Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Degradation Indicator Based on a Statistical Anomaly Approach

This paper presents a new method for combining measured parameters into a single indicator for monitoring the condition of systems subjected to degradation effects. The proposed approach integrates the use of nonparametric density estimation techniques into Runger's U2 method, which allows for the separation of variables that are directly related to degradation effects from those which are not. Two simulated case studies are presented for illustration, namely, the monitoring of a flap extension and retraction system, and a gas turbine employed as an auxiliary power unit. For comparison, degradation indicators are also calculated by using Hotteling's T2 and Runger's U2 methods, as well as a nonparametric method without separation of variables. In both case studies, the proposed method provided the best results in terms of fault detection performance and suitability for remaining useful life prediction.
Are Wage and Employment Effects Robust to Alternative Minimum Wage Variables?

A national minimum wage cannot explain variation in wages or employment across regions. Identification of the effect of the minimum wage separately from the effect of other variables on wages or employment requires regional variation. Many minimum wage variables with regional variation have been suggested in the literature. Such a variety of variables makes it difficult to compare estimates across studies. First, estimates using different minimum wage variables are not always calibrated to represent the effect of a 10% increase in the minimum wage on wages or employment. Second, different minimum wage variables might simply measure the effect of the minimum wage on different workers. Part of the controversial recent debate in the literature over the magnitude and direction of the employment effect might be that non-directly comparable estimates are being compared. This paper estimates and critically compares the effects of the minimum wage on both wages and employment using five minimum wage variables common in the literature: real minimum wage, "Kaitz index", "fraction affected", "fraction at" and "fraction below" the minimum wage. The data used is a Brazilian monthly household survey from 1982 to 2000. The estimates are robust and indicate that an increase in the minimum wage compresses the wages distribution with small adverse effects on employment.
Design and Valuation of Debt Contracts

This article studies the design and valuation of debt contracts in a general dynamic setting under uncertainty. We incorporate some insights of the recent corporate finance literature into a valuation framework. The basic framework is an extensive form game determined by the terms of a debt contract and applicable bankruptcy laws. Debtholders and equityholders behave noncooperatively. The firm's reorganization boundary is determined endogenously. Strategic debt service results in significantly higher default premia at even small liquidation costs. Deviations from absolute priority and forced liquidations occur along the equilibrium path. The design tends to stress higher coupons and sinking funds when firms have a higher cash payout ratio. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Can cerebrovascular reactivity be assessed without measuring blood pressure in patients with carotid artery disease? .

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Conventional methods of assessing cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) omit the influence of blood pressure (BP). This study demonstrates the significant influence of BP during the assessment of CVR in patients with carotid artery disease. METHODS In 56 subjects the CVR was bilaterally assessed by measurement of cerebral blood flow velocity change in response to inhalation of 5% CO2 in air while BP was continuously monitored. Three methods of calculating the CVR were used: the conventional ratio between relative cerebral blood flow velocity and end-tidal CO2, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA). The clinical significance of the difference in CVR indices was evaluated. The Bland-Altman test was applied to quantify the comparability and bias between measurements. The magnitude and significance of a change in BP during the CVR assessment were calculated in conjunction with an estimate of the velocity change attributed to the BP. The statistical significance of the data segment length on the variability and magnitude of the CVR index was computed. RESULTS The value of the CVR index was reduced by 20% and 6% in comparison to the conventional ratio approach when MLRA and linear regression were applied, respectively. With the use of MLRA, in 96% of cases the value of the BP coefficient was statistically significant, and in four patients the increase in velocity was primarily attributed to the increase in BP. CONCLUSIONS The influence of BP is significant and requires consideration when the CVR index is calculated in patients with carotid artery disease.
Glomerulocystic kidney: one hundred-year perspective.

CONTEXT Glomerular cysts, defined as Bowman space dilatation greater than 2 to 3 times normal size, are found in disorders of diverse etiology and with a spectrum of clinical manifestations. The term glomerulocystic kidney (GCK) refers to a kidney with greater than 5% cystic glomeruli. Although usually a disease of the young, GCK also occurs in adults. OBJECTIVE To assess the recent molecular genetics of GCK, review our files, revisit the literature, and perform in silico experiments. DATA SOURCES We retrieved 20 cases from our files and identified more than 230 cases published in the literature under several designations. CONCLUSIONS Although GCK is at least in part a variant of autosomal dominant or recessive polycystic kidney disease (PKD), linkage analysis has excluded PKD-associated gene mutations in many cases of GCK. A subtype of familial GCK, presenting with cystic kidneys, hyperuricemia, and isosthenuria is due to uromodullin mutations. In addition, the familial hypoplastic variant of GCK that is associated with diabetes is caused by mutations in TCF2, the gene encoding hepatocyte nuclear factor-1beta. The term GCK disease (GCKD) should be reserved for the latter molecularly recognized/inherited subtypes of GCK (not to include PKD). Review of our cases, the literature, and our in silico analysis of the overlapping genetic entities integrates established molecular-genetic functions into a proposed model of glomerulocystogenesis; a classification scheme emerged that (1) emphasizes the clinical significance of glomerular cysts, (2) provides a pertinent differential diagnosis, and (3) suggests screening for probable mutations.
Worsening renal function in children hospitalized with decompensated heart failure: Evidence for a pediatric cardiorenal syndrome?*

