Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender-related differences in symptoms of patients with suspected breathing disorders in sleep: a clinical population study using the sleep disorders questionnaire.

BACKGROUND Gender-related differences in the symptom profile of patients with suspected sleep disordered breathing (SDB) may be one explanation of the clinical underrecognition of SDB in women. STUDY OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to prospectively assess gender-related differences in presenting symptoms in a clinical sample of patients with suspected sleep disordered breathing. DESIGN Administration of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire prior to clinical and polysomnographic evaluation. Responses obtained from the questionnaire were used to construct 4 independent symptom scales: sleep apnea (SA), periodic limb movement syndrome (PLM), psychiatric sleep disorder (PSY), and narcolepsy (NAR). Analyses of variance were used to examine the effect of gender, AHI, and age on the symptom scales. Associations between gender and each diagnostic scale of the questionnaire were determined by multiple analyses of covariance. SETTING Tertiary pulmonary referral center. PARTICIPANTS 2739 men and 782 women with suspected SDB. All patients who were referred to the sleep laboratory underwent full-night polysomnography, irrespective of the likelihood of SDB. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Overall, men scored significantly higher on items related to worsening of snoring/breathing with alcohol (P < 0.001) and smoking history (P < 0.01) than women. Complaints such as witnessed apneas (P < 0.001) and worsening of snoring in supine position (P < 0.05), however, were more frequently reported by men with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 5/hr, compared with AHI-matched women. There were no significant differences in these items in patients with an AHI > 15/hr. In contrast, women complained significantly more often of insomnia, restless legs, depression, nightmares, palpitations at night, and hallucinations than men. As a result, women had significantly higher scores on the PLM, PSY, and NAR scales of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (P < 0.001, for all). After adjustments for age, body mass index, AHI, arousal index, oxygen saturation data, and smoking history, by means of multiple analyses of covariances, gender differences remained significant (P < 0.001, for all scales). CONCLUSIONS We observed significant gender-related differences in presenting symptoms of patients with sleep disordered breathing at a tertiary level. These differences should be taken into consideration in clinical evaluation of women with suspected sleep disordered breathing.
FOXO transcription factors directly activate bim gene expression and promote apoptosis in sympathetic neurons

Developing sympathetic neurons die by apoptosis when deprived of NGF. BIM, a BH3-only member of the BCL-2 family, is induced after NGF withdrawal in these cells and contributes to NGF withdrawal–induced death. Here, we have investigated the involvement of the Forkhead box, class O (FOXO) subfamily of Forkhead transcription factors in the regulation of BIM expression by NGF. We find that overexpression of FOXO transcription factors induces BIM expression and promotes death of sympathetic neurons in a BIM-dependent manner. In addition, we find that FKHRL1 (FOXO3a) directly activates the bim promoter via two conserved FOXO binding sites and that mutation of these sites abolishes bim promoter activation after NGF withdrawal. Finally, we show that FOXO activity contributes to the NGF deprivation–induced death of sympathetic neurons.
A numerical method for solving uncertain differential equations

Uncertain differential equation is a type of differential equation driven by canonical process. In this paper, a concept of α-path to uncertain differential equation is first introduced, which is a type of deterministic function that solves an associate ordinary differential equation. Then, a numerical method is designed for solving uncertain differential equations, which essentially solves each α-path and produces an inverse uncertainty distribution of the solution. To illustrate the efficiency of the numerical method, several examples are given.
Odométrie 3D vision/lidar pour les véhicules intelligents

La perception dans les vehicules intelligents demeure une fonction fondamentale pour la navigation autonome et les systemes d'aide a la conduite. Les capteurs optiques (cameras et Lidars) fournissent des informations precieuses sur l'environnement (amers visuels, cartes de profondeurs, informations contextuelles) permettant ainsi une localisation precise en position et en orientation ainsi qu'une segmentation des objets mobiles. Neanmoins, dans le contexte qui nous interesse, les vehicules intelligents se deplacent dans des environnements en constante evolution. En effet, si l'on se place dans un environnement routier, de nombreux objets sont en mouvement (automobiles, pietons, cyclistes, motos, etc), et la vitesse du vehicule, sa dynamique et les changements de luminosite ou les conditions meteo, peuvent alterer la perception et en particulier la localisation. L'enjeu de cette problematique est d'obtenir le meilleur compromis precision/integrite sur l'odometrie 3D en utilisant au mieux la redondance fournie par les capteurs optiques que sont les cameras et les Lidars. C'est pourquoi, a travers ce papier, nous essayons de faire le point sur les recherches existantes en odometrie optique multi-capteur et de synthetiser les verrous et difficultes existants sur cette problematique, notamment pour la navigation en milieu routier.
Defining multiplication in o-minimal expansions of the additive reals

