Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geocoding to Manage Missing Data in a Secondary Analysis of Community-Dwelling, Low-Income Older Adults.

Managing missing data in a secondary analysis is daunting, particularly if the data of interest were not included in the parent study design. The current study describes the use of geocoding to replace missing data from a parent study for a secondary analysis of socioeconomic and neighborhood characteristics in community-dwelling older adults who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Geocoding was used to link participants' addresses to data from the American Community Survey to replace missing income and neighborhood data. After geocoding, data completeness was 100% for neighborhood poverty and education composition, and 99.9% for income. Using geocoding provides the gerontological nurse researcher with a sample that is more reflective of the population. The current findings can be used to tailor neighborhood-centered interventions to promote health in low-income older adults. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(4):155-161. ].
The ultrasound-guided retrolaminar block: volume-dependent injectate distribution

Purpose The ultrasound-guided retrolaminar block is one of the newer and simpler alternatives to the traditional, often technically challenging, paravertebral (PV) block. Its feasibility, safety, and efficacy have already been clinically demonstrated in patients with multiple rib fractures using higher volumes of local anesthetic, when compared with the traditional approach. The primary aim of this observational anatomical study was to assess the spread of local anesthetic from the retrolaminar injection point to the PV space and its volume dependence. Second, we assessed the incidence of epidural and contralateral PV spread in the both groups. Methods Ten fresh porcine cadavers were randomized into 2 groups (n=5 each) to receive ultrasound-guided retrolaminar injections at Th4-Th5 level with either 10 mL (low-volume group) or 30 mL (high-volume group) of 2% lidocaine and methylene blue mixture. After the procedure, the cadavers were dissected and frozen. Cross-section cuts (~1 cm thick) were performed to evaluate the injectate spread. Results In the high-volume group, injectate spread from the retrolaminar to the PV space was observed in all specimens (5 out of 5; 100%), while in the low-volume group, no apparent spread to the PV space was found (0 out of 5; 0%). No epidural or contralateral PV spread was observed in any of the specimens. Conclusion Following ultrasound-guided retrolaminar injections in fresh porcine cadavers, injectate spread from the retrolaminar tissue plane to the PV space is strongly volume dependent, suggesting that, clinically, high local anesthetic volumes maybe critical for achieving regional anesthesia and analgesia consistent with traditional PV blockade.
Cannabinoids Facilitate the Swallowing Reflex Elicited by the Superior Laryngeal Nerve Stimulation in Rats

Cannabinoids have been reported to be involved in affecting various biological functions through binding with cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2). The present study was designed to investigate whether swallowing, an essential component of feeding behavior, is modulated after the administration of cannabinoid. The swallowing reflex evoked by the repetitive electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve in rats was recorded before and after the administration of the cannabinoid receptor agonist, WIN 55-212-2 (WIN), with or without CB1 or CB2 antagonist. The onset latency of the first swallow and the time intervals between swallows were analyzed. The onset latency and the intervals between swallows were shorter after the intravenous administration of WIN, and the strength of effect of WIN was dose-dependent. Although the intravenous administration of CB1 antagonist prior to intravenous administration of WIN blocked the effect of WIN, the administration of CB2 antagonist did not block the effect of WIN. The microinjection of the CB1 receptor antagonist directly into the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) prior to intravenous administration of WIN also blocked the effect of WIN. Immunofluorescence histochemistry was conducted to assess the co-localization of CB1 receptor immunoreactivity to glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) or glutamate in the NTS. CB1 receptor was co-localized more with GAD67 than glutamate in the NTS. These findings suggest that cannabinoids facilitate the swallowing reflex via CB1 receptors. Cannabinoids may attenuate the tonic inhibitory effect of GABA (gamma-aminobuteric acid) neurons in the central pattern generator for swallowing.
Statistical Analysis of Metrics for Software Quality Improvement

Software product quality can be defined as the features and characteristics of the product that meet the user needs. The quality of any software can be achieved by following a well defined software process. These software process results into various metrics like Project metrics, Product metrics and Process metrics. Software quality depends on the process which is carried out to design and develop software. Even though the process can be carried out with utmost care, still it can introduce some error and defects. Process metrics are very useful from management point of view. Process metrics can be used for improving the software development and maintenance process for defect removal and also for reducing the response time. This paper describes the importance of capturing the Process metrics during the quality audit process and also attempts to categorize them based on the nature of error captured. To reduce such errors and defects found, steps for corrective actions are recommended.
Holiest minimum-cost paths and flows in surface graphs

