Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological values and procedures in the 24 h before ICU admission from the ward

Physiological values and interventions in the 24 h before entry to intensive care were collected for admissions from hospital wards. In a 13‐month period, there were 79 admissions in 76 patients who had been in hospital for at least 24 h and had not undergone surgery within 24 h of admission to intensive care. Thirty‐four per cent of patients underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation before intensive care admission. Using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scoring to quantify abnormal physiology in the group as a whole, a significant deterioration in respiratory function before admission was found. During the 6‐h period immediately before intensive care admission, 75% of patients received oxygen, 37% underwent arterial blood gas sampling, and oxygen saturation was measured in 61% of patients, 63% of whom had an oxygen saturation of less than 90%. Overall hospital mortality in the study group was 58%. Information collected on the wards identified seriously ill patients who may have benefited from earlier expert treatment.
An Acoustic Study of Karanga Fricatives

C L E M E N T D O K E ' S (1931) seminal study of Shona Phonetics was conducted at a time when the array of modern research equipment at our disposal today was only a dream of the future. Since that time, several scholars have taken advantage of advances in technology to do detailed and sophisticated work on the sounds of the languages of the world. For example, L I B E R M A N (1957) is an overview of the work in acoustic phonetics done at the Haskins Laboratories in the previous twenty years. He cites three cases found to be important for the perception of fricative consonants: the location, on the frequency axis, of the noise component of the fricative, in particular, its lower frequency limit; the formant transitions of vowels adjacent to the fricative in a given utterance, especially F2 and F3 transitions as indicators of place of articulation and, finally, the general intensity levels of mid-sagittal fricatives as opposed to that of front fricatives, i.e. [s, J, z, 3] versus [ϊ, e, v, Ö]. H A R R I S (1958) concludes that while the random, non vocalic spectrum of fricatives such as [s, J] provides enough cues for their identification, the vocalic portions of the spectra of utterances in which the fricatives [1, ν, e, d] occur play a decisive role in the identification of these sounds: "I t would seem that for those last four fricatives, formant transitions and transition loci are all-important cues and as such, need to be specified painstakingly. " S T R E V E N S (1960) is a detailed spectrographic study of what may be loosely termed 'cardinal' consonants, since the fricatives he analysed were not the sounds of any par-
On the performance analysis of classifier fusion for land cover classification

We investigate the performance evaluation of merging (fusing) the classification capabilities of classifiers for the land use analysis. For the fusion approach, we select the parametric and non-parametric classifiers. The set used includes: Bayesian Network, Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Random Forest. These classifiers are selected based on their good over-all performance for the land use analysis and in general for other classification tasks. We evaluate the concept on both the high and low resolution multispectral satellite imagery. The performance of the approach is evaluated using F-score, computation time and accuracy. Based on the experimental evaluation, we advocate the use of classifier fusion for the low resolution satellite imagery. While for high resolution satellite imagery, the fusion shows slight improvement in performance.
Hispanic Career Success: The Role of Acculturation

Hispanics are currently the largest ethnic group in the United States with over 52 million people and approximately 17% of the population. To date, Hispanics are disproportionately underrepresented among professional and leadership ranks. Surprisingly, there is still a lack of research done on employment issues for this important group. Given the scarcity of research and theory focusing on the careers of Hispanic professionals in the United States, as well as acknowledging the importance of applying more focused attention to how cultural variables, including acculturation constructs, are related to the career development of Hispanics we advance a theoretical framework of career success for Hispanics. In particular, we examine how cultural factors associated with the Hispanic acculturation experience may uniquely affect Hispanics in their professional roles. We provide testable propositions for scholars who are interested in this ethnic group. As well, armed with this insight, it is our hope that organizat.
Effects of volume and concentration of lidocaine on epidural anaesthesia in pregnant females

Background and objective: The effects of altering the concentration of a local anaesthetic on the development of epidural anaesthesia in pregnant females are unclear. We compared the anaesthetic effects of a constant dose of two different concentrations of epidural lidocaine for Caesarean section. Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, patients undergoing elective Caesarean section were randomized to receive either lidocaine 1% 30 mL (+ epinephrine 5 μg mL−1) or lidocaine 2% 15 mL (+ epinephrine 5 μg mL−1) (n = 20 each) for epidural anaesthesia at the L1-L2 interspace. The spread of the sensory block to pinprick and the degree of motor block (modified Bromage scale) were measured at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min after injection. Results: No significant differences in the progression of analgesia and motor block were observed at any time between 1 and 2% lidocaine. The maximum cephalad spread was observed 30 min after injection; the median was at T4 (range T3-T5) and at T4 (range T3-T6) for lidocaine 1 and 2%, respectively. Conclusions: The same doses but different volumes of lidocaine 1 and 2% produced comparable anaesthetic effects in pregnant females. The effects of epidural anaesthesia depend primarily on the total dose of the local anaesthetic.
Expression of differential immune factors in temporal cortex and cerebellum: The role of α‐1‐antichymotrypsin, apolipoprotein E, and reactive glia in the progression of Alzheimer's disease