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of renal insufficiency in children hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure and whether worsening renal function is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcome. Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Single-center children's hospital. Patients: All pediatric patients from birth to age 21 yrs admitted to our institution with acute decompensated heart failure from October 2003 to October 2005. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Acute decompensated heart failure was defined as new-onset or acute exacerbation of heart failure signs or symptoms requiring hospitalization and inpatient treatment. We required that heart failure be attributable to ventricular dysfunction only. Worsening renal function was defined as an increase in serum creatinine by ≥0.3 mg/dL during hospitalization. Sixty-three patients (35 male, 28 female) comprised 73 patient hospitalizations. Median age at admission was 10 yrs (range 0.1–20.3 yrs). Median serum creatinine at admission was 0.6 mg/dL (range 0.2–3.5 mg/dL), and median creatinine clearance was 103 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range 22–431 mL/min/1.73 m2). Serum creatinine increased during 60 of 73 (82%) patient hospitalizations (median increase 0.2 mg/dL, range 0.1–2.7 mg/dL), and worsening renal function occurred in 35 of 73 (48%) patient hospitalizations. Clinical variables associated with worsening renal function included admission serum creatinine (p = .009) and blood urea nitrogen (p = .04) and, during hospitalization, continuous infusions of dopamine (p = .028) or nesiritide (p = .007). Worsening renal function was independently associated with the combined end point of in-hospital death or need for mechanical circulatory support (adjusted odds ratio 10.2; 95% confidence interval 1.7–61.2, p = .011). Worsening renal function was also associated with longer observed length of stay (33 ± 30 days vs. 18 ± 25 days, p < .03). Conclusions: These data suggest that an important cardiorenal interaction occurs in children hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure. Renal function commonly worsens in such patients and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and in-hospital death or the need for mechanical circulatory assistance.
Direct roles of the signaling kinase RSK2 in Cdc25C activation during Xenopus oocyte maturation

The induction of M phase in eukaryotic cell cycles requires robust activation of Cdc2/cyclin B by Cdc25, which itself is robustly activated by serine/threonine phosphorylations. Although multiple protein kinases that directly activate Cdc25C have been identified, whether the combination of different primary phosphorylations of Cdc25C is sufficient to fully activate Cdc25C has not been determined. By analyzing the GST-Cdc25C phosphorylating activity in Xenopus egg extracts, we previously defined roles of MAPK and Cdc2/cyclin B in partially activating Cdc25C and predicted the presence of another major Cdc25C-activating kinase. In this study, we demonstrate that this missing kinase is RSK2, which phosphorylates three sites in Cdc25C and also partially activates Cdc25C. However, the phosphorylations catalyzed by MAPK, Cdc2, and RSK2 fail to fully activate Cdc25C, suggesting that additional biochemical events are required to fully activate this key cell cycle regulator.
Synchronizing Multiagent Plans Using Temporal Logic Specifications

Plan synchronization is a method of analyzing multiagent plans to introduce ordering constraints between them so that their concurrent execution achieves a desired goal. We describe a plan synchronization method for goals expressed using temporal logic specifications. Our goals can involve both qualitative and quantitative time requirements. The requirements expressed by a goal can involve safety constraints as well as liveness ones. The key to our method is a technique for checking goal formulas incrementally over models of concurrent executions of plans. Our approach covers more general goal types than any comparable method. It also promises easy integration with standard AI planning search control and heuristic strategies.
Family Experiences and Early Emotion Knowledge.

This study examined individual differences in young children's understanding of emotion and potential correlates in the domain of family experiences. Participating in the study were 49 children, ages 40 to 75 months from a predominately white, middle to upper class sample. Self-report questionnaires concerning the expression of emotion, management of marital conflict, and marital satisfaction were obtained from the mothers of children who had been given an assessment of their ability to label negative emotions and talk about hidden negative emotions. Children's facial expressions to the presentation of an emotionally evocative puppet vignette were also assessed. The results indicated that individual differences in children's understanding of negative emotions were related to specific dimensions of family experiences. The data provide support for the notion that specific family experiences are related to key aspects of early emotion understanding. (Contains 12 references.) (Author/KB) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************
Ventricular Fibrillation and Tachycardia Classification Using a Machine Learning Approach