Let G be an edge-weighted directed graph with n vertices embedded on an orientable surface of genus g. We describe a simple deterministic lexicographic perturbation scheme that guarantees uniqueness of minimum-cost flows and shortest paths in G. The perturbations take O(gn) time to compute. We use our perturbation scheme in a black box manner to derive a deterministic O(n loglogn) time algorithm for minimum cut in directed edge-weighted planar graphs and a deterministic O(g2 n logn) time proprocessing scheme for the multiple-source shortest paths problem of computing a shortest path oracle for all vertices lying on a common face of a surface embedded graph. The latter result yields faster deterministic near-linear time algorithms for a variety of problems in constant genus surface embedded graphs. Finally, we open the black box in order to generalize a recent linear-time algorithm for multiple-source shortest paths in unweighted undirected planar graphs to work in arbitrary orientable surfaces. Our algorithm runs in O(g2 n logg) time in this setting, and it can be used to give improved linear time algorithms for several problems in unweighted undirected surface embedded graphs of constant genus including the computation of minimum cuts, shortest topologically non-trivial cycles, and minimum homology bases.
Verification of intensity modulated radiation therapy beams using a tissue equivalent plastic scintillator dosimetry system

This thesis describes the development and implementation of a novel method for the dosimetric verification of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) fields with several advantages over current techniques. Through the use of a tissue equivalent plastic scintillator sheet viewed by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, this method provides a truly tissue equivalent dosimetry system capable of efficiently and accurately performing field-by-field verification of IMRT plans. This work was motivated by an initial study comparing two IMRT treatment planning systems. The clinical functionality of BrainLAB's BrainSCAN and Varian's Helios IMRT treatment planning systems were compared in terms of implementation and commissioning, dose optimization, and plan assessment. Implementation and commissioning revealed differences in the beam data required to characterize the beam prior to use with the BrainSCAN system requiring higher resolution data compared to Helios. This difference was found to impact on the ability of the systems to accurately calculate dose for highly modulated fields, with BrainSCAN being more successful than Helios. The dose optimization and plan assessment comparisons revealed that while both systems use considerably different optimization algorithms and user-control interfaces, they are both capable of producing substantially equivalent dose plans. The extensive use of dosimetric verification techniques in the IMRT treatment planning comparison study motivated the development and implementation of a novel IMRT dosimetric verification system. The system consists of a water-filled phantom with a tissue equivalent plastic scintillator sheet built into the top surface. Scintillation light is reflected by a plastic mirror within the phantom towards a viewing window where it is captured using a CCD camera. Optical photon spread is removed using a micro-louvre optical collimator and by deconvolving a glare kernel
Pathogenic Leptospira: Advances in understanding the molecular pathogenesis and virulence

Leptospirosis is a common zoonotic disease has emerged as a major public health problem, with developing countries bearing disproportionate burdens. Although the diverse range of clinical manifestations of the leptospirosis in humans is widely documented, the mechanisms through which the pathogen causes disease remain undetermined. In addition, leptospirosis is a much-neglected life-threatening disease although it is one of the most important zoonoses occurring in a diverse range of epidemiological distribution. Recent advances in molecular profiling of pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira have improved our understanding of the evolutionary factors that determine virulence and mechanisms that the bacteria employ to survive. However, a major impediment to the formulation of intervention strategies has been the limited understanding of the disease determinants. Consequently, the association of the biological mechanisms to the pathogenesis of Leptospira, as well as the functions of numerous essential virulence factors still remain implicit. This review examines recent advances in genetic screening technologies, the underlying microbiological processes, the virulence factors and associated molecular mechanisms driving pathogenesis of Leptospira species.
A REVIEW OF UTILIZATION OF COCONUT SHELL AND COCONUT FIBER IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

This paper provides a review of utilization coconut shell and coconut fiber in road construction. Coconut shell and coconut fiber are new waste materials used in highway industry. Some studies showed that coconut fiber can increase the stability, skid resistance and resilient modulus while coconut shell can improve the indirect tensile strength and static creep behavior of the modified asphalt pavement. In contrast, coconut fiber does not improve the fatigue life of the modified bituminous mixes. In general, the previous research illustrates that coconut shell and coconut fiber significantly improves the engineering properties of asphalt mixtures when mixed with modified bitumen.
An Arabidopsis NAC transcription factor NAC4 promotes pathogen-induced cell death under negative regulation by microRNA164.

