Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxygen for end-of-life lung cancer care: managing dyspnea and hypoxemia

Oxygen is commonly prescribed for lung cancer patients with advancing disease. Indications include hypoxemia and dyspnea. Reversal of hypoxemia in some cases will alleviate dyspnea. Oxygen is sometimes prescribed for non-hypoxemic patients to relieve dyspnea. While some patients may derive symptomatic benefit, recent studies demonstrate that compressed room air is just as effective. This raises the question as to whether to continue their oxygen. The most efficacious treatment for dyspnea is pharmacotherapy–particularly opioids. Adjunctive therapies include pursed lips breathing and a fan blowing toward the patient. Some patients may come to require high-flow oxygen. High-flow delivery devices include masks, high-flow nasal oxygen and reservoir cannulas. Each device has advantages and drawbacks. Eventually, it may be impossible or impractical to maintain a SpO2 > 90%. The overall goal in these patients is comfort rather than a target SpO2. It may eventually be advisable to remove continuous oximetry and transition focus to pharmacological management to achieve patient comfort.
Methodological and statistical issues in pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics strives to explain the interindividual variability in response to drugs due to genetic variation. Although technological advances have provided us with relatively easy and cheap methods for genotyping, promises about personalised medicine have not yet met our high expectations. Successful results that have been achieved within the field of pharmacogenomics so far are, to name a few, HLA‐B*5701 screening to avoid hypersensitivity to the antiretroviral abacavir, thiopurine S‐methyltransferase (TPMT) genotyping to avoid thiopurine toxicity, and CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotyping for better dosing of the anticoagulant warfarin. However, few pharmacogenetic examples have made it into clinical practice in the treatment of complex diseases. Unfortunately, lack of reproducibility of results from observational studies involving many genes and diseases seems to be a common pattern in pharmacogenomic studies.
Specifying and checking semantic atomicity for multithreaded programs

In practice, it is quite difficult to write correct multithreaded programs due to the potential for unintended and nondeterministic interference between parallel threads. A fundamental correctness property for such programs is atomicity---a block of code in a program is atomic if, for any parallel execution of the program, there is an execution with the same overall program behavior in which the block is executed serially. We propose semantic atomicity, a generalization of atomicity with respect to a programmer-defined notion of equivalent behavior. We propose an assertion framework in which a programmer can use bridge predicates to specify noninterference properties at the level of abstraction of their application. Further, we propose a novel algorithm for systematically testing atomicity specifications on parallel executions with a bounded number of interruptions---i.e. atomic blocks whose execution is interleaved with that of other threads. We further propose a set of sound heuristics and optional user annotations that increase the efficiency of checking atomicity specifications in the common case where the specifications hold. We have implemented our assertion framework for specifying and checking semantic atomicity for parallel Java programs, and we have written semantic atomicity specifications for a number of benchmarks. We found that using bridge predicates allowed us to specify the natural and intended atomic behavior of a wider range of programs than did previous approaches. Further, in checking our specifications, we found several previously unknown bugs, including in the widely-used java.util. concurrent library.
A fixed size assumption based data association method for coalescing objects tracking using a laser scanner sensor

Data association is one of the crucial parts in the reliable objects' tracking system. In this paper, a methodology for data association using an Oriented Bounding Box based object representation is presented. A laser scanner sensor is used for objects perception. A data association algorithm for coalescing objects is described. The algorithm is based on the Nearest Neighbours principle enriched by an Inter-Rays uncertainty paradigm and a Fixed Size assumption, which are introduced to improve the tracking process in terms of objects size and center position estimation. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Energy-efficient techniques for circuit design in network-on-chip platforms

Advanced network-on-chip (NOC) designs using nano-scale technologies face a number of challenges, especially for great amount of energy consumption in switch fabrics and link wires. In this paper, some energy-efficient techniques are presented for circuit design in network-on-chip platforms, including low-power and variation-tolerant link wires, adaptive congestion-aware routing and asynchronous two-level FIFO buffers. Energy-efficient and reliable link wires are provided by a novel self-calibrated low-power coding and voltage scaling interconnection architecture. This approach makes the NoC applications tolerant of transient malfunctions and realizes energy efficiency. Additionally, an adaptive congestion-aware routing is proposed to reduce the average latencies by avoiding the congestion conditions and distributed hotspots. Moreover, an asynchronous two-level FIFO buffer can reduce energy consumption compared with that of synchronous two-level FIFO buffers and conventional asynchronous output buffers.
A Huntingtin Peptide Inhibits PolyQ-Huntingtin Associated Defects

Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by the abnormal expansion of the polyglutamine tract in the human Huntingtin protein (polyQ-hHtt). Although this mutation behaves dominantly, huntingtin loss of function also contributes to HD pathogenesis. Indeed, wild-type Huntingtin plays a protective role with respect to polyQ-hHtt induced defects. Methodology/Principal Findings The question that we addressed here is what part of the wild-type Huntingtin is responsible for these protective properties. We first screened peptides from the Huntingtin protein in HeLa cells and identified a 23 aa peptide (P42) that inhibits polyQ-hHtt aggregation. P42 is part of the endogenous Huntingtin protein and lies within a region rich in proteolytic sites that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis process. Using a Drosophila model of HD, we tested the protective properties of this peptide on aggregation, as well as on different polyQ-hHtt induced neuronal phenotypes: eye degeneration (an indicator of cell death), impairment of vesicular axonal trafficking, and physiological behaviors such as larval locomotion and adult survival. Together, our results demonstrate high protective properties for P42 in vivo, in whole animals. These data also demonstrate a specific role of P42 on Huntington’s disease model, since it has no effect on other models of polyQ-induced diseases, such as spinocerebellar ataxias. Conclusions/Significance Altogether our data show that P42, a 23 aa-long hHtt peptide, plays a protective role with respect to polyQ-hHtt aggregation as well as cellular and behavioral dysfunctions induced by polyQ-hHtt in vivo. Our study also confirms the correlation between polyQ-hHtt aggregation and neuronal defects. Finally, these results strongly suggest a therapeutic potential for P42, specific of Huntington’s disease.
Picture-based Approach to Group Recommender Systems in the E-Tourism Domain

This PhD research aims to integrate group decision making into a personality based recommender systems in a domain with complex and emotional products i.e., e-tourism domain. In this domain, decisions, especially in groups, are often non rational. Based on the ongoing research on picture-based recommender systems at the e-commerce group, TU Wien and the software of Pixtri OG, the research will develop new methods to model group recommendations and support emotion-aware group decision processes, based on and evaluated by a world-wide study.
A wideband varactor-tuned BICMOS Negative Inductance design

This paper describes the design of a wideband varactor-tuned BiCMOS Negative Inductance, with NXP semiconductors 0.25 μm BiCMOS SiGe process. The structure consists in a loop with a C-gyrator associated with an amplifier. This amplifier allows both inverting the impedance behaviour and obtaining a negative inductance. Furthermore, differential stages are used to benefit the floating effect to achieve a floating inductance. In these conditions, the capacitive effect is inverted and a Negative Impedance Converter is realized. For our application, the targeted value is -20 nH with a frequency range from 200 to 900 MHz. Firstly, this architecture has been presented in [1] by White and al. but in this paper we use a varactor which allows adjusting the negative value. At 2.7 V power supply voltage, a power of only 11 mW is dissipated.
Development and characterization of low cost jute, bagasse and glass fiber reinforced advanced hybrid epoxy composites

The application of natural fibers such as Jute/bagasse with glass fiber hybrid advanced composites has gained increasing interest both in many areas of engineering and technology. Hybrid plates of two compositions, i.e., Jute fiber mat-chopped glass fiber and Chopped Bagasse-glass fiber mat with epoxy as a matrix were fabricated using hand lay-up technique and their mechanical properties were evaluated. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (E b %) and hardness of the composite samples were evaluated as per ASTM standards. Moisture absorption capacity for the above two compositions have been found out by hygrometric principle and it was concluded that the water absorption increased as the weight% of natural reinforcement increased. Degradation test has been carried out by burying the samples for different period (15–30 days) in the soil and it was found that as the weight% of natural fiber reinforcement increased the degradation rate increased. Tensile strength was found to be increased (11%) by alkali (NaOH) treatment of the natural fiber. The composite specimens were also immersed in the water for 24 hours and decrement in the tensile strength was noted. Microscopic examinations were carried out to analyse the interfacial characteristics of materials, internal structure of the fractured surfaces and material failure morphology by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
Acute coronary occlusion in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome: outcome and early identification by strain echocardiography