Correct detection and classification of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and rapid ventricular tachycardia (VT) is of pivotal importance for an automatic external defibrillator and patient monitoring. In this paper, a VF/VT classification algorithm using a machine learning method, a support vector machine, is proposed. A total of 14 metrics were extracted from a specific window length of the electrocardiogram (ECG). A genetic algorithm was then used to select the optimal variable combinations. Three annotated public domain ECG databases (the American Heart Association Database, the Creighton University Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia Database, and the MIT-BIH Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmia Database) were used as training, test, and validation datasets. Different window sizes, varying from 1 to 10 s were tested. An accuracy (Ac) of 98.1%, sensitivity (Se) of 98.4%, and specificity (Sp) of 98.0% were obtained on the in-sample training data with 5 s-window size and two selected metrics. On the out-of-sample validation data, an Ac of 96.3% ± 3.4%, Se of 96.2% ± 2.7%, and Sp of 96.2% ± 4.6% were obtained by fivefold cross validation. The results surpass those of current reported methods.
The in vivo sensitization of avian erythrocytes with Salmonella gallinarum polysaccharide.

The intravenous inoculation into fowls of large doses of crude polysaccharide preparations derived from a smooth strain of Salmonella gallinarum resulted in the adsorption of some of the polysaccharide on the surfaces of circulating erythrocytes. This in vivo adsorption, detectable by an antiglobulin haemagglutination test, lasted for a maximum of approximately 24 hours after inoculation of polysaccharide. Similarly, in vivo sensitization of avian erythrocytes reached a maximum at about 8-10 days following oral infection of fowls with Salm. gallinarum. These results are discussed in relation to the ability of the reticulo-endothelial system to remove polysaccharide from the blood stream, and to the possible consequences of the hosts' immunological response to sensitized erythrocytes.
Effective Management of a pregnancy tumour using a soft tissue diode laser: a case Report.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Pregnancy tumours (PTs) are a non-neoplastic, reactive, inflammatory conditional gingival enlargement which occurs in the oral cavity during pregnancy. The lesion most frequently occurs on the gingiva but may also develop on the lip, tongue, oral mucosa and palate. When a large PT develops, it can interfere with mastication, speech, maintenance of oral hygiene and can be aesthetically disfiguring. The treatment of PTs depends upon the size of the lesion; smaller lesions can regress after parturition however large lesions need to be surgically removed. Conventional surgical techniques have the disadvantage of more bleeding from the surgical site and delay in healing of the scar tissue. The diode laser is a relatively new alternative to conventional surgical technique in intra-oral areas with the added advantage of bloodless procedures and rapid healing. CASE REPORT The purpose of the present study is to highlight the management of a PT in a 25-year-old female using a diode laser delivering a painless, bloodless procedure with rapid postoperative healing. CONCLUSIONS Diode laser excision of a persistent pregnancy tumour in a postpartum patient was safe and effective with minimal bleeding, good coagulation, and good wound healing. Among other lasers, the diode laser can therefore be considered for excisional treatment of persistent PTs.
Array Modeling of Active Sonar Clutter

Active sonar systems operating in shallow water environments often deal with excessive false alarms, generically referred to as clutter, that are more numerous than expected for Rayleigh distributed reverberation. It is known that the clutter probability density function, and therefore the probability of false alarm (Pfalpha), depends on the scattering sources, propagation conditions, sonar system and signal processing. In this paper the effect of sonar array processing on clutter statistics is evaluated through approximation by the K distribution where the shape parameter (alpha tilde) provides an inverse relationship to Pfalpha with decreases in alpha tilde representing an increase in Pfalpha. When the transmit waveform bandwidth is narrowband with respect to the array processing and propagation is restricted to the direct path, a was found to be separable into the product of an array-processing effect, a transmit-waveform effect, and a clutter-source scattering effect. The array effect was found to coarsely follow the array beamwidth, although precise evaluation is straightforward given the array beampattern and, for an equi-spaced line array, an asymptotic approximation was seen to be quite accurate for even moderate array sizes. As might be expected, array design or processing that tends to increase the beamwidth (e.g., reducing the size of an array or transmit waveform frequency, steering away from broadside to a line array, or shading an array to reduce sidelobes) was found to increase alpha tilde. Uniform shading was found to provide a practical, though not exact, lower bound on alpha tilde for common array shading functions.
Self-Identity after Brain Injury

1. Overview of self-identity after brain injury 2. What is the self? Historical and contemporary accounts 3. Introduction to brain injury and consequences during childhood and adolescence 4. Psychological adjustment and self-identity changes after brain injury 5. Approaches for assessing changes to self after brain injury 6. Individual psychotherapy and neurorehabilitation approaches 7. Group and community-based interventions 8. Family and paediatric Interventions 9. Summary and future directions
Intensive treatment with methotrexate in early rheumatoid arthritis: aiming for remission. Computer Assisted Management in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (CAMERA, an open-label strategy trial)