Hypersensitive response (HR) is a form of programmed cell death (PCD) and the primary immune response that prevents pathogen invasion in plants. Here, we show that a microRNAmiR164 and its target gene NAC4 (At5g07680), encoding a NAC transcription factor, play essential roles in the regulation of HR PCD in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cell death symptoms were noticeably enhanced in NAC4-overexpressing (35S:NAC4) and mir164 mutant plants in response to avirulent bacterial pathogens. NAC4 expression was induced by pathogen infection and negatively regulated by miR164 expression. NAC4-binding DNA sequences were determined by in vitro binding site selection using random oligonucleotide sequences. Microarray, chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses, followed by cell death assays in protoplasts, led to the identification of NAC4 target genes LURP1, WRKY40 and WRKY54, which act as negative regulators of cell death. Our results suggest that NAC4 promotes hypersensitive cell death by suppressing its target genes and this immune process is fine-tuned by the negative action of miR164.
Lumpectomy plus tamoxifen with or without irradiation in women 70 years of age or older with early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND In women 70 years of age or older who have early breast cancer, it is unclear whether lumpectomy plus tamoxifen is as effective as lumpectomy followed by tamoxifen plus radiation therapy. METHODS Between July 1994 and February 1999, we randomly assigned 636 women who were 70 years of age or older and who had clinical stage I (T1N0M0 according to the tumor-node-metastasis classification), estrogen-receptor-positive breast carcinoma treated by lumpectomy to receive tamoxifen plus radiation therapy (317 women) or tamoxifen alone (319 women). Primary end points were the time to local or regional recurrence, the frequency of mastectomy for recurrence, breast-cancer-specific survival, the time to distant metastasis, and overall survival. RESULTS The only significant difference between the two groups was in the rate of local or regional recurrence at five years (1 percent in the group given tamoxifen plus irradiation and 4 percent in the group given tamoxifen alone, P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the rates of mastectomy for local recurrence, distant metastases, or five-year rates of overall survival (87 percent in the group given tamoxifen plus irradiation and 86 percent in the tamoxifen group, P=0.94). Assessment by physicians and patients of cosmetic results and adverse events uniformly rated tamoxifen plus irradiation inferior to tamoxifen alone. CONCLUSIONS Lumpectomy plus adjuvant therapy with tamoxifen alone is a realistic choice for the treatment of women 70 years of age or older who have early, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Softwood bark for modern composites.

The forestry and timber industry is facing a general lack of resources further compounded by harsh competition from biomass based energy. Therefore the development of alternative resources has become increasingly important. The present investigation focuses on the heretofore barely utilized potential of tree bark of softwoods. Bark is a byproduct of timber manufacturing in sawmills and exhibits very interesting properties. In this study insulation boards and pallets blocks, made out of pine and other softwood barks, have been produced. Their properties seem to be promising with regard to thermal conductivity, heat storage capacity and mechanical characteristics for the insulation boards but also in terms of internal bond after weathering, nailing and low formaldehyde emission for the pallets blocks. For this reason bark based panels could probably be used efficiently for civil engineering purposes like heat insulation and sound absorption, transportation like pallets blocks and other specific applications in general. The actuals results were patented and a continuation of the research with other softwoods like larch and hardwoods like oak will be carried out.
Activity of lower limb muscles during treadmill running at different velocities

[Purpose] The present study aimed to determine changes in muscle activity while moving on a treadmill at various speeds. [Subjects] The activities of the left vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, hip adductors, lateral head of gastrocnemius, medial head gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior of 10 healthy male university students were analyzed. [Methods] University students walked, jogged, and ran for 10 minutes each in random order, and then myogenic potentials were measured 10 minutes later for 30 seconds. The flexion angle of the lower limb upon initial contact, mid stance, and toe off were measured. [Results] The average walking, jogging, and running speeds were 3.6 ± 0.4, 6.7 ± 0.6, and 10.4 ± 1.3 km/h, respectively. The average electromyographic activities of the vastus medial, tibialis anterior, medial head of gastrocnemius, and lateral head of gastrocnemius significantly differed. All muscles were more active during jogging and running than walking. Only the soleus was more active during running than walking, and the activities of the hip adductors and vastus lateralis did not significantly differ. [Conclusion] Velocity is faster and the angles of the lower limbs and ground reaction force (GRF) are larger during running than walking. The vastus medialis and soleus worked more easily according to the angle of the knee joint, whereas the tibialis anterior worked more easily at faster velocities and the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius worked more easily with an increased GRF.
Chromatic Dispersion Characteristics of Single-Mode Mid-Infrared Fibers

The chromatic dispersion characteristics of several heavy metal fluoride fibers were evaluated as a function of wavelength, core diameter and index difference for a single-mode step-index fiber structure. The results show that, by appropriate choice of core diameter and index difference for each material, the total dispersion can be reduced to zero over a broad wavelength range. It has been demostrated that it is possible to have zero-dispersion fluoride fibers at the minimun loss wavelength of 2.5 μm, but further study of other core profiles as well as the role of the extrinsic losses is necessary for a complete design study of these single-mode fibers.
Separate spatial and temporal frequency tuning to visual motion in human MT+ measured with ECoG

