Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multisensory VR system exploring the ultra-reality

This paper describes a multisensory interactive virtual reality system built for the exploration of the ultra reality. First we discuss the meaning of the term `Ultra reality' which was introduced at a government committee then widely accepted in relation to an activity to explore media technology in Japan. The ultra reality is recognized at a cognitive level similarly to the meta reality that is proposed in contrast to the super reality. The meta reality and the super reality were presented as interpretations of ultra reality. We set the hypothesis that the ultra reality has its base on the virtual reality, and it is created as rational and emotional entity built on pieces of rendered reality. The ultra reality is represented in coordinates of two aspects of rationality and emotion when rendering a particular space. Multisensory presentation plays a principal role for the coordinates. To provide a framework for realization of ultra reality, we introduced exhibit prototypes of the multisensory presentation system. The five senses theater system, the FiveStar, produced multisensory stimulations to the participant for the creation of ultra-realistic experiences. The contents of the exhibits were the magic school, the ultra ordinary world, and the virtual trip to the tourist sites. The multisensory display devices that were used to create the contents are described to show contributions and limitations for the ultra reality space.
Risk stratification in uncomplicated type 2 diabetes: prospective evaluation of the combined use of coronary artery calcium imaging and selective myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

AIMS To determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis and myocardial ischaemia in uncomplicated type 2 diabetes and assess their relationship to short-term outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS Established risk factors and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were prospectively measured in 510 asymptomatic type 2 diabetic subjects (mean age 53+/-8 years, 61% males) without prior cardiovascular disease. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) was performed in all subjects with CAC > 100 Agatston units (AU) (n=127), and a random sample of the remaining patients with CAC < or = 100 AU (n=53). Significant CAC (> 10 AU) was found in 46.3%. Twenty events occurred (two coronary deaths, nine non-fatal myocardial infarctions, three acute coronary syndromes, three non-haemorrhagic strokes, and three late revascularisations) during a median follow-up of 2.2 years (25th-75th percentile = 1.9-2.5 years). The age, systolic blood pressure, the duration of diabetes, United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk score, CAC score, and extent of myocardial perfusion abnormality were significant predictors of time to cardiovascular events in a univariable Cox proportional hazard model. No cardiac events or perfusion abnormalities occurred in subjects with CAC < or = 10 AU up until 2 years of follow-up. CAC and MPS findings were synergistic for the prediction of short-term cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION Subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by CAC imaging, is superior to the established cardiovascular risk factors for predicting silent myocardial ischaemia and short-term outcome. Further studies evaluating the impact of CAC imaging on clinical outcomes and its cost effectiveness are warranted.
Hypertext and structured object representation: an unifying view

This paper addresses combining hypertext with knowledge representation as used in knowledge-based systems. Hypertext imposes explicit structure on text, whereas certain knowledge representation formalisms of AI are designed for structuring knowledge. We propose a way of tight integration of hypertext and structured object representation, using (AI) frames for the basic representation of hypertext nodes. Moreover, we propose to allow for the additional option of explicit representation of structure using partitions of hypertext nodes, which are realized as slots. In order to make the text more dynamic, our approach facilitates some aspects of object-oriented programming using message passing from the text in the browser.
A MOS Image Sensor With a Digital-Microlens

We have developed a MOS image sensor with digital-microlenses (DMLs), each of which has an effective refractive index realized by variation of the subwavelength separations between the concentric SiO2 ring walls. The effective refractive index profiles are optimized for the location of each pixel. The light-collection efficiency of the image sensor is twice as high as that of a conventional image sensor because of the enhanced light acceptance in the periphery. A 2.2-mum pitch 3-megapixel MOS image sensor based on the DML technology exhibited excellent uniformity of the light-collection efficiency across the image area, even for light with a very large incident angle, i.e., over 45deg. The DML promises new levels of performance of image sensors.
Incorporation of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids into processed foods

