subjects (12%) had a positive laboratory cycle challenge, with a mean fall in FEV1 of 14.8 (4.7)% from baseline. Only 1 of the 33 subjects was positive to all 3 challenges. Conclusions These results suggest that the EVH challenge is a highly sensitive challenge for identifying EIB in elite swimmers, in contrast to the laboratory and field-based exercise challenge tests, which significantly underdiagnose the condition. The EVH challenge, a well-established and standardised test for EIB in elite winter and summer land-based athletes, should thus be used for the diagnosis of EIB in elite swimmers, as recommended by the IOC-MC.
Nine-Phase Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet Brushless Machine for Low-Speed and High-Torque Applications

In this paper, a 10 kW/500 r/min nine-phase flux-switching permanent magnet (FSPM) machine for wind power generation system is proposed, analyzed, and designed. First, different topologies with alternative stator slots and rotor poles combinations are compared. Then, both the split ratio and rotor pole width, which have major influences on electromagnetic performance, are optimized, whereas static characteristics, viz., the phase PM flux linkage and electromotive force, cogging torque, inductance, and electromagnetic torque, are predicted by 2-D finite-element analysis (FEA). In addition, the unbalance magnetic force is investigated. Finally, a prototype of a 10 kW 36-stator-slots/34-rotor-poles nine-phase FSPM generator is manufactured and the experimental tests is carried out to verify the theoretical analysis and FEA-based predictions.
Code compression for low power embedded system design

We propose instruction code compression as an efficient method for reducing power on an embedded system. Our approach is the first one to measure and optimize the power consumption of a complete SOC (System--On--a--Chip) comprising a CPU, instruction cache, data cache, main memory, data buses and address bus through code compression. We compare the pre-cache architecture (decompressor between main memory and cache) to a novel post-cache architecture (decompressor between cache and CPU). Our simulations and synthesis results show that our methodology results in large energy savings between 22% and 82% compared to the same system without code compression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that power savings come with reduced chip area and the same or even improved performance.
Preventability of Pregnancy-Related Deaths: Results of a State-Wide Review

OBJECTIVE: Although the risk of death from complications of pregnancy in the 20th century has decreased dramatically, several lines of evidence suggest that it has not reached an irreducible minimum. To further reduce pregnancy-related mortality, we must understand which deaths are potentially preventable and the changes needed to prevent them. We sought to identify all pregnancy-related deaths in North Carolina and conduct a comprehensive review examining ways in which the number of these deaths could potentially be reduced. METHODS: The North Carolina Pregnancy-Related Mortality Review Committee reviewed all of the 108 pregnancy-related deaths (women who died during or within 1 year of the end of pregnancy from a complication of pregnancy or its treatment) that occurred in the state in 1995–1999. For each death, the committee determined the cause of death, whether it could have been prevented, and if so, the means by which it might have been prevented. RESULTS: Although overall, 40% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable, this varied by the cause of death. Almost all deaths due to hemorrhage and complications of chronic diseases were believed to be potentially preventable, whereas none of the deaths due to amniotic fluid embolus, microangiopathic hemolytic syndrome, and cerebrovascular accident were considered preventable. Improved quality of medical care was considered to be the most important factor in preventing these deaths. Among African-American women, 46% of deaths were potentially preventable, compared with 33% of the deaths among white women. CONCLUSION: Despite the decline in pregnancy-related mortality rates, almost one half of these deaths could potentially be prevented, mainly through improved quality of medical care. In-depth review of pregnancy-related deaths can help determine strategies needed to continue making pregnancy safer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Linear Hopfield networks and constrained optimization

It is shown that a Hopfield neural network (with linear transfer functions) augmented by an additional feedforward layer can be used to compute the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse of a matrix. The resultant augmented linear Hopfield network can be used to solve an arbitrary set of linear equations or, alternatively, to solve a constrained least squares optimization problem. Applications in signal processing and robotics are considered. In the former case the augmented linear Hopfield network is used to estimate the "structured noise" component of a signal and adjust the parameters of an appropriate filter on-line, whereas in the latter case it is used to implement an on-line solution to the inverse kinematics problem.
Improved K-Modes for Categorical Clustering Using Weighted Dissimilarity Measure

