Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of time-related changes of cardiopulmonary exercise testing indices in stable chronic heart failure: a pragmatic and operative scheme

Background Although peak oxygen consumption (VO2) is an objective measurement of functional capacity linked to survival, most clinicians use clinical history to monitor changes over time of functional disability. The aim was to verify the prognostic value of time-related changes (δ) of symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) indices in stable chronic heart failure (CHF). Design and methods We studied 231 stable CHF patients (200 men) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 24 ±8% and peak VO2 of 14.3 ± 8 ml/kg per min, who performed two symptom-limited CPX over time. Results The two incremental CPX were separated by a mean interval of 258 ± 42 days; 59 (26%) suffered cardiovascular death or underwent urgent heart transplantation during the follow-up (1167 ± 562 days). Peak VO2, LVEF (measured at second evaluation), δpeak VO2 and δNYHA (New York Heart Association classification) were selected as independent predictors in the total population, and LVEF, δpeak VO2, and NYHA in patients with peak VO2 of 14 ml/kg per min or less (106 patients); no δparameter was selected in patients with preserved exercise tolerance. Survival analysis was performed taking into consideration the inter-test variability of peak VO2 (6%): true fall: more than 6% decrease, decline within the measurement variability; less than 6% decrease, improvement within the measurement variability; less than 6% increase and true rise; more than 6% increase: total mortality rate was 51, 23, 19 and 14% (P<0.0001), respectively. Conclusions δpeak VO2 is a useful outcome index; a combination of static (single) and time-related functional variables can enhance the prognostication process in stable CHF patients.
Immediate Tooth Extraction, Placement of a Tapered Screw-Vent® Implant, and Provisionalization in the Esthetic Zone: A Case Report

PurposeThis clinical report describes an immediate tooth extraction, followed by placement and provisional restoration of a dental implant in the prepared socket of a right maxillary central incisor. Materials and MethodsThe tooth was extracted with minimal hard and soft tissue trauma and without flap reflection. A flapless, transmucosal surgical approach was used to prepare the socket and insert a tapered implant. The implant was immediately restored with a provisional abutment and crown without occlusal contacts. An impression was made 22 days after implant insertion, and a definitive, all-ceramic restoration was placed 3 days later. ResultsDuring the period of provisional progressive loading, no significant soft tissue contraction was observed related to noninvasive operating techniques and the immediate insertion of the provisional restoration. The patient exhibited no clinical or radiologic complications through 8 months of clinical monitoring after loading. ConclusionThe Tapered Screw-Vent® implant and all-ceramic restoration provided the patient with immediate esthetics, function, and comfort without any complications during the postloading follow-up period.
False Lumen Status in Patients With Acute Aortic Dissection: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background The long‐term association between the status of the false lumen and poor patient outcomes in acute aortic dissection (AAD) remains unclear. This systematic review and meta‐analysis investigated whether the status of the false lumen was a predictor of poor long‐term survival in AAD. Methods and Results Eleven cohort studies (2924 participants) exploring the association between the false lumen status and long‐term outcomes (>1 year) in AAD were included. All studies reported multivariate‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs for long‐term outcomes, according to false lumen status. Pooled HRs for mortality and aortic events were computed and weighted using generic inverse‐variance and random‐effect modeling. Residual patent false lumen was an independent predictor of long‐term mortality in AAD type A (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16–2.52; P=0.007) and type B (HR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.80–4.32; P<0.001). AAD patients with residual patent false lumen exhibited an increased risk of aortic events (HR, 5.43; 95% CI, 2.95–9.99; P<0.001). Partial false lumen thrombosis was independently associated with long‐term mortality in type B AAD (HR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.37–3.65; P=0.001). This association was not observed in AAD type A patients (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 0.88–3.45; P=0.211). Conclusions The false lumen status influences late outcomes in AAD. Residual patent false lumen is independently associated with poor long‐term survival in AAD. However, only type B AAD patients with partial false lumen thrombosis had an increased late mortality risk.
Three Myths about Roles

In multi-agent systems, roles provide an apriori decomposition of the task based on the interactions of the agents. Roles are instantiated by the agents’ actions and/or messages. Role allocation has emerged as a key computational tool in the coordination of intelligent agents who are e xible enough to take on any role. It is in this context that some rethinking about roles and their representation is needed. Illustrations in the game of Go, a game of strategy, highlight the key issues.
Supplementary Material of “On the Effectiveness of Sampling for Evolutionary Optimization in Noisy Environments”