A variety of factors and processes have been implicated in the development and progression of the pathology of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), including amyloid fragment deposition, reactive gliosis, α‐1‐antichymotrypsin (ACT), and apolipoprotein E (APOE). Carriers of the APOE 4 allele have been shown to have an enhanced risk of developing AD, and the ACT signal peptide A/A genotype may modify the APOEϵ4 risk. The protein products of these genes have been shown to enhance conversion of diffuse β amyloid (Aβ) fibrils, which are found in diffuse plaques, to the fibrillar form found in neuritic plaques. In affected regions of AD brain, ACT and APOE colocalize with Aβ deposits and reactive microglia and astrocytes. We examined the regional distribution of ACT, APOE, and reactive glia in temporal cortex, where neuritic plaques are abundant, and cerebellum (in areas where diffuse plaques but not neuritic plaques accumulate) to examine the relationship of these markers to the deposition of Aβ. In temporal cortex, ACT and APOE staining was localized to plaque‐like profiles, reactive astrocytes, and blood vessels; human leukocyte antigen‐DR (HLA‐DR) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) staining revealed focal clusters of reactive microglia and astrocytes. In cerebellum, ACT and APOE immunoreactivity was never localized to plaque‐like profiles but was weakly localized to unreactive astrocytes; weak HLA‐DR and GFAP immunoreactivity was present on quiescent microglia throughout the cerebellum. The lack of fibrillar amyloid deposits in cerebellum, despite the presence of well‐characterized markers thought to mediate the production of Aβ, suggests that this brain region may be lacking certain factors necessary for fibril formation or that the cerebellum responds differently to stimuli that successfully mediate inflammation in affected cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 396:511–520, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Physical Activity Levels and Play Behaviours of Children with Special Needs: An Exploratory Cross-sectional Study.

Objectives: This study examined whether children with special needs (SN) achieve current physical activity (PA) guidelines and identify whether habitual PA levels, recess PA and play behaviours differed between different SN’s. Methods: Twenty-five children (aged 11.16 ± 2.37) had PA monitored over 7-days using accelerometry. Recess behaviours were observed using the System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships during Play (SOCARP). Participants’ SN(s) were categorised as either autism (AUS), behavioural and emotional needs (BEN) or any other SN (OTH). Results: Children took part in 46.88 minutes ± 9.10 of MVPA. BEN children (65.55 min ± 20.50) were more active than AUS (43.40 minutes ± 27.50). AUS children spent more time playing alone and less time in groups then the BEN and OTH groups (p≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Only 3 children met PA guidelines, with all 3 having BEN. PA levels and play behaviours differ by SN.
Image Retargeting Via Adaptive Scaling With Geometry Preservation

We present a novel grid-based image retargeting approach that is able to balance important/unimportant contents while minimizing visual distortions on image geometric structures. Our approach begins with a structure-consistent importance map, efficiently obtained by filtering image saliency under the guidance of image gradients. Then we maintain the important contents located by the importance map, and more importantly balance the spatial distribution adaptively between the important/unimportant contents by globally optimizing a shape parameter to constrain scaling factors. Moreover, to preserve some geometric structures (e.g., straight lines and circles) which occupy multiple quads, a Laplacian regularization term is exploited to smoothly propagate distortions. Finally, all these constraints are cast into a quadratic programming, the global optima of which can be found efficiently. Both subjective and objective evaluations are conducted to show the effectiveness of our approach.
Superoxide Dismutase Activity in the Oviductal and Uterine Fluid of the Bitch and the Effects of the Enzyme on Viability, Motility and Hyperactivation of Canine Sperm In Vitro

ABSTRACT Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in flushings from oviducts and uterine horns of 8 anestrous, 5 estrous and 7 diestrous bitches was measured. SOD activity in oviductal fluid in estrous bitches was significantly higher than that in anestrous and diestrous bitches (P<0.01). SOD activity in uterine fluid of diestrous bitches was, however, significantly higher than that in anestrous and estrous bitches (P<0.01). Additionally, sperm collected from normal dogs were incubated in MEM and in MEM containing SOD (SOD-MEM) for 24 hr. The percentages of sperm with viability, motility and hyperactivation in SOD-MEM were higher than those in MEM. SOD produced in oviduct and uterus may be able to maintain or improve sperm quality and fertility in the dog.
Dual Wide-Band Checkerboard Surfaces for Radar Cross Section Reduction

