Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A fuzzy if-then rule-based nonlinear classifier

This paper introduces a new classifier design method that is based on a modification of the classical Ho-Kashyap procedure. The proposed method uses the absolute error, rather than the squared error, to design a linear classifier. Additionally, easy control of the generalization ability and robustness to outliers are obtained. Next, an extension to a nonlinear classifier by the mixture-of-experts technique is presented. Each expert is represented by a fuzzy if-then rule in the Takagi-Sugeno-Kang form. Finally, examples are given to demonstrate the validity of the introduced method.
BER performance of linear STBC from orthogonal designs over MIMO correlated Nakagami-m fading channels

This paper presents the evaluation of the average bit error rate (BER) performance of linear space-time block codes (STBC) from orthogonal designs over correlated identically distributed Nakagami-m fading channels. Starting from the moment-generating function (MGF) of the multipath component signals at the antenna array elements, analytical expressions of the BER performance for both integral and nonintegral Nakagami-m fading parameters are derived. Closed-form expressions of the spatial cross-correlation function for mobile nonfrequency selective Nakagami-m fading multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channels are obtained, which are valid for small angle-of-arrival (AOA) spread. In this expressions, various parameters of interest, such as the mean AOA of the signal, AOA spread, and array configurations, are all taken into account. The effects of antenna array configuration and the operating environment (mean AOA, AOA spread, Nakagami fading parameter) on the BER performance of the system are illustrated by several numerical examples.
Questionnaires Measuring Patients’ Spiritual Needs: A Narrative Literature Review

Context The objective of the present review was to collect published spiritual needs questionnaires and to present a clear image of the research condition of this domain. Evidence Acquisition First, an electronic search was conducted with no limits on time span (until June 2015) or language in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, ProQuest and Google Scholar. All derivations of the keywords religion and spiritual alongside need and its synonyms were included in the search. Researches that introduced new tools was then selected and included in the study. Due to the limited quantity of questionnaires in this domain and with no consideration given to the existence or lack of exact standardization information, all of the questionnaires were included in the final report. Results Eight questionnaires were found: patients spiritual needs assessment scale (PSNAS), spiritual needs inventory (SNI), spiritual interests related to illness tool (SpIRIT), spiritual needs questionnaire (SpNQ), spiritual needs assessment for patients (SNAP), spiritual needs scale (SNS), spiritual care needs inventory (SCNI), and spiritual needs questionnaire for palliative care. Conclusions These questionnaires have been designed from a limited medical perspective and often involve cultural concepts which complicate their cross-cultural applicability.
Finite-Element Analysis and Corresponding Experiments of Resonant Energy Transfer for Wireless Transmission Devices

A wireless energy transfer system based on resonant energy transfer technology for power transmission and recharging of electrical devices is studied. The relationship between the energy transfer efficiency and several key parameters of the system is analyzed using finite-element method. Thin film resonant cells, consisting of a tape coil on one layer, which is separated by an insulation layer to form a capacitor with another layer, are fabricated. These cells are light, compact, and flexible, and provide convenience and flexibility in the design of wireless devices. The feasibility of this system is demonstrated using practical measurements to showcase its performance.
Observations of the Gas Reservoir around a Star-Forming Galaxy in the Early Universe

We present a high signal-to-noise spectrum of a bright galaxy at z = 4.9 in 14 hr of integration on VLT FORS2. This galaxy is extremely bright, i850 = 23.10 ± 0.01, and is strongly lensed by the foreground massive galaxy cluster A1689 (z = 0.18). Stellar continuum is seen longward of the Lyα emission line at ~7100 Å, while intergalactic H I produces strong absorption shortward of Lyα. Two transmission spikes at ~6800 and ~7040 Å are also visible, along with other structures at shorter wavelengths. Although this star-forming is galaxy fainter than a QSO, the absence of a strong central ultraviolet flux source in it enables a measurement of the H I flux transmission in the intergalactic medium (IGM) in the vicinity of a high-redshift object. We find that the effective H I optical depth of the IGM is remarkably high within a large 14 Mpc (physical) region surrounding the galaxy compared to that seen toward QSOs at similar redshifts. Evidently, this high-redshift galaxy is located in a region of space where the amount of H I is much larger than that seen at similar epochs in the diffuse IGM. We argue that observations of high-redshift galaxies like this one provide unique insights into the nascent stages of baryonic large-scale structures that evolve into the filamentary cosmic web of galaxies and clusters of galaxies observed in the current universe.
Pleiotropic Actions of Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Metabolic Homeostasis