Chao Qian1,2 chaoqian@ustc.edu. cn Yang Yu2 yuy@nju.edu. cn Ke Tang1 ketang@ustc.edu. cn Yaochu Jin3 yaochu.jin@surrey.ac.uk Xin Yao1,4 x.yao@cs.bham. ac.uk Zhi-Hua Zhou2∗ zhouzh@nju.edu. cn USTC-Birmingham Joint Research Institute in Intelligent Computation and Its Applications, School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China National Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China Department of Computer Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK Center of Excellence for Research in Computational Intelligence and Applications, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
The global TanDEM-X DEM — A unique data set

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurements) is an Earth observation radar mission that consists of a SAR interferometer built by two almost identical satellites flying in close formation [1]-[4]. With a typical separation between the satellites of 120 to 500 m a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 2 m relative height accuracy at 12 m posting has been generated. While the main mission phase for DEM data acquisition has been finished in 2014, the processing of the global TanDEM-X DEM was concluded in September 2016. Final DEMs are well within specifications and feature an extremely low percentage of void areas. Following the DEM data acquisition the capabilities of this unique mission for new scientific application have been demonstrated. Satellite resources allow for a continuation of the joint TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X mission for several years. Beyond improvements of the global DEM the mission will be dedicated to the generation of a global 3D information change layer and of the corresponding DEM updates as a demonstration of the future climate research and environmental monitoring mission Tandem-L.
A spatiotemporal most-apparent-distortion model for video quality assessment

This paper presents an algorithm for video quality assessment, spatiotemporal MAD (ST-MAD), which extends our previous image-based algorithm (MAD [1]) to take into account visual perception of motion artifacts. ST-MAD employs spatiotemporal “images” (STS images [2]) created by taking time-based slices of the original and distorted videos. Motion artifacts manifest in the STS images as spatial artifacts, which allows one to quantify motion-based distortion by using classical image-quality assessment techniques. ST-MAD estimates motion-based distortion by applying MAD's appearance-based model to compare the distorted video's STS images to the original video's STS images. This comparison is further adjusted by using optical-flow-derived weights designed to give greater precedence to fast-moving regions located toward the center of the video. Testing on the LIVE video database demonstrates that ST-MAD performs well in predicting video quality.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats

I nflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is used to describe a group of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases commonly diagnosed in adult cats. The prevalence and cause of IBD are unknown. Idiopathic by definition, IBD is characterized by inflammation of the stomach, small intestine, and/or large intestine with associated GI signs, including vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 3 weeks. IBD is not remedied by food trials or definitively ruled out using most diagnostics. IBD can be confirmed only by biopsy.
On the Maximization of Information Flow Between Spiking Neurons

A feedforward spiking network represents a nonlinear transformation that maps a set of input spikes to a set of output spikes. This mapping transforms the joint probability distribution of incoming spikes into a joint distribution of output spikes. We present an algorithm for synaptic adaptation that aims to maximize the entropy of this output distribution, thereby creating a model for the joint distribution of the incoming point processes. The learning rule that is derived depends on the precise pre- and postsynaptic spike timings. When trained on correlated spike trains, the network learns to extract independent spike trains, thereby uncovering the underlying statistical structure and creating a more efficient representation of the incoming spike trains.
Anesthetic drug midazolam inhibits cardiac human ether-à-go-go-related gene channels: mode of action

Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that is in wide clinical use as an anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant. Midazolam has been shown to inhibit ion channels, including calcium and potassium channels. So far, the effects of midazolam on cardiac human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels have not been analyzed. The inhibitory effects of midazolam on heterologously expressed hERG channels were analyzed in Xenopus oocytes using the double-electrode voltage clamp technique. We found that midazolam inhibits hERG channels in a concentration-dependent manner, yielding an IC50 of 170 μM in Xenopus oocytes. When analyzed in a HEK 293 cell line using the patch-clamp technique, the IC50 was 13.6 μM. Midazolam resulted in a small negative shift of the activation curve of hERG channels. However, steady-state inactivation was not significantly affected. We further show that inhibition is state-dependent, occurring within the open and inactivated but not in the closed state. There was no frequency dependence of block. Using the hERG pore mutants F656A and Y652A we provide evidence that midazolam uses a classical binding site within the channel pore. Analyzing the subacute effects of midazolam on hERG channel trafficking, we further found that midazolam does not affect channel surface expression. Taken together, we show that the anesthetic midazolam is a low-affinity inhibitor of cardiac hERG channels without additional effects on channel surface expression. These data add to the current understanding of the pharmacological profile of the anesthetic midazolam.
Volume, expansivity and isothermal compressibility changes associated with temperature and pressure unfolding of Staphylococcal nuclease.

