Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automated assessment of low contrast sensitivity for CT systems using a model observer.

PURPOSE Low contrast sensitivity of CT scanners is regularly assessed by subjective scoring of low contrast detectability within phantom CT images. Since in these phantoms low contrast objects are arranged in known fixed patterns, subjective rating of low contrast visibility might be biased. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a software for automated objective low contrast detectability based on a model observer. METHODS Images of the low contrast module of the Catphan 600 phantom were used for the evaluation of the software. This module contains two subregions: the supraslice region with three groups of low contrast objects (each consisting of nine circular objects with diameter 2-15 mm and contrast 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0%, respectively) and the subslice region with three groups of four circular objects each (diameter 3-9 mm; contrast 1.0%). The software method offered automated determination of low contrast detectability using a NPWE (nonprewhitening matched filter with an eye filter) model observer for the supraslice region. The model observer correlated templates of the low contrast objects with the acquired images of the Catphan phantom and a discrimination indexd' was calculated. This index was transformed into a proportion correct (PC) value. In the two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC) experiments used in this study, a PC ≥ 75% was proposed as a threshold to decide whether objects were visible. As a proof of concept, influence of kVp (between 80 and 135 kV), mAs (25-200 mAs range) and reconstruction filter (four filters, two soft and two sharp) on low contrast detectability was investigated. To validate the outcome of the software in a qualitative way, a human observer study was performed. RESULTS The expected influence of kV, mAs and reconstruction filter on image quality are consistent with the results of the proposed automated model. Higher values ford' (or PC) are found with increasing mAs or kV values and for the soft reconstruction filters. For the highest contrast group (1%), PC values were fairly above 75% for all object diameters >2 mm, for all conditions. For the 0.5% contrast group, the same behavior was observed for object diameters >3 mm for all conditions. For the 0.3% contrast group, PC values were higher than 75% for object diameters >6 mm except for the series acquired at the lowest dose (25 mAs), which gave lower PC values. In the human observer study similar trends were found. CONCLUSIONS We have developed an automated method to objectively investigate image quality using the NPWE model in combination with images of the Catphan phantom low contrast module. As a first step, low contrast detectability as a function of both acquisition and reconstruction parameter settings was successfully investigated with the software. In future work, this method could play a role in image reconstruction algorithms evaluation, dose reduction strategies or novel CT technologies, and other model observers may be implemented as well.
Constraining Dense Matter Superfluidity through Thermal Emission from Millisecond Pulsars

As a neutron star spins down, the diminishing centrifugal force gradually increases the density of any given fluid element in the star's interior. Since the “chemical” (or “beta”) equilibrium state is determined by the local density, this process leads to a chemical imbalance quantified by a chemical potential difference, e.g., δμ ≡ μn - μp - μe, where n, p, and e denote neutrons, protons, and electrons. In the presence of superfluid energy gaps, in this case Δn and Δp, reactions are strongly inhibited as long as both δμ and kT are much smaller than the gaps. Thus, no restoring mechanism is available, and the imbalance will grow unimpeded until δμ = δμthr ~ Δn + Δp. At this threshold, the reaction rate increases dramatically, preventing further growth of δμ and converting the excess chemical energy into heat. The thermal luminosity resulting from this “rotochemical heating” process is L ~ 2 × 10-4(δμthr/0.1 MeV)Ėrot, similar to the typical X-ray luminosity of pulsars with spin-down power Ėrot. The threshold imbalance, and therefore the luminous stage, are only reached by stars whose initial rotation period is Pi ≲ 13(δμthr/0.1 MeV)-1/2ms, i.e., millisecond pulsars. A preliminary study of 11 millisecond pulsars with reported ROSAT observations shows that the latter can already be used to start constraining superfluid energy gaps in the theoretically interesting range, approximately 0.1-1 MeV.
Estimates on HCV disease burden worldwide – filling the gaps

Hepatitis C is caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and represents a major global health burden. Persistent HCV infection can lead to progressive liver disease with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, possibly accounting for up to 0.5 million deaths every year. Treatment of HCV infection is undergoing a profound and radical change. As new treatments are extremely safe and effective, there are virtually no medical reasons to withhold therapy. Yet, the new therapies are expensive. As resources are limited, solid data to estimate the disease burden caused by HCV are urgently needed. Epidemiology data and disease burden analyses for 16 countries are presented. For almost all countries, the peak of HCV‐related cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver‐related death is a decade or more away. However, a surprising heterogeneity in country‐specific HCV‐associated disease burden exists. Also, HCV diagnosis and treatment uptake varied markedly between countries. A consistent finding was that a reduction of HCV liver‐related mortality is dependent on access to therapy. Increasing efficacy of therapy alone with a constant numbers of treatments will not have a major impact on the HCV‐related disease burden. The data presented here should inform public health policy and help drive advocacy for enhanced strategic investment and action. HCV kills patients, and the disease burden will continue to rise in most countries unless action is taken soon. Chronic HCV is a curable infection and a reversible liver disease. Fortunately, the tools to eliminate HCV are now available.
Saliency retargeting: An approach to enhance image aesthetics