Metabolism and immunity are inextricably linked both to each other and to organism-wide function, allowing mammals to adapt to changes in their internal and external environments. In the modern context of obesogenic diets and lifestyles, however, these adaptive responses can have deleterious consequences. In this Review, we discuss the pleiotropic actions of inflammation and insulin resistance in metabolic homeostasis and disease. An appreciation of the adaptive context in which these responses arose is useful for understanding their pathogenic actions in disease.
Dynamics of nitrification and denitrification in root-oxygenated sediments and adaptation of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria to low-oxygen or anoxic habitats

Oxygen-releasing plants may provide aerobic niches in anoxic sediments and soils for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The oxygen-releasing, aerenchymatous emergent macrophyte Glyceria maxima had a strong positive effect on numbers and activities of the nitrifying bacteria in its root zone in spring and early summer. The stimulation of the aerobic nitrifying bacteria in the freshwater sediment, ascribed to oxygen release by the roots of G. maxima, disappeared in late summer. Numbers and activities of the nitrifying bacteria were positively correlated, and a positive relationship with denitrification activities also was found. To assess possible adaptations of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria to low-oxygen or anoxic habitats, a comparison was made between the freshwater lake sediment and three soils differing in oxicity profiles. Oxygen kinetics and tolerance to anoxia of the ammonia-oxidizing communities from these habitats were determined. The apparent K(infm) values for oxygen of the ammonia-oxidizing community in the lake sediment were in the range of 5 to 15 (mu)M, which was substantially lower than the range of K(infm) values for oxygen of the ammonia-oxidizing community from a permanently oxic dune location. Upon anoxic incubation, the ammonia-oxidizing communities of dune, chalk grassland, and calcareous grassland soils lost 99, 95, and 92% of their initial nitrifying capacity, respectively. In contrast, the ammonia-oxidizing community in the lake sediment started to nitrify within 1 h upon exposure to oxygen at the level of the initial capacity. It is argued that the conservation of the nitrifying capacity during anoxic periods and the ability to react instantaneously to the presence of oxygen are important traits of nitrifiers in fluctuating oxic-anoxic environments such as the root zone of aerenchymatous plant species.
[Imaging the tear film and in vivo cornea. Initial results with a modified confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscope].

BACKGROUND As the slit-lamp technique is an restrictive method for the in-vivo examination and documentation of the multi-layer structure and the dynamics of the tear film and the cornea, e.g. during wound-healing processes, our aim was to find out whether it is possible to change the confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscope (CLSO; Zeiss) into a high-resolution confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) for the visualization of the anterior segments of the eye and the tear film by adapting a special objective system. In order to gain information concerning the function of such a cornea microscope we examined selected patients with erosion or pterygium before and after operation and subsequent phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK), as well as some in-vitro corneal surfaces after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). MATERIAL AND METHODS We developed an objective adapter for the CLSO in order to focus the laser beam onto anterior segments of the eye to visualize the tear film and the layer structure of the cornea. By combining the long-distance objective or a contract objective with different zoom-optic lenses it was possible to alter the scan field size and so the magnification of the CLSM by a factor of up to 1000. RESULTS The CLSM provides a new method for the in-vivo examination of the tear film and its dynamics as well as the thin layers of the cornea in real-time imaging technique with high contrast and resolution in non-contact or contact procedures. CONCLUSION This system is a unique took for evaluating and monitoring the effect of excimer laser ablation after PTK and PRK on the corneal surface and the dynamics of the tear film. The application of this method causes no pain for the patient.
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer: A Review