The paper by Lovegrove et al. (1 997) in the present issue of this journal clearly shows that it is technologically possible to fortify common foods (bread, biscuits, cakes, ice-cream, orange juice, milk shake, spreads, pasta, mayonnaise and vinaigrette) with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such that they are indistinguishable from control nonfortified foods, and to lead to a doubling of platelet phospholipid n-3 PUFA in just 21 d. This opens up the possibility that an increased intake of n-3 PUFA may be achieved without an increased intake of oily fish. To have this additional string to our public health nutrition bow is quite a boost. As the paper points out, there is a large gap between the prevailing consumption of oily fish and the intake of n-3 PUFA recommended by many expert committees (British Nutrition Foundation, 1992; FAOWHO, 1993; Scientific Committee for Food, 1993). This is not a problem peculiar to the UK, as is evident from Table 1 which looks at the best-possible scenario for n-3 PUFA intake in ten EU states. It is a best-possible scenario because in this analysis it is assumed that all seafood consumed is oily fish and that the n-3 PUFA content is for the species richest in n-3 PUFA. The Iberian peninsula countries come closest to the figure of 2-0 g n-3 PUFNd which was the target figure in the paper under discussion. For most countries, however, bearing in mind that this is a best-possible scenario, there is a long way to go towards improving n-3 PUFA intake. One way to improve these figures is to increase the percentage of consumers who eat oily fish on a reasonably regular basis. Although that remains a definite strategy for increasing n-3 PUFA intake, in some countries data exist to suggest that this strategy will not resolve the problem. For example, a survey of 1400 Irish adults found that two-thirds ‘do not
First tentative detection of anisotropy in the QSO distribution around nearby edge-on spiral galaxies

AIMS. To check whether the polar angle distribution of QSOs around nearby spiral galaxies is isotropic or not. METHODS. A statistical analysis of the polar angle distribution of large samples of QSOs from the SDSS survey and Monte Carlo simulations to calculate their significance are carried out. RESULTS. There is a clear excess of QSOs near the minor axis with respect to the major axis of nearby edge-on spiral galaxies, significant at a level 3.5-sigma up to angular distances of 3 deg. (or ~1.7 Mpc) from the centre of each galaxy. The significance is increased to 3.9-sigma with the z>0.5 QSOs, and it reaches 4.8-sigma if we include galaxies whose circles of radius 3 degrees are covered by the SDSS in more than 98% (instead of 100%) of the area. CONCLUSIONS. Gravitational lensing in the halo of nearby galaxies or extinction seem insufficient to explain the observed anisotropic distribution of QSOs. The anisotropic distribution agrees qualitatively with the predictions of Arp's models, which claim that QSOs are ejected by galaxies along the rotation axis, although Arp's prediction give a distance of the QSOs ~3 times smaller than that found here. In any case, a chance fluctuation, although highly improbable, might be a possibility rather than a true anisotropy, and the present results should be corroborated by other groups and samples, so we prefer to consider it as just a first tentative detection.
Designing and evaluating multimodal interaction for mobile contexts

In this paper we report on our experience on the design and evaluation of multimodal user interfaces in various contexts. We introduce a novel combination of existing design and evaluation methods in the form of a 5-step iterative process and show the feasibility of this method and some of the lessons learned through the design of a messaging application for two contexts (in car, walking). The iterative design process we employed included the following five basic steps: 1) identification of the limitations affecting the usage of different modalities in various contexts (contextual observations and context analysis) 2) identifying and selecting suitable interaction concepts and creating a general design for the multimodal application (storyboarding, use cases, interaction concepts, task breakdown, application UI and interaction design), 3) creating modality-specific UI designs, 4) rapid prototyping and 5) evaluating the prototype in naturalistic situations to find key issues to be taken into account in the next iteration. We have not only found clear indications that context affects users' preferences in the usage of modalities and interaction strategies but also identified some of these. For instance, while speech interaction was preferred in the car environment users did not consider it useful when they were walking. 2D (finger strokes) and especially 3D (tilt) gestures were preferred by walking users.
QoS Management in Distributed Feedback Control