A photograph that has visually dominant subjects in general induces stronger aesthetic interest. Inspired by this, we have developed a new approach to enhance image aesthetics through saliency retargeting. Our method alters low-level image features of the objects in the photograph such that their computed saliency measurements in the modified image become consistent with the intended order of their visual importance. The goal of our approach is to produce an image that can redirect the viewers' attention to the most important objects in the image, and thus making these objects the main subjects. Since many modified images can satisfy the same specified order of visual importance, we trained an aesthetics score prediction model to pick the one with the best aesthetics. Results from our user experiments support the effectiveness of our approach.
Image moments for higher-level feature based navigation

This paper presents a novel vision-based localization and mapping algorithm using image moments of region features. The environment is represented using regions, such as planes and/or 3D objects instead of only a dense set of feature points. The regions can be uniquely defined using a small number of parameters; e.g., a plane can be completely characterized by normal vector and distance to a local coordinate frame attached to the plane. The variation of image moments of the regions in successive images can be related to the parameters of the regions. Instead of tracking a large number of feature points, variations of image moments of regions can be computed by tracking the segmented regions or a few feature points on the objects in successive images. A map represented by regions can be characterized using a minimal set of parameters. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear filtering problem. A new discrete-time nonlinear filter based on the state-dependent coefficient (SDC) form of nonlinear functions is presented. It is shown via Monte-Carlo simulations that the new nonlinear filter is more accurate and consistent than EKF by evaluating the root-mean squared error (RMSE) and normalized estimation error squared (NEES).
Feature-Based Laser Scan Matching and Its Application for Indoor Mapping

Scan matching, an approach to recover the relative position and orientation of two laser scans, is a very important technique for indoor positioning and indoor modeling. The iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm and its variants are the most well-known techniques for such a problem. However, ICP algorithms rely highly on the initial guess of the relative transformation, which will reduce its power for practical applications. In this paper, an initial-free 2D laser scan matching method based on point and line features is proposed. We carefully design a framework for the detection of point and line feature correspondences. First, distinct feature points are detected based on an extended 1D SIFT, and line features are extracted via a modified Split-and-Merge algorithm. In this stage, we also give an effective strategy for discarding unreliable features. The point and line features are then described by a distance histogram; the pairs achieving best matching scores are accepted as potential correct correspondences. The histogram cluster technique is adapted to filter outliers and provide an accurate initial value of the rigid transformation. We also proposed a new relative pose estimation method that is robust to outliers. We use the lq-norm (0 < q < 1) metric in this approach, in contrast to classic optimization methods whose cost function is based on the l2-norm of residuals. Extensive experiments on real data demonstrate that the proposed method is almost as accurate as ICPs and is initial free. We also show that our scan matching method can be integrated into a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system for indoor mapping.
Reduced risk of death at 28 days in patients taking a beta blocker before admission to hospital with myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE--To see whether patients taking an oral beta blocker at the time of admission to hospital with myocardial infarction have a reduced risk of death at 28 days. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of data collected on patients admitted over four years. SETTING--Community based study. PATIENTS--2430 Consecutive patients living in the Perth statistical division admitted to hospital with myocardial infarction during 1984-7. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Survival at 28 days among patients taking a beta blocker at onset of myocardial infarction. RESULTS--Patients were grouped into those who were and were not taking a beta blocker at the time of admission. Though patients taking a beta blocker were older and more likely to have a history of myocardial infarction, angina, or hypertension, the overall mortality at 28 days was similar in the two groups. A logistic regression model used to adjust for factors predictive of cardiac death at 28 days confirmed that patients taking a beta blocker at the time of admission had a significantly reduced risk of death (relative risk 0.50; 95% confidence interval 0.34 to 0.76). Though the incidence of fatal ventricular fibrillation was similar in the two groups, mean peak creatine kinase activity was significantly lower in the beta blocker group. CONCLUSIONS--These data support the value of long term use of beta blockers in patients at risk of myocardial infarction. They suggest that patients taking these agents before admission to hospital with myocardial infarction have a significant survival advantage at 28 days, which may be due to a reduction in infarct size.
Understanding audience participation in an interactive theater performance

This article presents an empirical study investigating audience participation in an interactive theater performance. During the performance, audience members were enticed to act upon and contribute to the performance by sharing their opinions, emotions, values and other thoughts, by means of text messages that were integrated into the performance itself. The study aimed at understanding the main characteristics of audience participation in the interactive performance, as well as the role of communication technology as a medium enabling social participation. The results draw attention to the immediate and reflective facets of audience participation, both unfolding at two different but interrelated levels of interactions: an individual and collective one.
Low Molecular Weight Heparin and Unfractionated Heparin Are Both Effective at Accelerating Pulmonary Vascular Maturation in Neonatal Rabbits

Background—Creation of a bi-directional cavopulmonary shunt after the Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome is delayed to allow pulmonary vascular resistance to fall with maturation of the pulmonary vascular bed. We hypothesized that unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), which promote angiogenesis and inhibit smooth muscle cell growth, could accelerate this process. Methods and Results—Fifty-six newborn rabbits were randomly selected to receive UFH 225U/kg (n=12), LMWH 1 mg/kg (n=14), LMWH 10 mg/kg (n=16), or saline (n=14) by subcutaneous injection every 12 hours for 14 days. Treatment with heparin reduced mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure by 12% to 16% relative to controls [9.0±0.2 (UFH), 9.4±0.1 (LMWH 1 mg/kg), 9.2±0.2 (LMWH 10 mg/kg) versus 10.7±0.2 mm Hg (saline), P =0.0001]. Lower PA pressures were associated with reduced alveolar:arterial ratio consistent with enhanced pulmonary angiogenesis in heparin treated animals [8±1 (UFH), 13±2 (LMWH 1 mg/kg), 12±2 (LMWH 10 mg/kg) versus 23±5 (saline), P <0.03]. Reduced PA medial wall thickness and muscularization, two additional features of pulmonary vascular maturation, were also more evident in heparin treated animals. Mean PA pressures in 14-day-old rabbits treated with heparin were lower than those measured in control rabbits less than 7 weeks of age suggesting that heparin shortens the pulmonary vascular maturation process by over 60%. Conclusions—These results indicate that both UFH and LMWH are effective at accelerating pulmonary vascular maturation in newborn rabbits. This raises the possibility that administration of heparin to children after the Norwood procedure might allow for earlier conversion to a bi-directional cavopulmonary shunt.
Real-time classification via sparse representation in acoustic sensor networks

Acoustic Sensor Networks (ASNs) have a wide range of applications in natural and urban environment monitoring, as well as indoor activity monitoring. In-network classification is critically important in ASNs because wireless transmission costs several orders of magnitude more energy than computation. The main challenges of in-network classification in ASNs include effective feature selection, intensive computation requirement and high noise levels. To address these challenges, we propose a sparse representation based feature-less, low computational cost, and noise resilient framework for in-network classification in ASNs. The key component of Sparse Approximation based Classification (SAC), ℓ1 minimization, is a convex optimization problem, and is known to be computationally expensive. Furthermore, SAC algorithms assumes that the test samples are a linear combination of a few training samples in the training sets. For acoustic applications, this results in a very large training dictionary, making the computation infeasible to be performed on resource constrained ASN platforms. Therefore, we propose several techniques to reduce the size of the problem, so as to fit SAC for in-network classification in ASNs. Our extensive evaluation using two real-life datasets (consisting of calls from 14 frog species and 20 cricket species respectively) shows that the proposed SAC framework outperforms conventional approaches such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN) in terms of classification accuracy and robustness. Moreover, our SAC approach can deal with multi-label classification which is common in ASNs. Finally, we explore the system design spaces and demonstrate the real-time feasibility of the proposed framework by the implementation and evaluation of an acoustic classification application on an embedded ASN testbed.
Design of a Compact Two-Mode Multi/Demultiplexer Consisting of Multimode Interference Waveguides and a Wavelength-Insensitive Phase Shifter for Mode-Division Multiplexing Transmission

A compact two-mode (de)multiplexer (TM-MUX) based on Si nanowire for mode-division multiplexing is designed. The TM-MUX is composed of two multimode interference (MMI) waveguides and a butterfly-shape tapered phase shifter between two MMI waveguides. Numerical simulations show that the designed device is compact compared with conventional-mode (de)multiplexer and operates as a TM-MUX in the whole C-band. In addition, we show that the designed TM-MUX has relatively good fabrication tolerance.
Effects of Surface Treatment and Loading Speed on Adhesive Strength of Aluminum to Polycarbonate Lap Joints