Importance Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis made in men with more than 160 000 new cases each year in the United States. Although it often has an indolent course, prostate cancer remains the third-leading cause of cancer death in men. Observations When prostate cancer is suspected, tissue biopsy remains the standard of care for diagnosis. However, the identification and characterization of the disease have become increasingly precise through improved risk stratification and advances in magnetic resonance and functional imaging, as well as from the emergence of biomarkers. Multiple management options now exist for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Active surveillance (the serial monitoring for disease progression with the intent to cure) appears to be safe and has become the preferred approach for men with less-aggressive prostate cancer, particularly those with a prostate-specific antigen level of less than 10 ng/mL and Gleason score 3 + 3 tumors. Surgery and radiation continue to be curative treatments for localized disease but have adverse effects such as urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction that can negatively affect quality of life. For metastatic disease, chemotherapy as initial treatment now appears to extend survival compared with androgen deprivation therapy alone. New vaccines, hormonal therapeutics, and bone-targeting agents have demonstrated efficacy in men with metastatic prostate cancer resistant to traditional hormonal therapy. Conclusions and Relevance Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer have improved the ability to stratify patients by risk and allowed clinicians to recommend therapy based on cancer prognosis and patient preference. Initial treatment with chemotherapy can improve survival compared with androgen deprivation therapy. Abiraterone, enzalutamide, and other agents can improve outcomes in men with metastatic prostate cancer resistant to traditional hormonal therapy.
The Cardiovascular Effects of Cocoa Polyphenols—An Overview

Cocoa is a rich source of high-quality antioxidant polyphenols. They comprise mainly catechins (29%–38% of total polyphenols), anthocyanins (4% of total polyphenols) and proanthocyanidins (58%–65% of total polyphenols). A growing body of experimental and epidemiological evidence highlights that the intake of cocoa polyphenols may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Beyond antioxidant properties, cocoa polyphenols exert blood pressure lowering activity, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, metabolic and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and also improve endothelial function. This paper reviews the role of cocoa polyphenols in cardiovascular protection, with a special focus on mechanisms of action, clinical relevance and correlation between antioxidant activity and cardiovascular health.
Insulin resistance and inflammation markers in myocardial infarction

Background Insulin resistance (IR) is known to be characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is regarded as an important mechanism in disease pathogenesis. One of the key pathogenetic mechanisms of IR progression is impaired free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism. Plasminogen-activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and key inflammation markers, ie, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), also play a role. Purpose To assess the changing levels of the metabolic proinflammation IR markers IL-6, CRP and PAI-1 and their association with the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in myocardial infarction (MI) patients during their hospital stay. Methods The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 included 95 nondiabetic MI patients, and group 2 enrolled 40 diabetic MI patients. The control group consisted of 30 sex-and age-matched volunteers. Serum IL-6 and CRP levels as well as FFA, glucose, C-peptide, insulin, and plasma PAI-1 concentrations were measured at days 1 and 12 from MI onset. Results At day 1, there was an increase in glucose concentrations, which remained high in both groups by day 12 but was much higher in the diabetic patients. Basal insulin and C-peptide levels did not differ significantly from those in the control group. The quantitative insulin sensitivity-check index in both groups was significantly different from that in controls. FFA concentrations at day 1 in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients increased; by day 12, they had decreased but were still higher than the controls. CRP and IL-6 levels at day 1 were higher in all the patients, but diabetic patients had the highest levels; by day 12, the levels were lower but still 2.4-fold (IL-6) and 12.5-fold (CRP) higher than those in the control group. Conclusion This study showed that MI is accompanied both by activated inflammatory response and IR. Strong correlations between IL-6 and FFA concentrations demonstrate that nonspecific inflammation factors are involved in IR development in MI patients. Consequently, these inflammatory cytokines might cause the development of IR.
The causes of low back pain