We have characterized the temperature- and pressure-induced unfolding of staphylococcal nuclease (Snase) using high precision densitometric measurements. The changes in the apparent specific volume, expansion coefficient and isothermal compressibility were determined by these measurements. To our knowledge, these are the first measurements of the volume and isothermal compressibility changes of a protein undergoing pressure-induced unfolding. In order to aid in interpreting the temperature and pressure dependence of the apparent specific volume of Snase, we have also carried out differential scanning calorimetry under the solution conditions which are used for the volumetric studies. We have seen that large compensating volume and compressibility effects accompany the temperature and pressure-induced protein unfolding. Measurements of the apparent specific volume and thermal expansion coefficient of Snase at ambient pressure indicate the formation of a pre-transitional, molten globule type of intermediate structure about 10 degrees C below the actual unfolding temperature of the protein. Compared to the folded state, the apparent specific volume of the unfolded protein is about 0.3-0.5 % smaller. In addition, we investigated the pressure dependence of the apparent specific volume of Snase at a number of different temperatures. At 45 degrees C we calculate a decrease in apparent specific volume due to pressure-induced unfolding of -3.3 10(-3) cm(3) g(-1) or -55 cm(3) mol(-1). The threefold increase in compressibility between 40 and 70 MPa reflects a transition to a partially unfolded state, which is consistent with our results obtained for the radius of gyration of the pressure-denatured state of Snase. At the lower temperature of 35 degrees C, a significant increase in compressibility around 30 MPa is indicative of the formation of a pressure-induced molten globule-like intermediate. Changes in the apparent volume, expansion coefficient and isothermal compressibility are discussed in terms of instrinsic, hydrational and thermal contributions accompanying the unfolding transition.
DBCLUM: Density-based Clustering and Merging Algorithm

Clustering is a primary method for DB mining. The clustering process becomes very challenge when the data is different densities, different sizes, different shapes, or has noise and outlier. Many existing algorithms are designed to find clusters. But, these algorithms lack to discover clusters of different shapes, densities and sizes. This paper presents a new algorithm called DBCLUM which is an extension of DBSCAN to discover clusters based on density. DBSCAN can discover clusters with arbitrary shapes. But, fail to discover different-density clusters or adjacent clusters. DBCLUM is developed to overcome these problems. DBCLUM discovers clusters individually then merges them if they are density similar and joined. By this concept, DBCLUM can discover different-densities clusters and adjacent clusters. Experiments revealed that DBCLUM is able to discover adjacent clusters and different-densities clusters and DBCLUM is faster than DBSCAN with speed up ranges from 11% to 52%.
Decreased bronchodilating effect of salbutamol in relieving methacholine induced moderate to severe bronchoconstriction during high dose treatment with long acting β2 agonists

BACKGROUND In vitro the long acting β2 agonist salmeterol can, in contrast to formoterol, behave as a partial agonist and become a partial antagonist to other β2 agonists. To study this in vivo, the bronchodilating effect of salbutamol was measured during methacholine induced moderate to severe bronchoconstriction in patients receiving maintenance treatment with high dose long acting β2agonists. METHODS A randomised double blind crossover study was performed in 19 asthmatic patients with mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 88.4% predicted and median concentration of methacholine provoking a fall in FEV1 of 20% or more (PC20) of 0.62 mg/ml at entry. One hour after the last dose of 2 weeks of treatment with formoterol (24 μg twice daily by Turbuhaler), salmeterol (100 μg twice daily by Diskhaler), or placebo a methacholine provocation test was performed and continued until there was at least a 30% decrease in FEV1. Salbutamol (50 μg) was administered immediately thereafter, followed by ipratropium bromide (40 μg) after a further 30 minutes. Lung function was monitored for 1 hour after provocation. RESULTS There was a significant bronchodilating and bronchoprotective effect after 2 weeks of active treatment. The dose of methacholine needed to provoke a fall in FEV1 of ⩾30% was higher after pretreatment with formoterol (2.48 mg) than with salmeterol (1.58 mg) or placebo (0.74 mg). The difference between formoterol and salmeterol was statistically significant: 0.7 doubling dose steps (95% CI 0.1 to 1.2, p=0.016). The immediate bronchodilating effect of subsequently administered salbutamol was significantly impaired after pretreatment with both drugs (p<0.0003 for both). Three minutes after inhaling salbutamol the increase in FEV1 relative to the pre-methacholine baseline was 15.8%, 7.3%, and 5.5% for placebo, formoterol and salmeterol, respectively (equivalent to increases of 26%, 14%, and 12%, respectively, from the lowest FEV1after methacholine). At 30 minutes significant differences remained, but 1 hour after completing the methacholine challenge FEV1had returned to baseline values in all three treatment groups. CONCLUSION Formoterol has a greater intrinsic activity than salmeterol as a bronchoprotective agent, indicating that salmeterol is a partial agonist compared with formoterol in contracted human airways in vivo. Irrespective of this, prior long term treatment with both long acting β2agonists reduced the bronchodilating effect of an additional single dose of salbutamol equally, indicating that the development of tolerance or high receptor occupancy overshadowed any possible partial antagonistic activity of salmeterol. Patients on regular treatment with long acting β2 agonists should be made aware that an additional single dose of a short acting β2 agonist may become less effective.
Proving probabilistic correctness statements: the case of Rabin's algorithm for mutual exclusion

The correctness of most randomized distributed algorithms is expressed by a statement of the form “some predicate of the executions holds with high probability, regardless of the order in which actions are scheduled“. In this paper, we present a general methodology to prove correctness statements of such randomized algorithms. Specifically, we show how to prove such statements by a series of refinements, which terminate in a statement independent of the schedule. To demonstrate the subtlety of the issue involved in this type of analysis, we focus on Rabin's randomized distributed algorithm for mutual exclusion [6]. Surprisingly, it turns out that the algorithm does not maintain one of the requirements of the problem under a certain schedule. In particular, we give a schedule under which a set of processes can suffer lockout for arbitrary long periods.
The Evolution of Spinnable Cotton Fiber Entailed Prolonged Development and a Novel Metabolism

A central question in evolutionary biology concerns the developmental processes by which new phenotypes arise. An exceptional example of evolutionary innovation is the single-celled seed trichome in Gossypium (“cotton fiber”). We have used fiber development in Gossypium as a system to understand how morphology can rapidly evolve. Fiber has undergone considerable morphological changes between the short, tightly adherent fibers of G. longicalyx and the derived long, spinnable fibers of its closest relative, G. herbaceum, which facilitated cotton domestication. We conducted comparative gene expression profiling across a developmental time-course of fibers from G. longicalyx and G. herbaceum using microarrays with ∼22,000 genes. Expression changes between stages were temporally protracted in G. herbaceum relative to G. longicalyx, reflecting a prolongation of the ancestral developmental program. Gene expression and GO analyses showed that many genes involved with stress responses were upregulated early in G. longicalyx fiber development. Several candidate genes upregulated in G. herbaceum have been implicated in regulating redox levels and cell elongation processes. Three genes previously shown to modulate hydrogen peroxide levels were consistently expressed in domesticated and wild cotton species with long fibers, but expression was not detected by quantitative real time-PCR in wild species with short fibers. Hydrogen peroxide is important for cell elongation, but at high concentrations it becomes toxic, activating stress processes that may lead to early onset of secondary cell wall synthesis and the end of cell elongation. These observations suggest that the evolution of long spinnable fibers in cotton was accompanied by novel expression of genes assisting in the regulation of reactive oxygen species levels. Our data suggest a model for the evolutionary origin of a novel morphology through differential gene regulation causing prolongation of an ancestral developmental program.
A Service Mode of Expert Finding in Social Network

Expert finding addresses the task of finding the right person with the appropriate knowledge or skills. State-of-the-art expert finding algorithms usually estimate the relevance between the query and the support documents of candidates using language model. However, the language model has a limitation that all the query terms should occur in each support document, which results in some real experts cannot be searched. So for the process of analyzing textual content, we consider using a new model based on Explicit Semantic Analysis (ESA) rather than the language model. With the development of Internet technology, this is not the only way to find experts. In the modern social media, we can record person's social relationships which might be available for expert finding task. A simple truth is: a person's connections with experts will provide the potential evidence that he is a real expert. In this paper, we propose a new service pattern for expert finding that accounts for both documents' content and social relationships. The relationships in the social network are used in re-ranking experts on a given topic.
Robust and Fast Keypoint Recognition Based on SE-FAST

In this paper, we present a key point recognition scheme, which consists of a novel feature detector and an efficient descriptor.Inspired by FAST (Features from Accelerated Segment Test), our feature detector is easy to compute and has high repeatability. Scale-invariance and optimized robustness are gained by extending traditional FAST to scale space.We combine this detector with an adapted version of SURF (Speed Up Robust Features) descriptor, providing the system with all means to do feature matching and object detection. Experimental evaluation and comparison with standard SURF using Hessian matrix-based detector are included in this paper, showing improvement in speed with comparable robustness.