—K-Modes is an extension of K-Means clustering algo-rithm, developed to cluster the categorical data, where the mean is replaced by the mode. The similarity measure proposed by Huang is the simple matching or mismatching measure. Weight of attribute values contribute much in clustering; thus in this paper we propose a new weighted dissimilarity measure for K-Modes, based on the ratio of frequency of attribute values in the cluster and in the data set. The new weighted measure is experimented with the data sets obtained from the UCI data repository. The results are compared with K-Modes and K-representative, which show that the new measure generates clusters with high purity.
Flow Resistance Interactions on Hillslopes With Heterogeneous Attributes: Effects on Runoff Hydrograph Characteristics

An improved modeling framework for capturing the effects of space and time‐variant resistance to overland flow is developed for intensively managed landscapes. The framework builds on the WEPP model but it removes the limitations of the “equivalent” plane and time‐invariant roughness assumption. The enhanced model therefore accounts for spatiotemporal changes in flow resistance along a hillslope due to changes in roughness, in profile curvature, and downslope variability. The model is used to quantify the degree of influence—from individual soil grains to aggregates, “isolated roughness elements,” and vegetation—on overland flow characteristics under different storm magnitudes, downslope gradients, and profile curvatures. It was found that the net effects of land use change from vegetation to a bare surface resulted in hydrograph peaks that were up to 133% larger. Changes in hillslope profile curvature instead resulted in peak runoff rate changes that were only up to 16%. The stream power concept is utilized to develop a taxonomy that relates the influence of grains, isolated roughness elements, and vegetation, on overland flow under different storm magnitudes and hillslope gradients. Critical storm magnitudes and hillslope gradients were found beyond which the effects of these landscape attributes on the peak stream power were negligible. The results also highlight weaknesses of the space/time‐invariant flow resistance assumption and demonstrate that assumptions on landscape terrain characteristics exert a strong control both on the shape and magnitude of hydrographs, with deviations reaching 65% in the peak runoff when space/time‐variant resistance effects are ignored in some cases.
2007 European Simulation and Modeling Conference Variance Reduction's Greatest Hits

Monte Carlo simulation is an incredibly versatile tool for studying complex stochastic systems. By replicating the simulation several times independently, one can in principle estimate performances measures of the system to arbitrary accuracy. Decisions and operating rules can also be optimized via simulation. A major drawback, however, is that the method converges very slowly and often requires an excessive amount of computing time. Efficiency improvement methods provide ways of either reducing the required computing time for a given target accuracy, or of obtaining an estimator with better accuracy for a given computational budget. Variance reduction is the primary way of improving efficiency. Key ideas for variance reduction were already introduced in the early days of the Monte Carlo method, in the late forties, at Los Alamos. Since then, enormous progress has been made in our understanding of these methods. This paper is a guided tour of five different methods that can make a huge difference in the accuracy of simulation estimators. They can reduce the variance (or improve the efficiency) by an arbitrary large factor. In some situations, this type of efficiency improvement is essential for the simulation approach to be viable. We discuss common random numbers and their synchronization for comparing similar systems, for derivative estimation, and for optimization, importance sampling for rare-event simulation, exploiting auxiliary information via control variates, smoothing esti-mators via conditional Monte Carlo, and reducing the noise via generalized antithetic variates or quasi-Monte Carlo. We give examples where a clever use of these methods can make a huge difference in the required computing time for a given target accuracy.
A taxonomy of 2D and 3D face recognition methods

This paper presents an evaluation of the state-of-the-art face recognition using 2D, 3D and multimodal imagery methods. The twofold motivations are: (i) to provide the insight studies of automatic face recognition of 2D and 3D face imagery methods and (ii) to critically review the exiting 2D and 3D face recognition methods. Research trends to date are summarized, and challenges confronting the development of more accurate face recognition systems are identified. These challenges include the face recognition under unconstrained environment, such as variation in illumination, pose, facial expression, occlusion, and time delay.
Relation of phasic coronary flow velocity characteristics with TIMI perfusion grade and myocardial recovery after primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and rescue stenting.