Background: To investigate whether intensive treatment with methotrexate (MTX) according to a strict protocol and a computerised decision program is more beneficial compared to conventional treatment with MTX in early rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: In a two-year multicentre open label strategy trial, 299 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to the intensive strategy group or the conventional strategy group. Patients in both groups received MTX, the aim of treatment being remission. Patients in the intensive treatment group came to the outpatient clinic once every month; adjustment of the MTX dosage was tailored to the individual patient on the basis of predefined response criteria, using a computerised decision program. Patients of the conventional strategy group came to the outpatient clinic once every three months; they were treated according to common practice. Cyclosporine was added if patients had an inadequate response to maximal tolerated MTX doses. Results: Seventy six (50%) patients in the intensive strategy group achieved at least one period of remission during the two year trial, versus 55 patients (37%) in the conventional strategy group (p = 0.03). Areas under the curve for nearly all clinical variables were significantly lower—that is, there was a better clinical effect for the intensive treatment group compared with the conventional treatment group. Conclusion: The results of this study show that it is possible to substantially enhance the clinical efficacy early in the course of the disease by intensifying treatment with MTX, aiming for remission, tailored to the individual patient. Furthermore, participating rheumatologists indicated that the computerised decision program could be a helpful tool in their daily clinical practice.
Sport education in physical education: research based practice

Sport Education is an approach to the teaching of PE that emphasises learning through sport, developing skills such as team-working and leadership in pupils, as well as enhancing self-esteem and encouraging an appreciation of concepts of fair play. This new text includes unique case study work with contemporary school PE departments and is the first to examine how the Sport Education model can be applied by teachers in the context of the UK National Curriculum for Physical Education. The book covers all key Stages, at primary and secondary levels, as well as all areas of activity within the NCPE. It also relates Sport Education to key contemporary issues in teaching and learning, such as assessment and inclusion, as well as offering practical guidance on how SE as an instructional model can be used to teach within each of the core areas of activity in the NCPE (i.e. games, swimming etc). This will be invaluable reading for researchers and trainees in Physical Education.
DEFORMABILITY CYTOMETRY : HIGH-THROUGHPUT , CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENT OF CELL MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IN EXTESIONAL FLOW

Cell state and function is often manifested in biochemical and biophysical markers. Traditionally, biochemical markers have been exploited for identification of phenotype while only recently have the mechanical or biophysical properties of cells been explored for the same purpose. Biophysical markers can be advantageous in that they do not require costly labeling or molecular analysis. However, current techniques to assay cell mechanical properties do not possess the throughput to be used clinically. Here, we present a high-throughput method which employs inertial microfluidic phenomena to measure whole-cell deformability and apply it to several pressing biomedical problems.
Cross-Resistance between Fluconazole and Ravuconazole and the Use of Fluconazole as a Surrogate Marker To Predict Susceptibility and Resistance to Ravuconazole among 12,796 Clinical Isolates of Candida spp

ABSTRACT Cross-resistance within a class of antimicrobial agents is a problem that is often encountered with antibacterial agents, and it is also an issue with antifungal agents. A current example is ravuconazole, a new triazole antifungal with an expanded spectrum and potency against Candida spp. , Aspergillus spp. , and other opportunistic fungal pathogens. The present study addresses the issue of cross-resistance between fluconazole and ravuconazole and the use of fluconazole as a surrogate marker to predict the susceptibility of Candida spp. to ravuconazole. Reference broth microdilution MIC results for 12,796 strains of Candida spp. isolated from more than 200 medical centers worldwide were used. Ravuconazole MICs and tentative interpretive categories (susceptible, ≤1 μg/ml; resistant, ≥2 μg/ml) were compared with those of fluconazole by using regression statistics and error rate bounding analyses. For all 12,796 isolates, the absolute categorical agreement rate was 92.5% (rate of false-susceptible results, or very major errors [VME], 0.1%). Ravuconazole was active (MIC, ≤1 μg/ml) against 99.9% of the fluconazole-susceptible isolates, 96% of the fluconazole-susceptible dose-dependent isolates, and 49% of the fluconazole-resistant isolates, including 99% of the Candida krusei isolates. Since ravuconazole is 16- to 32-fold more potent than fluconazole, the performance of fluconazole as a surrogate marker for ravuconazole susceptibility was improved by designating those isolates with fluconazole MICs of ≤32 μg/ml susceptible to ravuconazole, resulting in a categorical agreement rate of 98.3%, with a VME rate of 0.3% (99 and 0.4%, respectively, when C. krusei was omitted). Cross-resistance between fluconazole and ravuconazole applies most directly to fluconazole-resistant Candida glabrata and is variable among other species of Candida. Fluconazole may serve as a surrogate marker to predict the susceptibility of Candida spp. to ravuconazole.