Radar cross section (RCS) of ground planes can be reduced along the principal planes by utilizing electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures. Checkerboard surfaces, combining two different EBG structures each on a quadrant of the same ground plane, can realize a wide frequency bandwidth for the 10-dB RCS reduction, because the scattered fields from checkerboard surfaces are redirected toward four quadrants. This communication proposes dual-frequency band checkerboard surfaces with 10-dB RCS reduction bandwidths of 61% and 24% by utilizing two dual-band EBG structures, while the surfaces maintain scattering in four quadrants. Bistatic and monostatic RCS of dualband checkerboard surfaces are simulated and the results are compared to the RCS of the corresponding perfect electric conductor (PEC) surface. Comparison of the monostatic RCS between the measurements and simulations, as a function of frequency, is considered for both TEz and TMz polarizations. A very good agreement is obtained between measurements and simulations.
Identification of Small Proline-Rich Repeat Protein 3 as a Novel Atheroprotective Factor That Promotes Adaptive Akt Signaling in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Objective— Atherosclerosis is the primary driver of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Identification of naturally occurring atheroprotective genes has become a major goal for the development of interventions that will limit atheroma progression and associated adverse events. To this end, we have identified small proline-rich repeat protein (SPRR3) as selectively upregulated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of atheroma-bearing arterial tissue versus healthy arterial tissue. In this study, we sought to determine the role of SPRR3 in atheroma pathophysiology. Approach and Results— We found that atheroprone apolipoprotein E-null mice lacking SPRR3 developed significantly greater atheroma burden. To determine the cellular driver(s) of this increase, we evaluated SPRR3-dependent changes in bone marrow–derived cells, endothelial cells, and VSMCs. Bone marrow transplant of SPRR3-expressing cells into SPRR3−/−apolipoprotein E–deficient recipients failed to rescue atheroma burden. Similarly, endothelial cells did not exhibit a response to SPRR3 loss. However, atheromas from SPRR3-deficient mice exhibited increased TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling)-positive VSMCs compared with control. Cell death in SPRR3-deficient VSMCs was significantly increased in vitro. Conversely, SPRR3-overexpressing VSMCs exhibited reduced apoptosis compared with control. We also observed a PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/Akt-dependent positive association between SPRR3 expression and levels of active Akt in VSMCs. The survival advantage seen in SPRR3-overexpressing VSMCs was abrogated after the addition of a PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor. Conclusions— These results indicate that SPRR3 protects the lesion from VSMC loss by promoting survival signaling in plaque VSMCs, thereby significantly decreasing atherosclerosis progression. As the first identified atheroma-specific VSMC prosurvival factor, SPRR3 represents a potential target for lesion-specific modulation of VSMC survival.
OBJECT RECOGNITION BASED ON TEMPLATE CORRELATION IN REMOTE SENSING IMAGE

In recent years, the spatial resolution of remote sensing image becomes much more higher then ten years ago. There are more information reflected by modern remote sensing image. The research of image processing and analyzing based on traditional low resolution image has already not satisfied the need for people to get more accuracy information from high resolution remote sensing image. People want to get information about some particular objects and the change about a particular area from remote sensing image, this is particularly important to the urban plan and disaster surveillance. On the base of analysis of the conventional methods for information extracting from the remote sensing image, a method of extraction particular object in remote sensing image based on feature template correlation is proposed. The method includes three parts: building the template, image match and template correlations, and object recognition. The methods are applied to several high-resolution example images, and vehicles as example object in the image are extracted and recognized. Those examples illuminate that the method proposed in this paper is effective and accuracy.
An Analysis of Facebook 'Likes' and Other Nonverbal Internet Communication Under the Federal Rules of Evidence

Social Media is an important part of our lives. New ways to communicate using social media are constantly emerging, and the influence of social media on our culture and in our courtrooms is bound to increase. Aside from the Virginia District Court's blunder in Bland v. Roberts — holding that a Facebook ‘like’ is not protected by the First Amendment — courts have yet to deal with nonverbal social media content such as Facebook 'likes. ' This Note explains why courts should apply the existing Federal Rules of Evidence excluding hearsay and allowing adoptive admissions to Facebook 'likes' and other nonverbal social media content. This Note argues against reforming the Federal Rules as parties increasingly use nonverbal social media content in the courtroom.
Do Older Individuals Need More Than Usual Physical Activities to Maintain Muscle Strength and Function?