The bonding strength of adhesive joints is influenced by the surface roughness of the joining parts. However, the magnitude of the influence has not yet been clarified because of the complexity of the phenomena. In this study, it is showed that surface treatment affects adhesive strength and durability of aluminum/polycarbonate single-lap joints, and loading speed affects tensile-shear strength of adhesive joints. To evaluate the effect of surface treatments on the adhesive strength, several surface treatment methods are used, that is, cleaning, grinding, SiC polishing and sand blasting. It is showed that an optimum value of the surface roughness exists with respect to the tensile-shear strength of adhesive joints. The adhesive strength shows linear relationship with the surface roughness and loading speed. And the mechanical removal of disturbing films of lubricants, impurities and oxides make adhesive strength increase significantly.
Carrying Capacity of Resources and Problems of Sustainable Development in Dongting Lake’s Flood Detention Basin

The relative carrying capacity of resources was used to analyze the dynamic changes of Dongting Lake’s flood detention basin. The relative carrying capacity of resources of flood detention basin compared with Hunan province from2004 to 2011 was calculated. The results shown that the flood detention basin is in population relatively surplus state, but its severe overloading in economy resources. The consultation was drawn as the economic compensation should be offer by downstream areas. Flood detention basin should transform economic growth mode, strict control population in resources lack and environmental vulnerability areas should be taken to reduce population growth pressures on resources.
A Novel Pair of Replacement Algorithms on L1 and L2 Cache for FFT

__ Processors speed is much faster than memory; to bridge this gap cache memory is used. This paper proposes a preeminent pair of replacement algorithms for Level 1 cache (L1) and Level 2 cache (L2) respectively for the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The access patterns of L1 and L2 are different, when CPU does not get the desired data in L1 then it refers to L2. Thus the replacement algorithm which works efficiently for L1 may not be efficient for L2. With the memory access pattern of FFT, the paper has simulated and analyzed the behavior of various existing replacement algorithms on L1 and L2 respectively. The replacement algorithms which are taken into consideration are: Least Recently Used (LRU), Least Frequently Used (LFU) and First In First Out (FIFO). This paper has also proposed new replacement algorithms for L1 (FFTNEW1) and for L2 (FFTNEW2) respectively for the same application. Simulation results shows that by applying the proposed pair of replacement algorithms miss rates are considerably reduced.
Zarxio (Filgrastim-sndz): First Biosimilar Approved in the United States.

Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) are endogenous glycoproteins that regulate the production and the functioning of infection-protective granulocytes and macrophages.1 Overall, 2 types of recombinant CSF drugs—granulocyte CSF (filgrastim, pegfilgrastim) and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (sargramostim)—have been prescribed for more than 20 years to stimulate neutrophils and macrophages, primarily in patients with cancer who are undergoing treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy.1 CSFs also have clinical value in the transplantation of hematopoietic cells to replace aplastic bone marrow.1
Evidence for a Cenozoic radiation of ferns in an angiosperm-dominated canopy

In today's angiosperm-dominated terrestrial ecosystems, leptosporangiate ferns are truly exceptional—accounting for 80% of the ≈11,000 nonflowering vascular plant species. Recent studies have shown that this remarkable diversity is mostly the result of a major leptosporangiate radiation beginning in the Cretaceous, following the rise of angiosperms. This pattern is suggestive of an ecological opportunistic response, with the proliferation of flowering plants across the landscape resulting in the formation of many new niches—both on forest floors and within forest canopies—into which leptosporangiate ferns could diversify. At present, one-third of leptosporangiate species grow as epiphytes in the canopies of angiosperm-dominated tropical rain forests. However, we know too little about the evolutionary history of epiphytic ferns to assess whether or not their diversification was in fact linked to the establishment of these forests, as would be predicted by the ecological opportunistic response hypothesis. Here we provide new insight into leptosporangiate diversification and the evolution of epiphytism by integrating a 400-taxon molecular dataset with an expanded set of fossil age constraints. We find evidence for a burst of fern diversification in the Cenozoic, apparently driven by the evolution of epiphytism. Whether this explosive radiation was triggered simply by the establishment of modern angiosperm-dominated tropical rain forest canopies, or spurred on by some other large-scale extrinsic factor (e.g., climate change) remains to be determined. In either case, it is clear that in both the Cretaceous and Cenozoic, leptosporangiate ferns were adept at exploiting newly created niches in angiosperm-dominated ecosystems.