This paper considers o-minimal expansions of the structure —the ordered additive reals. More particularly we consider the case when the expansions are “eventually nonlinear” (see below), and find that multiplication is actually definable in all cases except when the structure is “eventually almost linear”, which is a rare special case in which multiplication is obviously not definable. Thus the main theorem established is: Theorem 1.1. For an o-minimal expansion of , if is eventually non-almost-linear then multiplication is definable in. (A structure is eventually almost linear iff every definable function f is of the form f(x) = λx + c + ε(x) on some interval (K, ∞), where λ, c Є ℝ and ε is a function of x which tends to 0 faster than any negative power of x as x → +∞. Otherwise, i.e. if there is a definable function which is not of this form, it is eventually non-almost-linear. ) This is proved in §4.1, after §§2 and 3 have established technology concerning the rate of growth of functions and approximating derivatives. In §4.2 an analogy is made with the result of exponentiation being definable in a polynomially unbounded o-minimal expansion of ℝ as an ordered field (see [Mi]). In fact, by means of the isomorphism x ↦ ln(x) we see that Theorem 1.1 also implies this latter result. Unless otherwise stated, all structures considered in the paper have ℝ as their universe and all functions are real functions.
Antibody Domain Exchange Is an Immunological Solution to Carbohydrate Cluster Recognition

Human antibody 2G12 neutralizes a broad range of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates by binding an unusually dense cluster of carbohydrate moieties on the “silent” face of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein. Crystal structures of Fab 2G12 and its complexes with the disaccharide Manα1-2Man and with the oligosaccharide Man9GlcNAc2 revealed that two Fabs assemble into an interlocked VH domain-swapped dimer. Further biochemical, biophysical, and mutagenesis data strongly support a Fab-dimerized antibody as the prevalent form that recognizes gp120. The extraordinary configuration of this antibody provides an extended surface, with newly described binding sites, for multivalent interaction with a conserved cluster of oligomannose type sugars on the surface of gp120. The unique interdigitation of Fab domains within an antibody uncovers a previously unappreciated mechanism for high-affinity recognition of carbohydrate or other repeating epitopes on cell or microbial surfaces.
Effect of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression on tumor progression in bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND Altered expression of p53 protein is an important predictor of progression in bladder cancer. The action of p53 on cell cycle regulation is mediated, in part, through expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF/CIP1 (p21). Loss of p21 expression may, therefore, contribute to tumor progression. We sought to determine the relationship between p21 expression in bladder cancer and disease progression. METHODS Tumor specimens were obtained from 242 patients who underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer. Median follow-up was 8.5 years (range, 0.1-11.8 years). Nuclear p21 status was determined by immunohistochemistry and was then analyzed in relationship to the probability of tumor recurrence, overall survival, and tumor p53 status. Reported P values are two-sided. RESULTS Nuclear p21 expression was detected in the tumors of 156 (64%) of the 242 patients. Patients with p21-positive tumors had a decreased probability of tumor recurrence (P<.00001) and an increased probability of overall survival (P<.00001) in comparison with patients with p21-negative tumors. In a multivariable analysis, p21 expression was an independent predictor of tumor recurrence (P = .0017) and of survival (P = .006) when assessed with tumor grade, tumor stage, lymph node status, and p53 status. p21 expression was associated with p53 status (P<.001); 56% of tumors with p53 alterations showed loss of p21 expression, whereas 79% of tumors expressing wild-type p53 were p21 positive. Patients with p53-altered/p21-negative tumors demonstrated a higher rate of recurrence and worse survival compared with those with p53-altered/p21-positive tumors (P<.0001). Patients with 53-altered/p21-positive tumors demonstrated a similar rate of recurrence and survival as those with p53-wild type tumors. CONCLUSION Loss of p21 expression is a statistically significant and independent predictor of bladder cancer progression. Maintenance of p21 expression appears to abrogate the deleterious effects of p53 alterations on bladder cancer progression.
Bangla text to speech conversion: A syllabic unit selection approach

Text to speech conversion, abbreviated as TTS, is an artificial voice tool for text documents that converts written text into synthesized sounds. There are quite a number of methods of synthesizing speech for TTS and all of them have their own significant issues like complicated physical model, nonintelligibility, limited usability etc. The best one available is Unit Selection Synthesis, which provides with optimal naturalness and efficiency based on which unit is usedfor example, phoneme, diphone, syllable etc. This paper describes a syllabic method of unit selection synthesis for converting text into speech for Bangla language, the sixth most spoken language in the world. The development process of text collection, text analysis and speech synthesis is also described in this paper.
Central Cord Syndrome : A Review of Epidemiology , Treatment and Prognostic Factors