lthough active older individuals generally have greater A maximal muscle strength than their sedentary peers, loss of muscle mass appears to be an inevitable consequence of old age. Both direct (CT scans) and indirect (urinary creatinine) evidence suggests that total muscle mass decreases by approximately 50% between the ages of 20 and 90 years. ' Both loss of muscle fibers and fiber atrophy appear to contribute to decreased muscle mass. The loss of muscle fibers is apparently the result of age-related denervation of some fibers. Although some fibers are reinnervated by surviving motoneurons, the aging process results in fewer available motor units. Individual muscle fiber atrophy also occurs and affects Type I1 muscle fibers selectively. Presumably, such atrophy is caused by decreased use of fast, forceful contractions that would recruit this type of motor unit. An age-related decrease in muscle strength accompanies and can be directly attributed to loss of muscle mass. ' The functional effects of decreased muscle mass and strength on ability to maintain an independent lifestyle are less clear. Data from numerous cross-sectional studies'33 and the few longitudinal studies available 4,5 confirm a decrease in maximal muscle strength with age. The rate and/or magnitude of decrease in strength, however, may differ both according to muscle group and type of muscle action. The general consensus is that lower extremity strength is lost at a relatively faster rate than upper extremity strength. Additionally, the Aniansson et aL4 longitudinal study reported that muscle biopsy results demonstrated age-related morphological changes are more pronounced in the quadriceps than in the biceps brachii muscles, thus supporting the consensus opinion that upper extremity musculature appears to be better preserved with aging. These studies suggest that the differences may be related to continued overload of the upper extremity musculature during usual activities but a declining use of lower extremity musculature, particularly quadriceps, with age. The results of the present study are somewhat different from the previous studies. While decreases in maximal isometric strength of upper extremity and trunk musculature were of a magnitude similar to that previously reported, the authors report a slight increase (4%) in maximal isometric knee extensor strength. Rantanen et alas speculate that knee extensor strength in their subjects was improved because everyday activities provided an adequate overload stimulus to the knee extensor musculature. They suggest that although everyday activities are of relatively low absolute intensity, they may provide sufficient stimulus to ageweakened musculature. Most activities of daily living, however, require little quadriceps strength. For example, during normal walking, the quadriceps is activated only briefly, i.e., at the beginning and end of the gait cycle. Individuals with
Horizontal Chromosome Transfer, a Mechanism for the Evolution and Differentiation of a Plant-Pathogenic Fungus

ABSTRACT The tomato pathotype of Alternaria alternata produces host-specific AAL toxin and causes Alternaria stem canker on tomato. A polyketide synthetase (PKS) gene, ALT1, which is involved in AAL toxin biosynthesis, resides on a 1.0-Mb conditionally dispensable chromosome (CDC) found only in the pathogenic and AAL toxin-producing strains. Genomic sequences of ALT1 and another PKS gene, both of which reside on the CDC in the tomato pathotype strains, were compared to those of tomato pathotype strains collected worldwide. This revealed that the sequences of both CDC genes were identical among five A. alternata tomato pathotype strains having different geographical origins. On the other hand, the sequences of other genes located on chromosomes other than the CDC are not identical in each strain, indicating that the origin of the CDC might be different from that of other chromosomes in the tomato pathotype. Telomere fingerprinting and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of the A. alternata strains also indicated that the CDCs in the tomato pathotype strains were identical, although the genetic backgrounds of the strains differed. A hybrid strain between two different pathotypes was shown to harbor the CDCs derived from both parental strains with an expanded range of pathogenicity, indicating that CDCs can be transmitted from one strain to another and stably maintained in the new genome. We propose a hypothesis whereby the ability to produce AAL toxin and to infect a plant could potentially be distributed among A. alternata strains by horizontal transfer of an entire pathogenicity chromosome. This could provide a possible mechanism by which new pathogens arise in nature.
Diagnosis of a stator winding short-circuit fault on induction machines running in variable speed conditions

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the electrical machine diagnosis running as adjustable speed drive. The analyzed signal is the leakage flux flowing around the machine, which is considered to be an image of the airgap flux density. An analytical expression of the airgap flux density is presented and gives sensitive spectral lines to a stator winding short-circuit fault in an induction machine. The study is done on a frequency range up to few kilohertz, around the slotting spectral lines. The originality of this paper is that the study is focused on machines fed by the mean of a converter. The theory is verified by experimental tests and the results show what precautions are necessary to take in order to obtain spectra which can be used for diagnosis.
Comparing Higher Education —Historically?

Almost as long as there have been systems of higher education, scholars have compared their institutions with those abroad. In the nineteenth century it was a matter of course for aspiring American academics to travel to Europe (notably Germany) in order to complete their training, as scores of memoirs attest. 1 Many an issue of the Educational Review included an article on British, German or French universities. But true comparison began only around the turn of this century, when American institutions had matured sufficiently for V.S. scholars to believe they might have something of their own to teach to their erstwhile European mentors. While comparison satisfied intellectual curiosity about different institutional arrangements, foreign examples also served as a yardstick for one's own performance, and especially as a key argument for domestic reform. For the first generation "the comparative exercise has been one of determining, portraying and analysing national educational 'character' or characteristics. " 3 These several motives also informed A. Flexner's classic quest for the "idea of a modern university" which he distilled in 1930 out of American, English and German spirits: