Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactive surface modeling using modal analysis

We propose a framework for deformation-based surface modeling that is interactive, robust, and intuitive to use. The deformations are described by a nonlinear optimization problem that models static states of elastic shapes under external forces which implement the user input. Interactive response is achieved by a combination of model reduction, a robust energy approximation, and an efficient quasi-Newton solver. Motivated by the observation that a typical modeling session requires only a fraction of the full shape space of the underlying model, we use second and third derivatives of a deformation energy to construct a low-dimensional shape space that forms the feasible set for the optimization. Based on mesh coarsening, we propose an energy approximation scheme with adjustable approximation quality. The quasi-Newton solver guarantees superlinear convergence without the need of costly Hessian evaluations during modeling. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach on different examples including the test suite introduced in Sorkine [2008].
Randomized Controlled Study of Stroke Unit Care Versus Stroke Team Care in Different Stroke Subtypes

Background and Purpose— The benefits of stroke unit management may vary according to stroke subtype. A post hoc analysis of the influence of stroke subtype on stroke unit effectiveness was undertaken by using prospective data collected in a randomized controlled trial. Methods— Two hundred sixty-seven patients with moderately severe ischemic stroke (164 with large-vessel infarcts and 103 with lacunar infarcts) were randomly allocated to treatment in stroke units or in general medical wards with specialist stroke team support. Mortality, institutionalization, neurological, functional, and quality-of-life scores and resource use were assessed at 3 and again at 12 months after stroke onset. An intention-to-treat analysis was undertaken, and logistic regression was used to evaluate the independent effect of stroke unit intervention. Results— Stroke team–supported management was associated with higher mortality (odds ratio [OR] 4.9, 95% CI 1.3 to 18.6) and higher mortality or institutionalization (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 7.4) at 3 months (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.7) and at 1 year (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 6.2) in patients with large-vessel infarcts. In contrast, there were no significant differences in outcome in patients with lacunar strokes managed in the stroke unit or by the stroke team. In patients with lacunar strokes, stroke unit care was associated with a longer length of hospital stay (18 versus 13.5 days for stroke unit care versus stroke team care, respectively;P <0.01) and significantly greater use of therapy. Conclusions— Stroke units improve the outcome in patients with large-vessel infarcts but not in those with lacunar syndromes. For lacunar strokes, stroke unit management may be associated with higher initial health costs for equivalent benefit.
The Age of Insanity: Modernity and Mental Health

Preface Introduction: The Human Context of Modernity Megatrends in Identity, Consciousness, and Psychological Defense Materialism, Consumption, and Mental Health The Cultural Dynamics of Western Depression The New Anxiety Modernity and Interpersonal Health Spiritual and Existential Health Mental Health and the Physical World The New Mental Health Worker Bibliography
Discovering indigenous science: Implications for science education†

Indigenous science relates to both the science knowledge of long-resident, usually oral culture peoples, as well as the science knowledge of all peoples who as participants in culture are affected by the worldview and relativist interests of their home communities. This article explores aspects of multicultural science and pedagogy and describes a rich and well-documented branch of indigenous science known to biologists and ecologists as traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Although TEK has been generally inaccessible, educators can now use a burgeoning science-based TEK literature that documents numerous examples of time-proven, ecologically relevant, and cost effective indigenous science. Disputes regarding the universality of the standard scientific account are of critical importance for science educators because the definition of science is a de facto “gatekeeping” device for determining what can be included in a school science curriculum and what cannot. When Western modern science (WMS) is defined as universal it does displace revelation-based knowledge (i.e., creation science); however, it also displaces pragmatic local indigenous knowledge that does not conform with formal aspects of the “standard account. ” Thus, in most science classrooms around the globe, Western modern science has been taught at the expense of indigenous knowledge. However, because WMS has been implicated in many of the world's ecological disasters, and because the traditional wisdom component of TEK is particularly rich in time-tested approaches that foster sustainability and environmental integrity, it is possible that the universalist “gatekeeper” can be seen as increasingly problematic and even counter productive. This paper describes many examples from Canada and around the world of indigenous people's contributions to science, environmental understanding, and sustainability. The authors argue the view that Western or modern science is just one of many sciences that need to be addressed in the science classroom. We conclude by presenting instructional strategies that can help all science learners negotiate border crossings between Western modern science and indigenous science. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed85:6–34, 2001.
Relationship of Pneumocystis jiroveci Humoral Immunity to Prevention of Colonization and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Primate Model of HIV Infection