Objectives To compare infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with and without acute coronary occlusions, and determine if myocardial strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography can identify acute occlusions in patients presenting with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Methods 111 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS were enrolled shortly after admittance. Echocardiographic measurements were performed a median of 1 h (interquartile range 0.5–4) after admittance, and coronary angiography 36±21 h after onset of symptoms. Territorial longitudinal and circumferential strain was calculated based on the perfusion territories of the three major coronary arteries in a 16-segment model of the left ventricle, and compared with traditional echocardiographic parameters. Long-term follow-up was by echocardiography and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI). Results Patients with NSTEMI due to acute coronary occlusion had higher peak troponin T than patients with NSTEMI without acute occlusions (4.9±4.7 vs 0.9±1.1 μg/l, p<0.001), larger infarct size by ceMRI (13±8% vs 3±3%, p<0.001) and poorer left ventricular ejection fraction (48±6% vs 57±6%, p<0.001) at follow-up. Territorial circumferential strain was the best parameter for predicting acute coronary occlusion. A territorial circumferential strain value >−10.0% had 90% sensitivity, 88% specificity and area under the curve=0.93 for identification of acute occlusions. Conclusions Patients with NSTEMI due to acute coronary occlusions develop larger infarcts and more impaired left ventricular function than patients with NSTEMI without occlusions, regardless of infarct-related territory. Territorial circumferential strain by echocardiography enables very early identification of acute coronary occlusions in patients with NSTE-ACS and may be used for detection of patients requiring urgent revascularisation.
EPO induces changes in synaptic transmission and plasticity in the dentate gyrus of rats

Erythropoietin has shown wide physiological effects on the central nervous system in animal models of disease, and in healthy animals. We have recently shown that systemic EPO administration 15 min, but not 5 h, after daily training in a water maze is able to induce the recovery of spatial memory in fimbria‐fornix chronic‐lesioned animals, suggesting that acute EPO triggers mechanisms which can modulate the active neural plasticity mechanism involved in spatial memory acquisition in lesioned animals. Additionally, this EPO effect is accompanied by the up‐regulation of plasticity‐related early genes. More remarkably, this time‐dependent effects on learning recovery could signify that EPO in nerve system modulate specific living‐cellular processes. In the present article, we focus on the question if EPO could modulate the induction of long‐term synaptic plasticity like LTP and LTD, which presumably could support our previous published data. Our results show that acute EPO peripheral administration 15 min before the induction of synaptic plasticity is able to increase the magnitude of the LTP (more prominent in PSA than fEPSP‐Slope) to facilitate the induction of LTD, and to protect LTP from depotentiation. These findings showing that EPO modulates in vivo synaptic plasticity sustain the assumption that EPO can act not only as a neuroprotective substance, but is also able to modulate transient neural plasticity mechanisms and therefore to promote the recovery of nerve function after an established chronic brain lesion. According to these results, EPO could be use as a molecular tool for neurorestaurative treatments. Synapse 70:240–252, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tinned Fruit Consumption and Mortality in Three Prospective Cohorts

Dietary recommendations to promote health include fresh, frozen and tinned fruit, but few studies have examined the health benefits of tinned fruit. We therefore studied the association between tinned fruit consumption and mortality. We followed up participants from three prospective cohorts in the United Kingdom: 22,421 participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk cohort (1993–2012), 52,625 participants from the EPIC-Oxford cohort (1993–2012), and 7440 participants from the Whitehall II cohort (1991–2012), all reporting no history of heart attack, stroke, or cancer when entering these studies. We estimated the association between frequency of tinned fruit consumption and all cause mortality (primary outcome measure) using Cox regression models within each cohort, and pooled hazard ratios across cohorts using random-effects meta-analysis. Tinned fruit consumption was assessed with validated food frequency questionnaires including specific questions about tinned fruit. During 1,305,330 person years of follow-up, 8857 deaths occurred. After adjustment for lifestyle factors and risk markers the pooled hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of all cause mortality compared with the reference group of tinned fruit consumption less often than one serving per month were: 1.05 (0.99, 1.12) for one to three servings per month, 1.10 (1.03, 1.18) for one serving per week, and 1.13 (1.04, 1.23) for two or more servings per week. Analysis of cause-specific mortality showed that tinned fruit consumption was associated with mortality from cardiovascular causes and from non-cardiovascular, non-cancer causes. In a pooled analysis of three prospective cohorts from the United Kingdom self-reported tinned fruit consumption in the 1990s was weakly but positively associated with mortality during long-term follow-up. These findings raise questions about the evidence underlying dietary recommendations to promote tinned fruit consumption as part of a healthy diet.
An Interactive Territory Defining Evolutionary Algorithm: iTDEA

We develop a preference-based multiobjective evolutionary algorithm that interacts with the decision maker (DM) during the course of optimization. We create a territory around each solution where no other solutions are allowed. We define smaller territories around the preferred solutions in order to obtain denser coverage of these regions. At each interaction, the algorithm asks the DM to choose his/her best solution among a set of representative solutions to guide the search toward the neighborhood of the selected solution. The algorithm aims to converge to a final preferred region of the DM. We test the algorithm on three problems using three different utility function types to simulate the DM's responses. The results show that the algorithm converges the DM's simulated preferred regions well.
Impossibility results for asynchronous PRAM (extended abstract)

