Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring the preference towards patient-centred communication with the Chinese-revised Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale: a cross-sectional study among physicians and patients in clinical settings in Shanghai, China

Objectives To adapt the Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), to a Chinese context, and explore the preference towards patient-centred communication among physicians and patients with the Chinese-revised Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale (CR-PPOS). Design A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Setting Clinical settings from eight medical units, including four community hospitals and four general hospitals, in Shanghai, China. Participants 1018 participants, including 187 physicians and 831 patients, completed this study in two successive stages. Outcome measurements Psychometric properties of the CR-PPOS and participants’ score on the CR-PPOS. Results Compared with the original PPOS, the 11-item CR-PPOS obtained better psychometric indices. Physicians and patients scored differently on both the total CR-PPOS and its two subscales. Compared with physicians, the scores of patients were more influenced by their personal characteristics, such as age and education. Conclusions The CR-PPOS is a better instrument in a Chinese context than the original translated version. The divergence in the extent to which patient-centred communication is preferred among Chinese physicians and patients should be noted. Adapting physicians’ communication strategy to patients’ preferences based on their personal characteristics can be a viable approach towards improving clinical efficiency.
Communal Cuts : sharing cuts across images

Identifying objects that are common to a set of images is an important step in unsupervised image analysis. While existing approaches to object extraction and co-segmentation commonly focus merely on joint per-class appearance models, we propose a model that incorporates additional label and boundary co-occurrence information with little additional communication across images. This model admits efficient inference and can improve the accurate extraction of difficult, fine-structured objects.
[Incidence of uveitis in the northern Kyushu region of Japan --comparison between the periods of 1996-2001 and 2003-2008].

PURPOSE To report the clinical statistical analysis of patients with uveitis in the northern Kyushu region of Japan. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This retrospective study involved 735 new patients with uveitis who visited the Kyushu university hospital from January 2003 to December 2008. The subjects were classified into four groups; adolescent (0-19 years), young (20-39 years), middle-aged (40-59 years) and old (60 years or older) and were compared with the results of our previous studies. RESULT This study comprised 343 men and 392 women. The age averaged 47.2 years. Definitive diagnosis was made in 385 cases (52.4%). The most frequent clinical entity was sarcoidosis (9.8%), followed by Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (7.9%), Behçet's disease (7.6%), acute anterior uveitis associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 (4.5%), herpetic iridocyclitis (3.1%), human T-lymphotropic virus type I associated uveitis (HU) (2.7%), and intraocular lymphoma (2.3%). The proportion of unclassified uveitis was large among females in general, and among adolescents in the four groups. The incidence of secondary glaucoma in the whole group of 735 patients with uveitis was 22.2%. Among the patients with ocular hypertension, the proportion of steroid responders was large in the adolescent group. CONCLUSION Compared with our previous report, this study shows increasing frequency of sarcoidosis and decreasing frequency of Behçet's disease except in the young group. HU showed a decreasing incidence.
Delay-power tradeoff of max queue-weighted (MWQ) power control for wireless systems with limited renewable energy storage

In this paper, we analyze the fundamental power-delay tradeoff in point-to-point wireless communication systems with renewable energy source. We consider the max queue-weighted (MWQ) algorithm, where the transmitter determines the rate and power control actions based on the instantaneous channel state information (CSI), the data queue state information (DQSI) and renewable energy storage information (RESI). We exploit a general fluid dynamics of the data queue and renewable energy storage buffer using continuous time dynamic equations. Using the sample-path approach and renewal theory, we decompose the average delay in terms of multiple unfinished works along a sample path, and obtain bounds for the average delay and AC power consumption under the MWQ algorithm, which are asymptotically tight at small delay regime. We show that despite the randomness of the renewable energy arrival and energy buffer size, the average AC power (P) of the MWQ policy is given by P = O(D exp(1/D)) at small delay D regime. We also quantify the impacts of the renewable energy storage size in the scaling coefficient.
Biofilm Formation and β-Lactamase Production in Burn Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important nosocomial pathogen characterized by its innate resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. Plasmid-mediated drug resistance also occurs by the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), metallo β-lactamases (MBL), and AmpC β-lactamases. Another important factor for establishment of chronic infections by P. aeruginosa is biofilm formation mediated by the psl gene cluster. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate biofilm formation and presence of the pslA gene in burn isolates of P. aeruginosa as well as the association of antibiotic resistance, MBL, ESBL and AmpC β-lactamase production with biofilm formation among the isolates. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two burn isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from Shahid Motahari Hospital in Tehran from August to October 2011. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the disc diffusion assay. MBL, AmpC and ESBL production were screened using the double disc synergy test, AmpC disc test and combined disc diffusion assay, respectively. The potential to form biofilm was measured using the microtiter plate assay and pslA gene was detected using specific primers and PCR. Results: Biofilm formation was observed in 43.5% of the isolates, of which 66.7% produced strong and 33.3% formed weak biofilms. All biofilm-positive and 14.2% of biofilm-negative isolates harbored the pslA gene. MBL, AmpC and ESBL production were significantly higher in the biofilm-positive isolates (70.3%, 62.9% and 33.3%, respectively) compared to the biofilm-negative strains (31.4%, 34.2% and 20%, respectively). Overall, 19 isolates (30.6%) co-produced MBL and AmpC, among which the majority were biofilm-positive (63.1%). Finally, four isolates (6.4%) had all three enzymes, of which 3 (75%) produced biofilm. Conclusions: Biofilm formation (both strong and weak) strongly correlated with pslA gene carriage. Biofilm formation also correlated with MBL and AmpC β-lactamase production. More importantly, multiple-β-lactamase phenotype was associated with formation of strong biofilms.
RCS measurements and results of an engine-inlet system design optimization