BACKGROUND A residual stenosis and/or microvascular damage have been proposed as mechanisms of TIMI 2 flow for acute myocardial infarction. Coronary flow dynamics were assessed in patients with TIMI 2 flow to predict whether additional intervention would improve TIMI grade. METHODS AND RESULTS In 35 patients who had a successfully recanalized anterior acute myocardial infarction using angioplasty or rescue stenting, coronary flow patterns were compared with corresponding TIMI grade and regional left ventricular wall motion (LVWM) 1 month after the intervention. After angioplasty, the time-averaged peak velocity (APV) was lower in patients with TIMI 2 flow (n=22) than in those with TIMI 3 flow (n=13; 7.9+/-3.9 versus 20.6+/-5.1 cm/s; P<0.001). Two different flow patterns were recorded in patients with TIMI 2 flow (versus TIMI 3, P<0.001); patients with type 1 TIMI 2 flow (n=15) had a reduced diastolic APV (8.3+/-4.8 versus 24.2+/-7.4 cm/s), prolonged diastolic deceleration time (1176+/-455 versus 728+/-205 ms), and a small diastolic/systolic APV ratio (1.3+/-0.6 versus 2.1+/-0.7); patients with type 2 TIMI 2 flow (n=7) had systolic flow reversal (systolic APV, -7.9+/-4.6 versus 11. 7+/-4.5 cm/s), a rapid diastolic deceleration time (221+/-84 versus 728+/-205 ms), and a negative diastolic/systolic APV ratio (-2.1+/-1. 4 versus 2.1+/-0.7). A significantly lower mean chord LVWM (-3.0+/-0. 2 versus -1.9+/-0.8; P<0.001) and a greater number of chords <-2SD (50+/-2 versus 28+/-18; P<0.001) were present in patients with type 2 versus type 1 TIMI 2 flow. Stenting increased TIMI 2 flow to TIMI 3 flow more in patients with type 1 than type 2 flow (67% versus 0%; P=0.003). Patients with TIMI 2 flow after stenting continued to demonstrate a type 2 pattern, and they had poor LVWM recovery. CONCLUSIONS The differentiation between 2 types of TIMI 2 flow can predict the improvement of TIMI grade and LVWM recovery after additional stenting.
Quasispecies Made Simple

Quasispecies are clouds of genotypes that appear in a population at mutation–selection balance. This concept has recently attracted the attention of virologists, because many RNA viruses appear to generate high levels of genetic variation that may enhance the evolution of drug resistance and immune escape. The literature on these important evolutionary processes is, however, quite challenging. Here we use simple models to link mutation–selection balance theory to the most novel property of quasispecies: the error threshold—a mutation rate below which populations equilibrate in a traditional mutation–selection balance and above which the population experiences an error catastrophe, that is, the loss of the favored genotype through frequent deleterious mutations. These models show that a single fitness landscape may contain multiple, hierarchically organized error thresholds and that an error threshold is affected by the extent of back mutation and redundancy in the genotype-to-phenotype map. Importantly, an error threshold is distinct from an extinction threshold, which is the complete loss of the population through lethal mutations. Based on this framework, we argue that the lethal mutagenesis of a viral infection by mutation-inducing drugs is not a true error catastophe, but is an extinction catastrophe.
The Temperature Sensitivity (Q10) of Soil Respiration: Controlling Factors and Spatial Prediction at Regional Scale Based on Environmental Soil Classes

The temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic soil respiration is crucial for modeling carbon dynamics but it is variable. Presently, however, most models employ a fixed value of 1.5 or 2.0 for the increase of soil respiration per 10°C increase in temperature (Q10). Here we identified the variability of Q10 at a regional scale (Rur catchment, Germany/Belgium/Netherlands). We divided the study catchment into environmental soil classes (ESCs), which we define as unique combinations of land use, aggregated soil groups, and texture. We took nine soil samples from each ESC (108 samples) and incubated them at four soil moisture levels and five temperatures (5–25°C). We hypothesized that Q10 variability is controlled by soil organic carbon (SOC) degradability and soil moisture and that ESC can be used as a widely available proxy for Q10, owing to differences in SOC degradability. Measured Q10 values ranged from 1.2 to 2.8 and were correlated with indicators of SOC degradability (e.g., pH, r = −0.52). The effect of soil moisture on Q10 was variable: Q10 increased with moisture in croplands but decreased in forests. The ESC captured significant parts of Q10 variability under dry (R2 = 0.44) and intermediate (R2 = 0.36) moisture conditions, where Q10 increased in the order cropland
Sequestration of Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells in the bone marrow of a chronic myeloid leukemia patient in very prolonged remission.

