Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance imaging findings in probable Creutzfeld-Jacob disease: comparison with electroencephalography and cerebrospinal fluid characteristics

Background Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (CJD) is a rare, progressive disease that has a vast clinical manifestation range. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and measurement of 14-3-3 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may offer a pragmatic approach in the diagnosis of CJD as an alternative to histopathological confirmation. Purpose To present the symptoms and signs of the CJD patients in regard to radiological and neurophysiological findings. Material and Methods We collected all cases with the diagnosis of probable CJD admitted to our neurology department between June 2010 and June 2014. The medical records and laboratory data, clinical features, results of MRI (including diffusion weighted images), EEG and CSF evaluations, and other laboratory data to exclude other possible diagnoses were recorded. None of the patients underwent biopsy or autopsy for histological diagnosis. Results Of 20 patients, 11 (55%) were men and nine (45%) were women. The mean age at disease onset was 60.0 ± 9.5 years (age range, 47–80 years). All patients without exception had characteristic abnormalities in DWI and/or FLAIR on admission, about 4 months after the initial symptom. Periodic complexes on EEGs characteristic for CJD were detected only in 10 patients (50%) on admission and in 13 patients (65%) during disease course. Out of 14 patients who underwent CSF examination, 11 (78.5%) were positive for 14-3-3 protein. Conclusion Although the definite diagnosis of CJD is made histopathologically, we aimed to discuss the value of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of CJD in respect to EEG findings and protein 14-3-3 levels in CSF.
An indirect fluorescent-antibody technique for study of uncomplicated gonorrhea. II. Selection and characterization of the strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae used as antigen.

By use of an indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) procedure, a number of strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were surveyed to identify several that reacted with sera from all of a group of patients with gonorrhea but not with sera from any of a group of normal individuals. Detailed studies showed that these broadly reactive strains possess antigenic features common to many strains of gonococci and that their antigenic features are not shared to a significant extent by other species of Neisseria.
Automatic detection of hypernasal speech signals using nonlinear and entropy measurements

Automatic hypernasality detection in children with Cleft Lip and Palate is classically performed by means of acoustic analysis; however, recent findings indicate that nonlinear dynamics features could be useful for this task. In order to continue deepening in this issue, in this paper the discriminant capability of 4 different nonlinear dynamics features along with a set of 6 entropy measurements is studied. The whole set of features is optimized using an automatic feature selection technique based on principal component analysis. The decision about the presence or absence of hypernasality is made by employing a support vector machine. The system is tested over two databases, one considers the five Spanish vowels and the words /coco/ and /gato/, and the other one considers different German words. The performance of the system is presented in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and receiver operating curves. According to the results, the accuracy of system increases when nonlinear and entropy measures are combined.
Evaluation of sHLA-G levels in serum of patients with prostate cancer identify as a potential of tumor marker

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer type in men and is the second cause of death, due to cancer, in patients over 50, after lung cancer. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a widely used tumor marker for prostate cancer. Recently, PSA is discovered in non-prostatic cancer tissues in men and women raising doubts about its specificity for prostatic tissues. PSA exists in low serum level in healthy men and in higher levels in many prostate disorders, including prostatitis and prostate cancer. Thus, a supplementary tumor marker is needed to accurately diagnose the cancer and to observe the patient after treatment. Recently, soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) has been introduced as a new tumor marker for different cancer types, including colorectal, breast, lung, and ovary. The present descriptive-experimental study was carried out including patients with malignant prostate tumor, patients with benign prostate tumor, and a group of health men as the control group, as judged by an oncologist as well as a pathologist. After sterile blood sampling, sHLA-G was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in each group. The data was then analyzed using one-way ANOVA. P≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results showed that the mean of sHLA-G level was high in patients. Also, it was found that there was a significant difference in sHLA serum level between the three groups. The data revealed that sHLA-G can be a novel supplementary tumor marker in addition to PSA to diagnose prostate cancer.
Inflammation in the Central Nervous System: the Role for Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are a subclass of antigen‐presenting cells critical in the initiation and regulation of adaptive immunity against pathogens and tumors, as well as in the triggering of autoimmunity. Recent studies have provided important knowledge regarding distribution of DCs in the central nervous system (CNS) and their role in intrathecal immune responses. DCs are present in normal meninges, choroid plexus, and cerebrospinal fluid, but absent from the normal brain parenchyma. Inflammation is accompanied by recruitment and/or development of DCs in the affected brain tissue. DCs present in different compartments of the CNS are likely to play a role in the defence against CNS infections, and also may contribute to relapses/chronicity of CNS inflammation and to break‐down of tolerance to CNS autoantigens. CNS DCs can therefore be viewed as a future therapeutic target in chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Performance Comparison of Particle and Extended Kalman Filter Algorithms for GPS C/A Code Tracking and Interference Rejection 1