A number of papers have been published on the prediction of backscatter from engine-inlet-type structures. Measured data used to verify these predictions mostly consists of backscattered data from canonical structures, e.g., cylindrical waveguide cavities. In this paper, measured backscattered data for an unmanned aerial vehicle-type engine-inlet system is presented. The effects of the application of radar-absorbing materials to the engine-inlet system on the contribution to the RCS is discussed, and data measured in a compact-range facility are presented.
Peroxynitrite and Peroxiredoxin in the Pathogenesis of Experimental Amebic Liver Abscess

The molecular mechanisms by which Entamoeba histolytica causes amebic liver abscess (ALA) are still not fully understood. Amebic mechanisms of adherence and cytotoxic activity are pivotal for amebic survival but apparently do not directly cause liver abscess. Abundant evidence indicates that chronic inflammation (resulting from an inadequate immune response) is probably the main cause of ALA. Reports referring to inflammatory mechanisms of liver damage mention a repertoire of toxic molecules by the immune response (especially nitric oxide and reactive oxygen intermediates) and cytotoxic substances released by neutrophils and macrophages after being lysed by amoebas (e.g., defensins, complement, and proteases). Nevertheless, recent evidence downplays these mechanisms in abscess formation and emphasizes the importance of peroxynitrite (ONOO−). It seems that the defense mechanism of amoebas against ONOO−, namely, the amebic thioredoxin system (including peroxiredoxin), is superior to that of mammals. The aim of the present text is to define the importance of ONOO− as the main agent of liver abscess formation during amebic invasion, and to explain the superior capacity of amoebas to defend themselves against this toxic agent through the peroxiredoxin and thioredoxin system.
The Virtual 3D City Model of Berlin-Managing, Integrating, and Communicating Complex Urban Information

This contribution reports on concepts, implementation, and experience of the Berlin virtual 3D city model, a project that has developed a system for integrating, managing, integrating, presenting, and distributing complex urban geoinformation. It has been initiated by the Senate Department of Economics and the Senate Department of Urban Development in order to extend Berlin’s geodata infrastructure by a novel, flexible, and state-of-the-art geoinformation technology. As first applications, the virtual 3D city model forms core part of the investor information system hosted at the Berlin Business Location Center, and it represents the basis for ongoing projects in city planning at the architecture working group of the Senate Department of Urban Development.
Wettability property of CNT-graphene like film deposited by microwave plasma enhanced vapor deposition technique

Abstract Wettability property of carbon nano-tubes (CNT)-graphene like films have been investigated. In this work, we have studied the wettability of CNT-graphene like film deposited on Ni substrate by Microwave Plasma Enhanced vapor deposition Technique (MWPECVD). Compared to the water contact angles of 77.8° for bare Ni substrate, the water contact angle of the CNT-graphene like hybrid films is found to be 128.4°. The nanostructures have been deposited at fixed pressure of 20 Torr with different temperature of 500, 600 and 700 °C. The results indicate that wettability properties of nano-structure can be tailored, significantly. The solid surface energy (SE) of composite films was estimated using contact angle measurements. The wettability of CNT-graphene has been studied first time in film form.
Tunable broadband polarization conversion based on coherent control

The processing of photonic information strongly depends on electronic technique, which limits the speed of information processing. Fortunately, modulation of light with light based on metamaterials creates a new approach to realize photoelectric devices and modulation of photonic information. In this work, we present a tunable broadband polarization conversion based on coherent control, which makes it possible to achieve a dynamic modulation of cross-polarization conversion over a wide frequency range. The proposed metamaterial can be regarded as a broadband cross-polarization modulator that can be easily switched on/off by changing the relative phase difference between the two counterpropagating coherent beams, which is of great importance for optical data processing and integration of optical devices.
Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides alter hepatic killing of Candida albicans in the isolated perfused mouse liver model