We describe results of clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular biological studies of patient D.D. who, after one course of treatment with busulphan, has remained free of symptoms of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia for 17 years except for the persistence of Ph 1 -positive cells which are largely, if not wholly, confined to the bone marrow
Adenovirus‐specific translation by displacement of kinase Mnk1 from cap‐initiation complex eIF4F

Translation of cellular mRNAs involves formation of a cap‐binding translation initiation complex known as eIF4F, containing phosphorylated cap‐binding protein eIF4E, eIF4E kinase Mnk1, eIF4A, poly(A)‐binding protein and eIF4G. Adenovirus is shown to prevent cellular translation by displacing Mnk1 from eIF4F, thereby blocking phosphorylation of eIF4E. Over expression of an eIF4E mutant that cannot be phosphorylated by Mnk1 impairs translation of cellular but not viral late mRNAs. Adenovirus 100k protein is shown to bind the C‐terminus of eIF4G in vivo and in vitro, the same region bound by Mnk1. In vivo, 100k protein displaces Mnk1 from eIF4G during adenovirus infection, or in transfected cells. Purified 100k protein also evicts Mnk1 from isolated eIF4F complexes in vitro. A mutant adenovirus with a temperature‐sensitive 100k protein that cannot inhibit cellular protein synthesis at restrictive temperature no longer blocks Mnk1 binding to eIF4G, or phosphorylation of eIF4E. We describe a mechanism whereby adenovirus selectively inhibits the translation of cellular but not viral mRNAs by displacement of Mnk1 from eIF4G and inhibition of eIF4E phosphorylation.
Lactobacillus Decelerates Cervical Epithelial Cell Cycle Progression

We investigated cell cycle progression in epithelial cervical ME-180 cells during colonization of three different Lactobacillus species utilizing live cell microscopy, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assays, and flow cytometry. The colonization of these ME-180 cells by L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri, originating from human gastric epithelia and saliva, respectively, was shown to reduce cell cycle progression and to cause host cells to accumulate in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The G1 phase accumulation in L. rhamnosus-colonized cells was accompanied by the up-regulation and nuclear accumulation of p21. By contrast, the vaginal isolate L. crispatus did not affect cell cycle progression. Furthermore, both the supernatants from the lactic acid-producing L. rhamnosus colonies and lactic acid added to cell culture media were able to reduce the proliferation of ME-180 cells. In this study, we reveal the diversity of the Lactobacillus species to affect host cell cycle progression and demonstrate that L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri exert anti-proliferative effects on human cervical carcinoma cells.
Influence of a total parenteral nutrition enriched with omega-3 fatty acids on leukotriene synthesis of peripheral leukocytes and systemic cytokine levels in patients with major surgery.

OBJECTIVE Nutritive immunomodulation of patients after major surgery. DESIGN Prospective, randomized controlled double-blind study. PATIENTS Forty patients undergoing major intestinal surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: one received a total parenteral nutrition enriched with omega-3 fatty acids for 5 days postoperatively, the other an isocaloric, control nutrition. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed the leukocyte ability to release leukotrienes from whole blood leukocytes stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187 (5 micromol/L) by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography and circulating cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Leukocytes from patients of the omega-3 fatty acids group generated significantly higher amounts of less biologically active leukotriene B5 as compared to the control group (p < or = 0.001). This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the generation of proinflammatory leukotriene B4 (p < or = 0.006) in the study group. In contrast to interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 systemic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p < or = 0.05) were postoperatively decreased in the study group. CONCLUSION Our data provide evidence that a total parenteral nutrition enriched with omega-3 fatty acids modulates the lipid mediator pattern and systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels.
A reflection on the ways veterinarians cope with the death, euthanasia, and slaughter of animals.

As medical caregivers for animals, we veterinarians must contend with a paradox that involves important issues between ourselves and animals. We have the power to restrain and manipulate animals for various reasons, yet we have the responsibility to do so in a way that does no harm—this introduces the paradox of the veterinarian’s role in the life and death of animals. Veterinarians are trained to help in nature’s healing process, but we also treat our patients with the knowl
Emerging anti-inflammatory strategies for COPD

The hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an enhanced or abnormal inflammatory immune response of the lungs to inhaled particles and gases, usually from cigarette smoke, characterised by increased numbers of neutrophils, activated macrophages and activated T-lymphocytes (Tc1 and Th1 cells). Therefore, suppression of the inflammatory response is a logical approach to the treatment of COPD. Despite the inflammatory nature of COPD, currently available anti-inflammatory therapies provide little or no benefit in COPD patients and may have detrimental effects. For this reason, there is an urgent need to discover effective and safe anti-inflammatory treatments that might prevent the relentless progression of the disease. In recent years, attention has largely been focused on inhibition of recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, and on antagonism of their products. In this review, we put together a summary of the state-of-the-art development of clearly and/or potentially useful anti-inflammatory strategies in COPD.