been resolved. Peter P Van Asperen, MD, FRACP Craig M Mellis, MB, MPH, FRACP Department of Respiratory Medicine. TheChildren's Hospital Camperdown, NSW 2050 Peter 0 Sly, MD, FRACP Department of Respiratory Medicine Children's Hospital Medical Centre Perth. WA6008 1. Smith BJ. The role of corticosteroids in the management of childhood asthma: bonesand spacer devices. Med J Aust 1992; 156:663. 2. AliNJ,Capewell S.WardMJ. Boneturnover duringhighdose inhaled corticosteroid treatment. Thorax 1991; 46: 160·164. 3. Toogood JH,Jennings B. Hodsman AB.etal. Effects of dose anddosing schedule of inhaled budesonide onboneturnover. J Allergy Clin Immuno/1991; 88: 572·580. 4. KonigP, Cervanites C. Hillman L, et al. Bonemineralization in asthmatic children treated with inhaled beclomethasone [abstract]. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1991; 87: 312. 5. Wolthers 00. Pedersen S.Growth ofasthmatic children during treatment with budesonide: a double blindtrial. BMJ 1991; 303: 163-165. 6. Turpeinin M.Sorva R.Juntunen-Backman K.Changes incarbohydrate andlipidmetabolism in children withasthma inhaling budesonide. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1991; 88: 384·389. 7. Selroos O. Halme M. Effect of a volumatic spacer andmouth rinsing on systemic absorption of inhaled corticosteroid from a metered doseinhaler anddrypowder inhaler. Thorax 1991; 46: 891-894.
PRESY: A Context Based Query Reformulation Tool for Information Retrieval on the Web

Problem statement: The huge number of information on the web as well as the growth of new inexperienced users creates new challenges for information retrieval. It has become increasingly difficult for these users to find relevant document s that satisfy their individual needs. Certainly th e current search engines (such as Google, Bing and Yahoo) offer an efficient way to browse the web content. However, the result quality is highly based on uses queries which need to be more precise to find rele vant documents. This task still complicated for the majo rity of inept users who cannot express their needs with significant words in the query. For that reason, we believe that a reformulation of the initial user's query can be a good alternative to improve the informatio n selectivity. This study proposed a novel approach and presents a prototype system called Profile-base d Reformulation System (PRESY) for information retrieval on the web. Approach: It used an incremental approach to categorize user s by constructing a contextual base. The latter was composed of two typ es of context (static and dynamic) obtained using t he users' profiles. The architecture proposed was imp lemented using . Net environment to perform queries reformulating tests. Results: The experiments gave at the end of this article sh ow that the precision of the returned content is effectively improved. The tests were performed with the most popular searching engine (i.e., Google, Bind and Yahoo) selected in particul ar for their high selectivity. Among the given resu lts, we found that query reformulation improve the first th ree results by 10.7 and 11.7% of the next seven ret urned elements. So as we could see the reformulation of u sers' initial queries improves the pertinence of re turned content. Conclusion/Recommendations: Therefore, we believed that the exploitation of co ntextual data based on users' profiles could be a very good way t o reformulate user query. This complementary mechanism would be highly improve the quality of information retrieval on the web. In the other side, we believe that more the user's profiles are properly constructed more the returned documents are relevant. Thus, the approach of constructing profiles needs t o be deeply studied in order to have more represent ative elements. Additional data like historical searching and browsing activity of a user can be also combin ed to improve the query reformulation. This constitutes a part of our perspectives to improve PRESY.
Electrophysiology of neuromuscular transmission in guinea‐pig mesenteric veins.