A QoS management algorithm for feedback control applications with separate quality measures for period and delay jitter is investigated. The use of the processing resource is controlled by adjusting periods and priorities. The algorithm is evaluated against a rate monotonic approach, which only uses a quality measure for the period, and where the priority is inversely related to the period. Three items that have to be dealt with when constructing a QoS management algorithm are: 1) the choice of quality measure, 2) the mix of different measures and the mix of means to control them, and 3) the triggering interval of the management routine. Robots and vehicles are good examples of applications with embedded computer control systems and with an environment that changes during the life time of a mission. A co-simulation of time continuous plants, digital controllers and a CAN-bus with centralized QoS management is carried out to evaluate the proposed algorithm. Simulation results show that the difference between the proposed algorithm, compared to the natural rate monotonic approach, is small.
A Case of Isolated Celiac Artery Dissection Accompanied by Splenic Infarction Detected by Ultrasonography in the Emergency Department

A 46-year-old male with a history of hypertension visited the emergency department (ED) by ambulance complaining of sudden pain in the left side of his back. Ultrasonography (USG) performed at ED revealed splenic infarction along with occlusion and dissection of the celiac and splenic arteries without abdominal artery dissection. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed the same result. Consequently, spontaneous isolated celiac artery dissection (SICAD) was diagnosed. Because his blood pressure was high (159/70 mmHg), antihypertensive medicine was administered (nicardipine and carvedilol). After his blood reached optimal levels (130/80 mmHg), symptoms disappeared. Follow-up USG and contrast enhanced CT performed 8 days and 4 months after onset revealed amelioration of splenic infarction and improvement of the narrowed artery. Here, we report a case of SICAD with splenic infarction presenting with severe left-sided back pain and discuss the relevance of USG in an emergency setting.
Decreased Ankle/Brachial Indices in Relation to Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

To determine the relationship between ankle/brachial indices (ABIs) and morbidity and mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a historical cohort study was performed. A total of 154 patients who had undergone noninvasive arterial assessment of the lower extremities in 1989 and 1990 were selected for this purpose. Selection criteria were age >40 years at the time of investigation, a resting ABI <0.90 and the availability of an ABI after exercise or arterial occlusion. Mortality and vascular events were recorded after an average follow-up period of 6 years. A vascular event was defined as an intervention because of PAD, the occurrence of a nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke, a transient ischaemic attack or a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedure. During the period studied, 44 patients died and 111 patients suffered a vascular event. The relative risk for mortality was 3.1 per 0.50 decrease of the ABI at rest (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–8.7, p = 0.03) and 2.4 per 0.50 decrease of the ABI after exercise or arterial occlusion (95% CI 0.9–6.4, p = 0.08). The relative risk for mortality or the occurrence of a vascular event was 3.3 per 0.50 decrease of the resting ABI (95% CI 1.7–6.3, p<0.001) and 2.5 per 0.50 decrease of the ABI after exercise or occlusion (95% CI 1.5–4.4, p<0.001). After standardization, the prognostic power of the two types of ABIs was equivalent. The cumulative survival after 5 years was 63% for patients with resting ABIs <0.50, 71% for patients with ABIs 0.50–0.69 and 91% for those with ABIs of 0.70–0.89. There were obvious differences between the mean initial ABIs of patients who suffered a vascular event and/or died and those of survivors, who did not suffer an event. A relatively simple measurement like the determination of the resting ABI can give valuable information about the prognosis for vascular related morbidity and mortality. This can be of help in the approach of patients with PAD and assist in therapeutical decision making. Determination of the ABI after exercise or occlusion has no additional value for this purpose.
Hypericin inhibits pathological retinal neovascularization in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy

Purpose Ocular neovascularization is a leading cause of blindness in ischemic retinopathies. Hypericin is an active ingredient in the medical herb St. John’s Wort (SJW). Because hypericin inhibits intracellular signaling pathways that are believed to participate in the regulation of angiogenesis, we investigated the actions of hypericin and SJW in retinal neovascularization, using a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Methods C57BL/6 neonatal mice were exposed to a 75% concentration of oxygen from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12 and returned to room air from P12 to P17 to induce retinal neovascularization. SJW (15 mg/kg/day), hypericin (15, 45, or 135 μg/kg/day), or vehicle was given by gavage once a day for five days from P12 to P17. To quantify the area of retinal neovascularization and vasoobliteration, we stained retinas with isolectin B4 at P17. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in ischemic retinas was determined by western blot analysis. To estimate retinal vascularization, we stained retinas with isolectin B4 at P7 after treatment with SJW, hypericin, or vehicle from P3 to P7. Results Gavage administration of hypericin or SJW significantly inhibited the degree of retinal neovascularization, but did not affect the area of retinal vasoobliteration in a mouse model of OIR. Both SJW and hypericin had no effect on normal vascularization over the treatment time course. Treatment with SJW or hypericin reduced phosphorylation of ERK in the retina. Conclusions These data suggest that hypericin and SJW reduce pathological retinal neovascularization and that administration of these agents could have clinical utility for treatment of ischemic retinopathies.
The psychosocial effects of torture, mass human rights violations, and refugee trauma: toward an integrated conceptual framework.

Torture is a complex trauma that often occurs within the context of widespread persecution and human rights violations. In addition, the nature of modern warfare is such that whole populations are at risk of suffering extensive trauma, injustices, loss, and displacement. Refugees, in particular, experience sequential stresses that may compound each other over prolonged periods of time. The present overview examines whether contemporary notions of trauma, and especially a focus on the category of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are adequate in assessing the multiple effects of such experiences. Recent studies are reviewed to indicate the strengths and limitations of current research approaches. Rates of PTSD in such studies have varied with relatively low rates being found in recent epidemiologic studies undertaken on refugee populations. It is suggested that a focus on intervening psychosocial adaptive systems may assist in delineating more clearly the pathways that determine whether traumatized persons achieve psychosocial restitution or are at risk of ongoing psychiatric disability. A model is proposed which suggests that torture and related abuses may challenge five core adaptive systems subserving the functions of "safety," "attachment," "justice," "identity-role," and "existential-meaning. " It is argued that a clearer delineation of such adaptive systems may provide a point of convergence that may link research endeavors more closely to the subjective experience of survivors and to the types of clinical interventions offered by trauma treatment services.
Perception of Formative Evaluation Practices and Students' Academic Performance In Junior Secondary Certificate Examination in Social Studies

The study explored the extent to which students’ academic performance in Junior Secondary Certificate Examination (JSCE) in social studies is differentiated by their perception of teachers’ formative evaluation practices. A sample of 300 Junior Secondary Three (JS-3) students was surveyed. The subjects responded to a questionnaire on teachers’ formative evaluation practices while their academic performance was determined by their scores in social studies in JSCE. Students’ academic performance in social studies differed significantly on the basis of their perception of teachers’ formative evaluation practices. Students who perceived their teachers’ formative evaluation practices as “enhancing to learning” (positive) performed better than their counterparts who viewed same as “not enhancing to learning” (negative). Implications for research and practice in teachinglearning processes are suggested.
Trigeminal sensory neuropathy caused by cervical disk herniation.