In the asynchronous PRAM model, processes communicate by atomically reading and writing shared memory locations. This paper investigates the extent to which asynchronous PRAM permits long-lived, highly concurrent data structures. An implementation of a concurrent object is nonZrloclcing if some operation will always complete in a finite number of steps, it is wait-free if every operation will complete in a finite number of steps, and it is k-bounded wait-free, for some k > 0, if every operation will complete within k steps. It is known that asynchronous PRAM cannot be used to construct a non-blocking implementation of any object that solves two-process consensus, a class of objects that includes many common data types. It is natural to ask whether the converse holds: does asynchronous PRAM permit non-blocking implementations of any object that does not solve consensus? This papers shows that the answer is no. There is a strict infinite hierarchy among objects that do not solve consensus: there exist objects (1) without non-blocking implementations, (2) with implementations that are non-blocking but not wait-free, (3) with implementations that are wait-free but not bounded wait-free, and (4) with implementations that are K-bounded wait-free but not k-bounded wait-free for all k >0 and some K > k.
Non-Invasive Technology That Improves Cardiac Function after Experimental Myocardial Infarction: Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz)

Myocardial infarction (MI) may produce significant inflammatory changes and adverse ventricular remodeling leading to heart failure and premature death. Pharmacologic, stem cell transplantation, and exercise have not halted the inexorable rise in the prevalence and great economic costs of heart failure despite extensive investigations of such treatments. New therapeutic modalities are needed. Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz) is a non-invasive technology that increases pulsatile shear stress to the endothelium thereby producing several beneficial cardiovascular effects as demonstrated in animal models, normal humans and patients with heart disease. pGz upregulates endothelial derived nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and its phosphorylation (p-eNOS) to improve myocardial function in models of myocardial stunning and preconditioning. Here we test whether pGz applied chronically after focal myocardial infarction in rats improves functional outcomes from MI. Focal MI was produced by left coronary artery ligation. One day after ligation animals were randomized to receive daily treatments of pGz for four weeks (MI-pGz) or serve as controls (MI-CONT), with an additional group as non-infarction controls (Sham). Echocardiograms and invasive pressure volume loop analysis were carried out. Infarct transmurality, myocardial fibrosis, and markers of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined along with protein analysis of eNOS, p-eNOS and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). At four weeks, survival was 80% in MI-pGz vs 50% in MI-CONT (p< 0.01). Ejection fraction and fractional shortening and invasive pressure volume relation indices of afterload and contractility were significantly better in MI-pGz. The latter where associated with decreased infarct transmurality and decreased fibrosis along with increased eNOS, p-eNOS. Additionally, MI-pGz had significantly lower levels of iNOS, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), and higher level of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). pGz improved survival and contractile performance, associated with improved myocardial remodeling. pGz may serve as a simple, safe, non-invasive therapeutic modality to improve myocardial function after MI.
Coaxial‐Structured Weavable and Wearable Electroluminescent Fibers

Flexible, lightweight, and wearable devices are currently attracting tremendous interest in the field of advanced electronics. In this work, novel 1D, flexible, coaxial‐structured, bright and colorful alternating current electroluminescent (ACEL) fibers consisting of AgNW‐based electrodes, a ZnS phosphor layer, and silicone dielectric and encapsulation layers are designed and fabricated through a simple protocol. This facile all‐solution‐based fabrication protocol enables scalable production of long ACEL fibers (>12 cm). Stemming from the rational design and facile fabrication process, the as‐prepared ACEL fibers exhibit uniform, bright, and angularly independent luminance (up to 202 cd m−2 @ 195 V and 2 kHz). Benefiting mainly from the robust AgNW‐based electrodes and versatile silicone, the ACEL fibers exhibit additionally excellent flexibility and mechanical stability, being capable to maintain ≈91% of luminance after 500 bending‐recovery cycles, as well as mitigated luminance degradation after continuous work in ambient. The proper length combined with superb mechanical properties makes the ACEL fibers readily weavable. Most notably, the isolating, hydrophobic, and biocompatible silicone encapsulation layer endows the ACEL fibers unprecedented wearability. Eventually, a proof‐of‐concept ACEL fabric is demonstrated by weaving the as‐prepared long ACEL fibers, to show the future perspective of directly weaving ACEL fibers into densely arrayed wearable functional cloths.