ABSTRACT Pulmonary colonization by the opportunistic pathogen Pneumocystis jiroveci is common in HIV+ subjects and has been associated with development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Host and environmental factors associated with colonization susceptibility are undefined. Using a simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) model of HIV infection, the immunologic parameters associated with natural Pneumocystis jiroveci transmission were evaluated. SHIV-infected macaques were exposed to P. jiroveci by cohousing with immunosuppressed, P. jiroveci-colonized macaques in two independent experiments. Serial plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples were examined for changes in antibody titers to recombinant Pneumocystis-kexin protein (KEX1) and evidence of Pneumocystis colonization by nested PCR of BAL fluid. In experiment 1, 10 of 14 monkeys became Pneumocystis colonized (Pc+) by 8 weeks post-SHIV infection, while 4 animals remained Pneumocystis colonization negative (Pc−) throughout the study. In experiment 2, 11 of 17 animals became Pneumocystis colonized by 16 weeks post-SHIV infection, while 6 monkeys remained Pc−. Baseline plasma KEX1-IgG titers were significantly higher in monkeys that remained Pc−, compared to Pc+ monkeys, in experiments 1 (P = 0.013) and 2 (P = 0.022). Pc− monkeys had greater percentages of Pneumocystis-specific memory B cells after SHIV infection compared to Pc+ monkeys (P = 0.037). After SHIV infection, Pc+ monkeys developed progressive obstructive pulmonary disease, whereas Pc− monkeys maintained normal lung function throughout the study. These results demonstrate a correlation between the KEX1 humoral response and the prevention of Pneumocystis colonization and obstructive lung disease in the SHIV model. In addition, these results indicate that an effective Pneumocystis-specific memory B-cell response is maintained despite progressive loss of CD4+ T cells during SHIV infection.
LTR CONTROLLER DESIGN FOR A STEAM GENERATOR IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Poor control of the steam generator water level in the secondary circuit of a nuclear power plant can lead to frequent reactor shutdowns. Such shutdowns are caused by violation of safety limits on the water level and are common at low operating power where the plant exhibits strong nonminimum phase characteristics and flow measurements are unreliable. There is, there for, a need to systematically investigate the problem of controlling the water level in the steam generator in order to prevent such costly reactor shutdowns. Various approaches such as fuzzy [6], adaptive [2], MPC [3] and robust [4] approaches of controller design have been addressed. In this paper two general LQG/LTR-based controllers for low and high power range have been presented and a switched system approach will be proposed for switching.
Unraveling the complex metabolic nature of astrocytes

Since the initial description of astrocytes by neuroanatomists of the nineteenth century, a critical metabolic role for these cells has been suggested in the central nervous system. Nonetheless, it took several technological and conceptual advances over many years before we could start to understand how they fulfill such a role. One of the important and early recognized metabolic function of astrocytes concerns the reuptake and recycling of the neurotransmitter glutamate. But the description of this initial property will be followed by several others including an implication in the supply of energetic substrates to neurons. Indeed, despite the fact that like most eukaryotic non-proliferative cells, astrocytes rely on oxidative metabolism for energy production, they exhibit a prominent aerobic glycolysis capacity. Moreover, this unusual metabolic feature was found to be modulated by glutamatergic activity constituting the initial step of the neurometabolic coupling mechanism. Several approaches, including biochemical measurements in cultured cells, genetic screening, dynamic cell imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mathematical modeling, have provided further insights into the intrinsic characteristics giving rise to these key features of astrocytes. This review will provide an account of the different results obtained over several decades that contributed to unravel the complex metabolic nature of astrocytes that make this cell type unique.
Isolated Temporal Lobe Involvement in Japanese Encephalitis

Temporal lobe involvement on neuroimaging is extremely rare in Japanese encephalitis (JE) and isolated temporal lobe involvement on neuroimaging has rarely been described in the literature. With isolated temporal lobe involvement, distinguishing JE from the treatable Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) can be difficult. Both JE and HSE should be considered in patients who present clinically with acute encephalitis and have radiological evidence of temporal lobe involvement, especially in JE endemic areas.
Promoting physical activity among South Asian women with coronary heart disease and diabetes: what might help?