Introduction: Traumatic central cord syndrome is the most common clinical syndrome encountered in the setting of incomplete spinal cord injury and is vaguely defined as by disproportionately more impairment in the upper than the lower extremities. Methods: A MEDLINE database search was conducted to review the epidemiology, treatment and prognostic factors of this clinical entity. Results and Discussion: Central cord syndrome typically occurs in white, middleaged men. Symptoms can be mild to severe, ranging from burning of hands and feet to disproportionate weakness of the upper extremities, variable sensory loss and bladder or bowel dysfunction. The pathogenic mechanism can involve fractures, dislocation and disc herniation caused by hyperextension or flexion injuries of the cervical spine. The prognosis is benign in most cases and the majority of patients, particularly the young, have a high recovery rate. While there is a trend towards surgical intervention in the United States, the management of this syndrome remains controversial due to weak and conflicting evidence. Several prognostic factors have been described, including age and baseline neurologic function. Studies on blood tests and electrophysiological measurement show promising results in predicting a favorable outcome. Conclusion: There are currently no evidence-based guidelines for surgical treatment or the timing of intervention. Future research, conducted as prospective trials of large populations, may provide further insight into this vaguely defined entity.
Optimal Pricing Strategy for Queuing Systems with Capacity Constraint Problem

Although the lost profit from lost business is quite difficult to estimate for the queuing systems with cyclic demands, my previous work presents a creative and effective approach to formulate waiting cost as balking loss. Using the estimation of waiting cost allows decision maker to have the capability of determining the optimal number of servers for each planning period by minimizing total cost including service cost and waiting cost. However, some queuing systems may not be able to increase the number of servers. When facing this capacity constraint problem, this paper presents an approach to formulate the balking index as pi times thetas , where pi is the discount rate and thetas is the balking index of the restaurant before using discount strategy. With this formulation, managers have the capability of determining the optimal pricing strategy by maximizing the total profit.
Long term refractive outcome in eyes of preterm infants with and without retinopathy of prematurity: comparison of keratometric value, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness

BACKGROUND/AIMS A longitudinal study of premature infants was conducted to examine changes in refractive status and their relation with age and factors influencing the occurrence and degree of myopia. Identification of which of the various refractive factors play important parts in relation to myopia in premature infants was attempted. METHODS Under observation were 125 eyes in 65 patients who were found to demonstrate no signs of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) or who had grade I or II ROP without or after cryotherapy. Cycloplegic refractions were conducted at 6 months, 3 years, and 6 years of age; at 6 years of age keratometric values, lens thicknesses, and axial lengths were recorded, and anterior chamber depths also were measured. RESULTS Myopia begins to appear at 6 months of age and its severity increases between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. The condition showed no further progress in subjects older than 3 years. Of the 104 eyes with ROP, those eyes with cicatricial retinopathy tended towards myopia and high myopia while there was no difference in the degree of myopia related to whether or not cryotherapy was conducted. At 6 years of age, the premature infants exhibited shallower anterior chambers, thicker lenses, and higher axial lengths when the degree of the myopia was higher. The keratometric values, however, appeared to bear no relation to the degree of the myopia. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the occurrence of myopia is related more strongly to whether or not there is cicatricial retinopathy than whether or not there is cryotherapy. Also, the degree of the myopia was found to be related to the depth of the anterior chamber, the thickness of the lens, and the change in axial length but not to keratometric value.
Integrated predictive power control and dynamic channel assignment in mobile radio systems

It is known that dynamic allocation of channels and power in a frequency/time-division multiple access system can improve performance and achieve higher capacity. Various algorithms have been separately proposed for dynamic channel assignment (DCA) and power control. Moreover, integrated dynamic channel and power allocation (DCPA) algorithms have already been proposed based on simple power control algorithms. In this paper, we propose a DCPA scheme based on a novel predictive power control algorithm. The minimum interference DCA algorithm is employed, while simple Kalman filters are designed to provide the predicted measurements of both the channel gains and the interference levels, which are then used to update the power levels. Local and global stability of the network are analyzed and extensive computer simulations are carried out to show the improvement in performance, under the dynamics of user arrivals and departures and user mobility. It is shown that call droppings and call blockings are decreased while, on average, fewer channel reassignments per call are required.
Facilitation of the Lesioned Motor Cortex During Tonic Contraction of the Unaffected Limb Corresponds to Motor Status After Stroke