Trigeminal sensory neuropathy may result from a wide variety of factors , including tumors of the trigeminal ganglion or spinal trigeminal tract, demyelinating diseases, and connective tissue disorders. Despite a long list of possibilities, the cause often is difficult to establish , and thus many cases are described as idiopathic. We report an unusual case of trigeminal sensory neuropathy caused by cervical disk herniation.
Impact of the inflammatory response on specific immunity in neurosurgical patients

Ljunghill Hedberg, A. 2019. Impact of the inflammatory response on specific immunity in neurosurgical patients. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine 1563. 79 pp. Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. ISBN 978-91-513-0626-1. Vaccination with a T-cell-dependent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) followed by a Tcell-independent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) is recommended after basilar skull fracture to reduce the risk of meningitis. The optimal time frame for vaccination has not yet been established and varies widely in practice. Because the risk of meningitis is at its peak shortly after the trauma incident, early vaccination might be more desirable. After trauma and central nervous system (CNS) injury, T-cell defects leading to trauma and CNS injuryinduced immune deficiency syndromes may affect the vaccine response. In light of the above information, the overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the impact of neurotrauma and neurosurgery on the response to T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent vaccines. In Paper I, we compared the antibody response to a T-cell-dependent conjugate vaccine in patients vaccinated within 10 days after neurotrauma or neurosurgery with those vaccinated after >3 weeks. To avoid interference with pneumococcal vaccination, a conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was chosen for the study. The majority of the patients responded to the vaccination, although the number of responders was significantly lower in patients vaccinated early. In Paper II, we investigated the antibody response to the T-cell-independent vaccine PPSV in patients vaccinated within 10 days after neurotrauma or neurosurgery and in patients vaccinated after >3 weeks. Patients vaccinated early responded similarly to those vaccinated after the acute period, indicating that PPSV can be administered early after neurotrauma or neurosurgery. In Paper III, we compared the response to Hib vaccine with the response to PPSV. We also examined whether individual clinical or immunological parameters might predict the response to T-cell-dependent vaccine and thereby help identify non-responders before vaccination. No correlation between Hib vaccine and PPSV responses was found, indicating that B-cell function is not similarly depressed as T-cell function. It was not possible to predict the T-cell-dependent vaccine response by standardized grading of the trauma or by parameters reflecting the innate immune response. In Paper IV, we found a significant reduction in the ex vivo CD4 T-lymphocyte response to PCV in patients after neurotrauma or neurosurgery as compared with healthy controls. Our results suggest that PPSV might be a viable alternative to T-cell-dependent PCV in early vaccination after neurotrauma.
A 155µW 88-dB DR discrete-time ΔΣ modulator for digital hearing aid applications

In this paper we present a low-power switched-capacitor ΔΣ modulator for digital hearing-aid applications. The circuit adopts a novel summing successive approximation (SAR) block to perform multi-bit quantization together with the analog addition that is required in feed-forward topologies. The use of passive addition and SAR operation helps in reducing the complexity and power consumption of the modulator. The prototype is implemented in a 180 nm CMOS technology and measurements demonstrate 88 dB of dynamic range in a 10 kHz band while consuming 155μW from a 1.8V supply.
Internalizing antibodies are necessary for improved therapeutic efficacy of antibody-targeted liposomal drugs.

Direct experimental proof has been sought for the hypothesis that liposomal drugs targeted against internalizing epitopes (e.g., CD19) will have higher therapeutic efficacies than those targeted against noninternalizing epitopes (e.g., CD20). Anti-CD19-targeted liposomes were rapidly internalized into human B-lymphoma (Namalwa) cells, whereas those targeted with anti-CD20 were not internalized. Similar in vitro binding and cytotoxicity were observed for anti-CD19-targeted and anti-CD20-targeted liposomal formulations of doxorubicin (DXR). Therapeutic experiments were performed in severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated i.v. with Namalwa cells. Administration of single i.v. doses of DXR-loaded anti-CD19-targeted liposomes resulted in significantly greater survival times than either DXR-loaded anti-CD20-targeted liposomes or nontargeted liposomes. The therapeutic advantage of targeting internalizing versus noninternalizing epitopes has been directly demonstrated.