Tracking algorithms for the GPS C/A code with an interference rejection capability based on state estimation technique are considered. A swept tone jamming signal is modeled as an autoregres- sive (AR) process and estimated jointly with the tim- ing delay. A novel Mean-Value Theorem Particle Fil- ter (MVT-PF) is applied to address the highly nonlin- ear measurement model and its performance is com- pared to that of conventional nonlinear estimation al- gorithms. The simulation results show the MVT-PF outperforms the conventional Extended Kalman Fil- ter and Gaussian Sum Filter.
Combining two-view constraints for motion estimation

In this paper we describe two methods for estimating the motion parameters of an image sequence. For a sequence of N images, the global motion can be described by N-1 independent motion models. On the other hand, in a sequence there exist as many as /sub 2///sup N(N-1)/ pairwise relative motion constraints that can be solve for efficiently. In this paper we show how to linearly solve for consistent global motion models using this highly redundant set of constraints. In the first case, our method involves estimating all available pairwise relative motions and linearly fining a global motion model to these estimates. In the second instance, we exploit the fact that algebraic (i.e. epipolar) constraints between various image pairs are all related to each other by the global motion model. This results in an estimation method that directly computes the motion of the sequence by using all possible algebraic constraints. Unlike using reprojection error, our optimisation method does not solve for the structure of points resulting in a reduction of the dimensionality of the search space. Our algorithms are used for both 3D camera motion estimation and camera calibration. We provide real examples of both applications.
Attentional state: From automatic detection to willful focused concentration

Despite the fact that attention is a core property of all perceptual and cognitive operations, our understanding of its neurophysiological mechanisms is far from complete. There are many theoretical models that try to fill this gap in knowledge, though practically all of them concentrate only on either involuntary (bottom-up) or voluntarily (top-down) aspect of attention. At the same time, both aspects of attention are rather integrated in the living brain. In this chapter we attempt to conceptualise both aspects of attentional state within the theory of Operational Architectonics of brain and mind functioning, which provides a plausible theoretical basis for neurophysiological understanding of how attention is brought to existence in the living brain. Andrew A. Fingelkurts & Alexander A. Fingelkurts 2 “Everyone knows what attention is. It is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought” (James, 1890/1981, pp. 403-404).
Results and analysis of hybrid bistatic SAR experiments with spaceborne, airborne and stationary sensors

Bistatic SAR is a promising and useful supplement to a classical monostatic SAR system. Since transmitter and receiver are spatially separated, additional information of a scene may be provided. Further, as shadowing, layover, and foreshortening depend on the bistatic geometry, which can be quite different to the monostatic case, they can contribute to image analysis and classification. The transmitter and receiver are located on different platforms, which may either be close together or hundreds of kilometers apart. Typical platforms are satellites, UAVs, aircrafts, and towers. This paper presents recent bistatic SAR experiments with spaceborne, airborne, and stationary sensors, which have been conducted at FHR or in cooperation with Defence Research & Development Canada. Image results are presented and analyzed with respect to scattering behavior and resolution and compared to monostatic images.
Bandwidth Adaptation by Squeezing Idle Traffic in Browsers: An Active Window Detection Based Approach for Next Generation Networks

This letter proposes a novel algorithm named bandwidth adaptation by squeezing idle traffic (BASIT), which aims at reducing the video traffic in idle tabs/windows of browsers. The algorithm is based on detecting active tabs/windows in the browsers at client end. Video data on idle tabs are intelligently compressed by the server to save network bandwidth. Bandwidth wasted on idle video traffic is reduced by either sending the lowest quality of the video or only audio throughout the idle duration of the tabs/windows. It is understandable that substantial amount of bandwidth can be saved by applying BASIT algorithm on browsers.
DRIED CHICORY ROOT (CICHORIUM INTYBUS L.) AS A NATURAL FRUCTAN SOURCE IN RABBIT DIET: EFFECTS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, DIGESTION AND CAECAL AND CARCASS TRAITS