Background and Purpose: Contraction of the muscles of the unaffected hand is associated with enhanced activation of lesioned motor cortex (ie, crossed facilitation) in some individuals after stroke. However, the association between crossed facilitation and motor function status remains unclear. We investigated whether existence of crossed facilitation corresponds to motor status of the affected upper limb after stroke. Methods: Data were collected from 58 participants with unilateral stroke. The Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE) was used to evaluate motor status. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were elicited from the abductor pollicis brevis (ABP) of the affected side under 3 conditions: rest, tonic contraction of the ABP of the unaffected side, or tonic contraction of the tibialis anterior of the unaffected side. Results: In 28 of the 58 participants, MEPs could be elicited from the affected ABP at rest; these participants also exhibited crossed facilitation during contraction on the unaffected side. Participants with MEPs at rest exhibited higher FMA-UE scores (53.04 ± 2.59) compared with participants with absent MEP (19.83 ± 1.60; Z = −6.21). Seven participants with no MEPs at rest had MEPs with crossed facilitation; their FMA-UE scores were higher compared with the 23 who had no ABP MEP under any condition (Z = −2.66). FMA-UE scores were positively correlated with the amount of crossed facilitation during the APB task (r = 0.68) and the tibialis anterior task (r = 0.54). Discussion and Conclusions: In some participants, MEPs in the affected hand muscle were enhanced by tonic contraction of the muscles on the unaffected side even if no MEP could be evoked at rest. The degree of crossed facilitation in the affected hand muscle was correlated with the level of motor function of the affected upper limb, and the FMA-UE score could classify the presence/absence of crossed facilitation. Video abstract available for more insights from the authors (Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A117).
PHACTR1: Functional Clues Linking a Genome-Wide Association Study Locus to Coronary Artery Disease.

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for coronary artery disease (CAD) have identified >45 novel loci, the majority of which are not associated with traditional CAD risk factors.1,2 The lead single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for each of these loci are generally common, displaying allele frequencies from 0.13 to 0.91 and allele specific effect sizes (odds ratios) for CAD of between 1.06 and 1.3. Notably, the majority of CAD signals identified by the GWAS approach are in noncoding regions of the genome, not unexpected given that only 1% of the genome is protein coding. An important part of the noncoding genome is under purifying selection,3 implying important regulatory functions supported by the fact that an excess of GWAS signals are close to genic regions. However, for most of these variants including the PHACTR1 gene region on chromosome 6p24, the causal biological mechanisms have remained unclear. See accompanying article on page 1472 In this issue of ATVB , Beaudoin et al4 have sought to confirm previous reports5 that rs9349379A>G is the lead SNP in this region, to determine by expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis if PHACTR1 is likely to be the causal gene and using a combination of bioinformatic and laboratory analysis, and to explore possible causal mechanisms relating the risk allele (G; minor allele frequency, 0.41) to decreased PHACTR1 expression. By resequencing and imputation from the 1000-genome data set, they identify rs9349379 as the top SNP associated with CAD in Montreal Heart Institute Biobank samples …
Effect of higher harmonic corrections on the detection of massive black hole binaries with LISA

Massive black hole binaries are key targets for the space based gravitational wave Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Several studies have investigated how LISA observations could be used to constrain the parameters of these systems. Until recently, most of these studies have ignored the higher harmonic corrections to the waveforms. Here we analyze the effects of the higher harmonics in more detail by performing extensive Monte Carlo simulations. We pay particular attention to how the higher harmonics impact parameter correlations, and show that the additional harmonics help mitigate the impact of having two laser links fail, by allowing for an instantaneous measurement of the gravitational wave polarization with a single interferometer channel. By looking at parameter correlations we are able to explain why certain mass ratios provide dramatic improvements in certain parameter estimations, and illustrate how the improved polarization measurement improves the prospects for single interferometer operation.
A flat rigid plate is a universal planar manipulator

We consider the problem of parallel part manipulation, i.e., the simultaneous position and orientation control of one or more parts in a bounded region of the plane. We propose a novel, minimalist device, based on a single horizontally-vibrating flat plate. We show that a closed rigid motion of the plate, involving its 3 DOF, can be computed which produces desired average forces at a finite number of points, e.g., parts locations. This implies that one or more parts can follow independent trajectories simultaneously, as they interact with a single vibrating plate. This is in sharp contrast with more complex designs such as massively-parallel actuator arrays and/or prehensile manipulation. Dynamic simulation is used to test the current method in two parallel part manipulation examples. A prototype of the device has been built with inexpensive parts; physical implementation of the proposed method is currently underway.
A PD-Like Protocol With a Time Delay to Average Consensus Control for Multi-Agent Systems Under an Arbitrarily Fast Switching Topology

This paper is concerned with the problem of average consensus control for multi-agent systems with linear and Lipschitz nonlinear dynamics under a switching topology. First, a proportional and derivative-like consensus algorithm for linear cases with a time delay is designed to address such a problem. By a system transformation, such a problem is converted to the stability problem of a switched delay system. The stability analysis is performed based on a proposed Lyapunov–Krasoversusii functional including a triple-integral term and sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee the average consensus for multi-agent systems under arbitrary switching. Second, extensions to the Lipschitz nonlinear cases are further presented. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the results.