The isolated perfused mouse liver model was used to study the effect of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing peptides on hepatic trapping and killing of Candida albicans. After extensive washing, 10(6) C. albicans CFU were infused into mouse livers. At the time of recovery, 63% +/- 2% (mean +/- standard error of the mean) of the infused C. albicans CFU were recovered from the liver and 14% +/- 1% were recovered from the effluent for a total recovery of 77% +/- 2%. This indicates that 86% +/- 9% of the original inoculum was trapped by the liver and that 23% +/- 2% was killed within the liver. Prior to their infusion into livers, 10(7) CFU of C. albicans were incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min in the presence of various RGD peptides (0.1 mg/ml). Repeatedly, more than 90% of the infused RGD-treated C. albicans was trapped by the perfused liver. In comparison with the 23% killing rate observed in control livers, perfused livers killed approximately 40 to 50% of the infused C. albicans treated either with fibronectin, PepTite 2000, RGD, or RGDS. Hepatic killing of C. albicans treated with PepTite 2000 or fibronectin was dose dependent. Treatment of C. albicans with GRGDTP, GRGDSP, GRADSP, or GRGESP did not alter the ability of the perfused liver to kill C. albicans, suggesting that a degree of specificity for RGD peptides is associated with an increased ability of liver to kill RGD-treated C. albicans. Together, the data suggest that RGD peptides bind to a receptor on the surface of C. albicans, thereby increasing hepatic, and presumably Kupffer cell, killing of C. albicans. Natural or synthetic RGD peptides may serve as opsonins promoting C. albicans killing by Kupffer cells.
Sensor Network Deployment under Distance Uncertainty with Robust Optimization

We consider the sensor deployment problem in the context of distance uncertainty. It is characterized by differentiated arrangement of specific detection probability thresholds at different locations. The problem is formulated as an integer linear programming (ILP) model firstly, aiming at optimizing the number of sensors and their locations. Based on the robust discrete optimization methodology, the uncertain model is transformed into an equivalent ILP problem considering distance uncertainty. The proposed approach can control the tradeoff between optimality and robustness by varying the parameters named protection levels. Uniform and non-uniform event detection probabiliy distributions are considered in the experiment. The results show that, as the distance uncertainty increases, the constraint violation can be avoided in the robust model and the robust solution can provide a significant improvement at the expense of a small loss in optimality when compared to the optimal solution of a deterministic scenario.
Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation Origins of Submovements in Movements of Elderly Adults

Background: Slowness is a well-recognized feature of movements in aging. One of the possible reasons for slowness suggested by previous research is production of corrective submovements that compensate for shortened primary submovement to the target. Here, we reexamine this traditional interpretation and argue that the majority of submovements in older adults may be a consequence rather than the cause of slowness.
Moderate Maternal Alcohol Exposure on Gestational Day 12 Impacts Anxiety-Like Behavior in Offspring

Among the numerous consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is an increase in anxiety-like behavior that can prove debilitating to daily functioning. A significant body of literature has linked gestational day 12 (G12) heavy ethanol exposure with social anxiety, evident in adolescent males and females. However, the association between non-social anxiety-like behavior and moderate alcohol exposure, a more common pattern of drinking in pregnant women, is yet unidentified. To model moderate PAE (mPAE), we exposed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to either room air or vaporized ethanol for 6 h on G12. Adolescent offspring were then tested on postnatal days (P) 41–47 in one of the following four anxiety assays: novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH), elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark box (LDB) and open-field (OF). Our findings revealed significant increases in measures of anxiety-like behavior in male PAE offspring in the NIH, LDB and OF, with no differences observed in females on any test. Additionally, male offspring who demonstrated heightened anxiety-like behavior as adolescents demonstrated decreased anxiety-like behavior in adulthood, as measured by a marble-burying test (MBT), while females continued to be unaffected in adulthood. These results suggest that mPAE leads to dynamic changes in anxiety-like behavior exclusively in male offspring.
Connectivity Oracles for Graphs Subject to Vertex Failures

We introduce new data structures for answering connectivity queries in graphs subject to batched vertex failures. A deterministic structure processes a batch of $d\leq d_{\star}$ failed vertices in $\tilde{O}(d^3)$ time and thereafter answers connectivity queries in $O(d)$ time. It occupies space $O(d_{\star} m\log n)$. We develop a randomized Monte Carlo version of our data structure with update time $\tilde{O}(d^2)$, query time $O(d)$, and space $\tilde{O}(m)$ for any failure bound $d\le n$. This is the first connectivity oracle for general graphs that can efficiently deal with an unbounded number of vertex failures. We also develop a more efficient Monte Carlo edge-failure connectivity oracle. Using space $O(n\log^2 n)$, $d$ edge failures are processed in $O(d\log d\log\log n)$ time and thereafter, connectivity queries are answered in $O(\log\log n)$ time, which are correct w.h. p. Our data structures are based on a new decomposition theorem for an undirected graph $G=(V,E)$, which is of independent interest. It states that for any terminal set $U\subseteq V$ we can remove a set $B$ of $|U|/(s-2)$ vertices such that the remaining graph contains a Steiner forest for $U-B$ with maximum degree $s$.
High- $Q$  and High-Sensitivity One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Nanobeam Cavity Sensors