The human middle temporal complex (hMT+) has a crucial biological relevance for the processing and detection of direction and speed of motion in visual stimuli. Here, we characterized how neuronal populations in hMT+ encode the speed of moving visual stimuli. We evaluated human intracranial electrocorticography (ECoG) responses elicited by square‐wave dartboard moving stimuli with different spatial and temporal frequency to investigate whether hMT+ neuronal populations encode the stimulus speed directly, or whether they separate motion into its spatial and temporal components. We extracted two components from the ECoG responses: (1) the power in the high‐frequency band (HFB: 65–95 Hz) as a measure of the neuronal population spiking activity and (2) a specific spectral component that followed the frequency of the stimulus's contrast reversals (SCR responses). Our results revealed that HFB neuronal population responses to visual motion stimuli exhibit distinct and independent selectivity for spatial and temporal frequencies of the visual stimuli rather than direct speed tuning. The SCR responses did not encode the speed or the spatiotemporal frequency of the visual stimuli. We conclude that the neuronal populations measured in hMT+ are not directly tuned to stimulus speed, but instead encode speed through separate and independent spatial and temporal frequency tuning. Hum Brain Mapp 38:293–307, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non-Standard Confidence Sets for Ratios and Tipping Points with Applications to Dynamic Panel Data

We study estimation uncertainty when the object of interest contains one or more ratios of parameters. The ratio of parameters is a discontinuous parameter transformation; it has been shown that traditional confidence intervals often fail to cover this true ratio with very high probability. Constructing confidence sets for ratios using Fieller’s method is a viable solution as the method can avoid the discontinuity problem. This paper proposes an extension of the multivariate Fieller method beyond standard estimators, focusing on asymptotically mixed normal estimators that commonly arise in dynamic panel polynomial regression with persistent covariates. We discuss the cases where the underlying estimators converge to various distri- butions, depending on the persistence level of the covariates. We show that the asymptotic distribution of the pivotal statistic used for constructing a Fieller’s confidence set remains a standard Chi-squared distribution regardless of rates of convergence, thus the rates are being ‘self-normalized’ and can be unknown. A simulation study illustrates the finite sample properties of the proposed method in a dynamic polynomial panel. Our method is demonstrated to work well in small samples, even when the persistence coefficient is unity.
A Privacy-Preserving GWAS Computation with Homomorphic Encryption

The continuous decline in the cost of DNA sequencing has contributed both positive and negative feelings in the academia and research community. It has now become possible to harvest large amounts of genetic data, which researches believe their study will help improve preventive and personalised healthcare, better understanding of diseases and response to treatments. However, there are more information embedded in genes than are currently understood, just as a genomic data contains information of not just the owner, but relatives who might not subscribe to sharing them. Unrestricted access to genomic data can be privacy invasive, hence the urgent need to regulate access to them and develop protocols that would allow privacy-preserving techniques in both computations and analysis that involve these very sensitive data. In this work, we discuss how a careful combination of cryptographic primitives such as homomorphic encryption, can be used to privately implement common algorithms peculiar to genome-wide association studies (GWAS). This obviously comes at a cost, where we have to accommodate the trade-off between speed of computations and privacy.
Normal incidence for graded index surfaces

A plane wave is incident normally from vacuum (n0 = 1) onto a smooth surface. The substrate has three layers; the top most layer has thickness d1 and permittivity 1. The corresponding numbers for the next layer are d2, 2, while the third layer which is semi-infinite has index n3. The Hallikainen model [1] is used to relate volumetric soil moisture to the permittivity. Here, we consider the relation for the real part of the permittivity for a typical loam soil:
A novel approach of fMRI-guided tractography analysis within a group: Construction of an fMRI-guided tractographic atlas

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) tractography and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) investigate two complementary aspects of brain networks: white matter (WM) anatomical connectivity and gray matter (GM) function. However, integration standards have yet to be defined; namely, individual fMRI-driven tractography is usually applied and only few studies address group analysis. This work proposes an efficient method of fMRI-driven tractography at group level through the creation of a tractographic atlas starting from the GM areas activated by a verbal fluency task in 11 healthy subjects. The individual tracts were registered to the MNI space. Selection ROIs derived by GM masking and dilation of group activated areas were applied to obtain the fMRI-driven subsets within tracts. An atlas of the tracts recruited among the population was obtained by selecting for each subject the fMRI-guided tracts passing through the high probability voxels (the voxels recruited by the 90% of the subjects) and merging them together. The reliability of this approach was assessed by comparing it with the probabilistic atlas previously introduced in literature. The introduced method allowed to successfully reconstruct activated tracts, which comprehended corpus callosum, left cingulum and arcuate, a small portion of the right arcuate, both cortico-spinal tracts and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi. Moreover, it proved to give results concordant with the previously introduced probabilistic approach, allowing in addition to reconstruct 3D trajectories of the activated fibers, which appear particularly helpful in the detection of WM connections.