Three experimental diets were formulated including (per kg) 0, 50 or 100 g chicory root (Control, Chicory 5, Chicory 10 diets, respectively) at the expense of oats. The diets differed with respect to starch and fructan contents. In the performance trial, 120 Hyplus rabbits were randomly allocated to 3 groups (2 rabbits per cage) and fed one of the 3 experimental diets between 31 and 73 d of age. At the end of the trial period, 20 rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and used for evaluation of carcass traits. In addition, the coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of the diets and caecal traits were determined from 45 to 49 d of age in 10 rabbits per treatment. The diets did not differ significantly in terms of weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, health status or carcass traits of rabbits. The CTTADs of crude protein (P=0.041) and ether extract (P=0.006) were lower in rabbits fed the Chicory 10 diet than in rabbits fed the control diet. The CTTAD of starch (P<0.001) was lower, whereas that of fructans (P<0.001) higher, in rabbits fed the diets based on chicory root. The caecum weight (P=0.037), the weight of its contents (P=0.025) and the lactic acid (P=0.028) concentration were higher in rabbits fed the Chicory 10 diet than in control rabbits. On the contrary, rabbits fed with the chicory diets showed lower caecal pH (P=0.048) than rabbits fed the control diet. There was a non-significantly lower caecal dry matter content (P=0.077) and higher total VFA concentration (P=0.065) with the chicory root inclusion. It may be concluded that chicory root can serve as a natural source of inulin- type fructans in rabbit feed. Diet supplementation with 10% dried chicory root beneficially affected the caecal fermentative activity in the rabbits, without significant reductions in the nutritive value of the diet, growth performance or carcass quality.
Urinary Concentrations of Triclosan, Benzophenone-3, and Bisphenol A in Taiwanese Children and Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of urinary triclosan (TCS), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), and bisphenol A (BPA) in 52 children and 71 adolescents. The effects of age and sex on the levels of urinary TCS, BP-3, and BPA were explored, respectively. Results demonstrated the overall detection rates of urinary TCS, BP-3, and BPA were 18.7%, 8.1%, and 49.6%, respectively. The females had higher TCS concentrations than males (p = 0.051). The detection rate of urinary BP-3 in females (12.3%) was higher than that in males (0%) (p = 0.015). Moreover, the detection rate of urinary BP-3 in adolescents (14.1%) was higher than that in children (0%) (p = 0.005). For children, no urinary BP-3 was found. There were no differences in detection rates and concentrations of urinary TCS, BP-3, and BPA between males and females, respectively. For adolescents, urinary BP-3 was only found in the females. Urinary TCS levels in females were higher than those in males (p = 0.047). The present study showed that urinary TCS concentrations in females were significantly higher than those in males, respectively. In addition, BP-3 was only detected in urine samples of female adolescents. Sex and age were the important factors influencing urinary TCS and BP-3 concentrations.
Postmodern Nursing and Beyond

TRANSPERSONAL NURSING AS ONTOLOGICAL ARCHETYPE * The Starting Point * Moving from Text to Margin * In Search of the Sacred Feminine: Voices from the Margins * Deconstructing Modern Metaphors * Reconstructing Nursing * TRANSPERSONAL NURSING AS ONTOLOGICAL ARTIST * Beyond Nursing in the Post Postmodern Millennium * Transpersonal Caring - Healing * The Postmodern/Transpersonal Body * The Body as a Sacred Mirror * Exercises for Experiencing the Transpersonal Body * Professional Ontological Competencies for Transpersonal Practice * Reconsidering Nightengale: Professional Ontological Competencies * As Advanced Caring-Healing Arts * An Interlude: The Zen of Bedmaking * TRANSPERSONAL NURSING AS ONTOLOGICAL ARCHITECT * Caring-Healing Architechture within the Postmodern Paradigm * Unconcluding Postmodern Nightengale * Relighting the Lamp
Resilient end-to-end message protection for large-scale cyber-physical system communications

Essential features of cyber-physical systems such as Smart Grid are real-time analysis of high-resolution data, which a massive number of embedded devices periodically generate, and the effective and timely response to specific analytic results obtained from the data. Therefore, mission-critical data and control messages exchanged among machines in the cyber-physical systems must be strongly protected to prevent the infrastructures from becoming vulnerable. Specifically, the protection mechanism used must be scalable, secured from an end-to-end perspective, and key exposure resilient. Moreover, there may be privacy protection required among devices that generate data, e.g., smart metering. In this paper, we show that, for large-scale cyber-physical system communications, most well-known point-to-point security schemes such as IPsec [1], TLS [2], or SRTP [3] cannot meet the scalability, extensibility, and thinness requirements. By contrast conventional group security schemes which address the limitations of the point-to-point schemes have other limitations on aspects of privacy, key exposure resiliency, and key refreshment. To address the security requirements for cyber-physical systems, we design a resilient end-to-end message protection framework, REMP, exploiting the notion of the long-term key that is given on per node basis. This long term key is assigned during the node authentication phase and is subsequently used to derive encryption keys from a random number per-message sent. Compared with conventional schemes, REMP improves privacy, message authentication, and key exposure, and without compromising scalability and end-to-end security. The tradeoff is a slight increase in computation time for message decryption and message authentication.
Common playability problems in social network games