We present and theoretically investigate an optical sensor based on a one-dimensional photonic crystal slot nanobeam cavity. The cavity possesses a high calculated Q-factor of 174000 and an ultra-small effective mode volume of ~0.0236 (λ/n)3 at a resonant wavelength of 1535 nm. Using a slot nanobeam structure, we can strongly confine the resonant-mode field in the air slot region, and thus, the spatial overlap and interaction of light field and detected analytes can be greatly enhanced. An estimated sensitivity as high as 851 nm/refractive index unit is achieved. Due to the high Q and high sensitivity of the cavity, the figure of merit for sensing is very high at 96465. These are the best results for optical sensors based on photonic crystal cavities featuring both a high sensitivity and a high Q-factor to the best of our knowledge. In addition, the total size for the sensing part of the sensor is only 20 × 2 μm2.
Wireless Body Area Network for Remote Healthcare Monitoring

A case study of security risk analysis of a wireless body area network for remote health monitoring as a after measure for deploying security and privacy features is introduced in this paper. The target system has a scalable platform that requires minimum human interaction during setup and monitoring. The core components of the system include: (i) biosensor/transceiver pairs, (ii) hardware modules to automatically setup the wireless body area network, (iii) data delivery mechanism to an internet sever, and (iv) automatic data collection, profiling and reporting. As the system contains personal health records that require high level of security when the records are being shared and transferred to health professionals and service providers. We assess security risk based on this critical needs of acknowledged risks and threats in the real time remote health monitoring system. KeywordsWireless body area network; sensor network; remote health monitoring system; security threats; risk assessment
Is the effect of a countermovement on jump height due to active state development?

PURPOSE To investigate whether the difference in jump height between countermovement jumps (CMJ) and squat jumps (SJ) could be explained by a difference in active state during propulsion. METHODS Simulations were performed with a model of the human musculoskeletal system comprising four body segments and six muscles. The model's only input was STIM, the stimulation of muscles, which could be switched "off" or "on. " After switching "on," STIM increased to its maximum at a fixed rate of change (dSTIM/dt). For various values of dSTIM/dt, stimulation switch times were optimized to produce a maximum height CMJ. From this CMJ, the configuration at the lowest height of the center of gravity (CG) was selected and used as static starting configuration for simulation of SJ. Next, STIM-switch times were optimized to find the maximum height SJ. RESULTS Simulated CMJ and SJ closely resembled jumps of human subjects. Maximum jump height of the model was greater in CMJ than in SJ, with the difference ranging from 0.4 cm at infinitely high dSTIM/dt to about 2.5 cm at the lowest dSTIM/dt investigated. The greater jump height in CMJ was due to a greater work output of the hip extensor muscles. These muscles could produce more force and work over the first 30% of their shortening range in CMJ, due to the fact that they had a higher active state in CMJ than in SJ. CONCLUSION The greater jump height in CMJ than in SJ could be explained by the fact that in CMJ active state developed during the preparatory countermovement, whereas in SJ it inevitably developed during the propulsion phase, so that the muscles could produce more force and work during shortening in CMJ.
Dynamic impact of inﬂammation-based indices in colorectal cancer patients receiving FOLFOX-based chemotherapy

Background: Inflammatory cellular response is implicated in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, the dynamic effects of inflammatory index coNLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio)-PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio) during chemotherapy remain elusive. Methods: The baseline clinical data and laboratory parameters of 480 CRC patients who received palliative resection of primary tumors and FOLFOX-based chemotherapy from January 2007 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to obtain the predictive NLR and PLR values, and to calculate the coNLR-PLR score. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the rates of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), and the Cox proportional hazards model was employed for analysis. Results: The dynamic cut-off values of NLR during four periods of chemotherapy were 3.029, 2.466, 2.102 and 1.795, respectively, and those of PLR were 216.438, 187.572, 169.027 and 174.368, respectively. A higher coNLR-PLR was significantly associated with lower rates of RFS and OS (P<0.05). Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that coNLR-PLR was a significant independent prognostic factor for RFS and OS (P<0.05). Conclusions: CoNLR-PLR was a significant prognostic predictor for CRC patients who received FOLFOX-based chemotherapy. Evaluating this index can accurately predict the clinical treatment outcomes after chemotherapy.