1. Neuromuscular transmission in the smooth muscle of mesenteric veins has been investigated by recording intracellular potential changes resulting from stimulation of the sympathetic nerves and comparing these potential changes with responses obtained by ionophoresis of noradrenaline. 2. Neural stimulation or exogenous noradrenaline acted similarly to cause two excitatory depolarizations, a slow response reported previously (Suzuki, 1981) and a separate fast depolarization. 3. The fast depolarization was distinct from the slow depolarizing response in that it had a different dependence on the level of stimulation, was readily desensitized and was more suppressed in low‐chloride solution. 4. The fast but not the slow depolarization shared certain characteristics with constriction. The fast depolarization and constriction both increased with the intensity of stimulation; inactivation in both was dependent on the recovery interval between trains of stimuli and both were suppressed to a similar degree by antagonists to alpha‐adrenoceptors. The fast depolarization was, however, not a prerequisite for constriction to occur. 5. The fast and slow depolarizations were activated after a long latency which had a high temperature coefficient consistent with the postulate that these responses are rate limited by intracellular biochemical reactions. 6. The fast depolarization was preferentially suppressed by prazosin, an antagonist to the alpha 1‐adrenoceptor subtype. Suppression of the slow depolarization required relatively higher concentrations of antagonist, indicating that these responses were mediated by receptor interactions involving a different alpha‐adrenoceptor subtype. 7. It is concluded that neuromuscular transmission in mesenteric veins occurs through activation of alpha‐adrenoceptors. A number of responses result, including voltage‐independent constriction and two distinct excitatory depolarizations which can lead to voltage‐dependent constriction.
Vaporization of fault water during seismic slip

Laboratory and numerical studies, as well as field observations, indicate that phase transitions of pore water might be an important process in large earthquakes. We present a model of the thermo‐hydro‐chemo‐mechanical processes, including a two‐phase mixture model to incorporate the phase transitions of pore water, occurring during fast slip (i.e., a natural earthquake) in order to investigate the effects of vaporization on the coseismic slip. Using parameters from typical natural faults, our modeling shows that vaporization can indeed occur at the shallow depths of an earthquake, irrespective of the wide variability of the parameters involved (sliding velocity, friction coefficient, gouge permeability and porosity, and shear‐induced dilatancy). Due to the fast kinetics, water vaporization can cause a rapid slip weakening even when the hydrological conditions of the fault zone are not favorable for thermal pressurization, e.g., when permeability is high. At the same time, the latent heat associated with the phase transition causes the temperature rise in the slip zone to be buffered. Our parametric analyses reveal that the amount of frictional work is the principal factor controlling the onset and activity of vaporization and that it can easily be achieved in earthquakes. Our study shows that coseismic pore fluid vaporization might have played important roles at shallow depths of large earthquakes by enhancing slip weakening and buffering the temperature rise. The combined effects may provide an alternative explanation for the fact that low‐temperature anomalies were measured in the slip zones at shallow depths of large earthquakes.
Modulation of Oncogenic DBL Activity by Phosphoinositol Phosphate Binding to Pleckstrin Homology Domain*

The Dbl family guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) contain a region of sequence similarity consisting of a catalytic Dbl homology (DH) domain in tandem with a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. PH domains are involved in the regulated targeting of signaling molecules to plasma membranes by protein-protein and/or protein-lipid interactions. Here we show that Dbl PH domain binding to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate results in the inhibition of Dbl GEF activity on Rho family GTPase Cdc42. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding to the PH domain significantly inhibits the Cdc42 interactive activity of the DH domain suggesting that the DH domain is subjected to the PH domain modulation under the influence of phosphoinositides (PIPs). We generated Dbl mutants unable to interact with PIPs. These mutants retained GEF activity on Cdc42 in the presence of PIPs and showed a markedly enhanced activating potential for both Cdc42 and RhoAin vivo while displaying decreased cellular transforming activity. Immunofluorescence analysis of NIH3T3 transfectants revealed that whereas the PH domain localizes to actin stress fibers and plasma membrane, the PH mutants are no longer detectable on the plasma membrane. These results suggest that modulation of PIPs in both the GEF catalytic activity and the targeting to plasma membrane determines the outcome of the biologic activity of Dbl.