Social network games on Facebook have become a popular genre of video games. Social network integration and the free-to-play revenue model make them easily accessible but also easy to discard. In such an ecosystem, the quality of the game plays an important part. Improving playability is one method for achieving higher quality game experiences which might in turn lead to better retention and monetization. In this work-in-progress paper, we examine 12 social games and present the ten most common problem categories featuring game usability, gameplay and platform related playability problems.
Problems in Aspect Oriented Design: Facts and Thoughts

: The classic challenge in writing object-oriented programs (OOP) is finding the right decomposition into classes and objects. This problem arises whenever programmers need to deal with crosscutting concerns. Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP) is a well known methodology to overcome this issue by modularizing crosscutting concerns using aspects. Programmers are slowly realizing the importance of AOP since it creates cleaner code. But AOP breaks encapsulation in joint points and modifies flow control, making the source code hard to understand.AOP is not very well tested and documented and there is a lack of specific development tools. That’s why it is mainly used only for maintaining the system, rather than being a good choice for developing the initial version of the system. The main goal of this paper is to increase the acceptability of AOP by offering some tips against its drawbacks.
Error analysis and attitude observability of a monocular GPS/visual odometry integrated navigation filter

In this paper, we present a method for the recovery of position and absolute attitude (including pitch, roll and yaw) using a novel fusion of monocular visual odometry and GPS measurements in a similar manner to a classic loosely coupled GPS/INS error state navigation filter. The proposed filter does not require additional restrictions or assumptions such as platform-specific dynamics, map matching, feature tracking, visual loop closing, gravity vector or additional sensors such as an inertial measurement unit or magnetic compass. An observability analysis of the proposed filter is performed, showing that the scale factor, position and attitude errors are fully observable under acceleration that is non-parallel to the velocity vector in the navigation frame. The observability properties of the proposed filter are demonstrated using numerical simulations. We conclude the article with an implementation of the proposed filter using real flight data collected from a Cessna 172 equipped with a downwards-looking camera and GPS, showing the feasibility of the algorithm in real-world conditions.
Instrumentation for the detection and interruption of apnea episodes for premature newborn

Apnea of prematurity is very frequent in premature newborns (PNB). If the apnea episode is not interrupted in time, it can cause several damages to the newborn's central nervous system. In this paper, we introduce a novel technology for detecting apnea of prematurity episodes, based on cardiac pulse frequency (PF) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) simultaneously, and using vibrotactile stimulation to interrupt such episodes. The thresholds of the newborns' PF and SpO2 had been established to identify the apnea episode automatically through the proposed system: for babies ≤ 35 weeks gestation, PF is ≤ 100 bpm and SpO2 ≤ 80%; for babies > 35 weeks gestation, PF is ≤ 80 bpm and SpO2 ≤ 80%. The system used vibrotactile stimuli at 250 Hz for 4 s. To manage the system that activates the vibratory device automatically and registers those parameters, a program had been developed. It registers apnea occurrence, period of manual stimulation and vibratory stimulation duration. This technique was tested on 4 PNB. It was observed 10 apnea episodes and the device was successful in the detection of all of them. The vibrotactile stimulation was capable of promoting the return of respiratory movements in 9 of the 10 detected events of apnea and seemed to be a promising means of handling them.
A Bibliography of Historical Economics to 1980

Historians and economists will find here what their fields have in common - the movement since the 1950s known variously as 'cliometrics', 'economic history', or 'historical economics'. A leading figure in the movement, Donald McCloskey, has compiled, with the help of George Hersh and a panel of distinguished advisors, a highly comprehensive bibliography of historical economics covering the period up until 1980. The book will be useful to all economic historians, as well as quantitative historians, applied economists, historical demographers, business historians, national income accountants, and social historians.
How do Allied Health Professionals Evaluate New Models of Care? What Are We Measuring and Why?

&NA; The aim of this study was to identify what outcome measures or quality indicators are being used to evaluate advanced and new roles in nine allied health professions and whether the measures are evaluating outcomes of interest to the patient, the clinician, or the healthcare provider. A systematic search strategy was used. Medical and allied health databases were searched and relevant articles extracted. Relevant studies with at least 1 outcome measure were evaluated. A total of 106 articles were identified that described advanced roles, however, only 23 of these described an outcome measure in sufficient detail to be included for review. The majority of the reported measures fit into the economic and process categories. The most reported outcome related to patients was satisfaction surveys. Measures of patient health outcomes were infrequently reported. It is unclear from the studies evaluated whether new models of allied healthcare can be shown to be as safe and effective as traditional care for a given procedure. Outcome measures chosen to evaluate these services often reflect organizational need and not patient outcomes. Organizations need to ensure that high–quality performance measures are chosen to evaluate the success of new health service innovations. There needs to be a move away from in–house type surveys that add little or no valid evidence as to the effect of a new innovation. More importance needs to be placed on patient outcomes as a measure of the quality of allied health interventions.