BACKGROUND People of South Asian origin have higher mortality and morbidity from coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes than those of European origin. However, physical activity, of established value in primary and secondary prevention, appears lower among South Asians. OBJECTIVE To explore influences on, and attitudes towards, physical activity among South Asian women with CHD and diabetes to inform secondary prevention strategies. METHODS Exploratory qualitative study with women aged 26-70 years of varying South Asian ethnicity, religion and socio-economic background with CHD and/or non-insulin-dependent diabetes were recruited from primary care practices in the UK. RESULTS The beneficial use of physical activity to improve and limit progression of their disease was largely unrecognized by the women interviewed. They were uncertain what type and level of physical activity was appropriate and safe for them. They operated their own threshold for physical activity in relation to their condition, which they were afraid to exceed. Specific guidance from health professionals was lacking. Respondents emphasized the cultural importance of being active day to day, rather than the 'Western' concepts of organized exercise. However, women's principal motivations and attitudes towards physical activity, to loose weight, socialize and maintain independence, were culturally similar to 'majority' populations. CONCLUSIONS Better health professional guidance on appropriate physical activity, its health benefits and its safety is needed for this highly at-risk group. Promoting informal moderate-intensity physical activity may help. Strategies should avoid any tendency to overemphasize cultural barriers noting greater similarities than differences between cultural groups.
Tangible games for stroke rehabilitation with digital box and blocks test

The Digital Box and Block Test (DBBT) is a post-stroke rehabilitation assessment apparatus for in-home use. It is based on the clinically validated Box and Block Test used to measure unilateral gross manual dexterity. We show that the automated DBBT scoring algorithms achieve at least 90% accuracy on a scoring procedure that is traditionally labor intensive and subjective. Furthermore, we propose a tangible gaming system based on DBBT to increase patient motivation and make rehabilitation exercises more enjoyable.
Interference alignment and neutralization in a cognitive 3-user MAC-interference channel: degrees of freedom

A network consisting of a point-to-point (P2P) link and a multiple access channel (MAC) sharing the same medium is considered. The resulting interference network, with three transmitters and two receivers is studied from degrees of freedom (DoF) perspective, with and without cognition. Several cognition variants are examined. Namely, the setup is studied with (1) no cognitive transmitters, (2) a cognitive P2P transmitter, (3) one cognitive MAC transmitter, and (4) with two cognitive MAC transmitters. It is shown that having a cognitive P2P transmitter does not bring any DoF gain to the network. This is obtained by showing that the DoF of the two former cases (1) and (2) is 1. However, it is shown that a cognitive MAC transmitter is more beneficial since the latter two cases (3) and (4) have 3/2 DoF. The achievability of 3/2 DoF is guaranteed by using a combination of interference neutralization and interference alignment.
Bayesian classification and feature reduction using uniform Dirichlet priors

In this paper, a method of classification referred to as the Bayesian data reduction algorithm (BDRA) is developed. The algorithm is based on the assumption that the discrete symbol probabilities of each class are a priori uniformly Dirichlet distributed, and it employs a "greedy" approach (which is similar to a backward sequential feature search) for reducing irrelevant features from the training data of each class. Notice that reducing irrelevant features is synonymous here with selecting those features that provide best classification performance; the metric for making data-reducing decisions is an analytic for the probability of error conditioned on the training data. To illustrate its performance, the BDRA is applied both to simulated and to real data, and it is also compared to other classification methods. Further, the algorithm is extended to deal with the problem of missing features in the data. Results demonstrate that the BDRA performs well despite its relative simplicity. This is significant because the BDRA differs from many other classifiers; as opposed to adjusting the model to obtain a "best fit" for the data, the data, through its quantization, is itself adjusted.
LINE-1 RNA splicing and influences on mammalian gene expression

Long interspersed element-1 elements compose on average one-fifth of mammalian genomes. The expression and retrotransposition of L1 is restricted by a number of cellular mechanisms in order to limit their damage in both germ-line and somatic cells. L1 transcription is largely suppressed in most tissues, but L1 mRNA and/or proteins are still detectable in testes, a number of specific somatic cell types, and malignancies. Down-regulation of L1 expression via premature polyadenylation has been found to be a secondary mechanism of limiting L1 expression. We demonstrate that mammalian L1 elements contain numerous functional splice donor and acceptor sites. Efficient usage of some of these sites results in extensive and complex splicing of L1. Several splice variants of both the human and mouse L1 elements undergo retrotransposition. Some of the spliced L1 mRNAs can potentially contribute to expression ofopen reading frame 2-related products and therefore have implications for the mobility of SINEs even if they are incompetent for L1 retrotransposition. Analysis of the human EST database revealed that L1 elements also participate in splicing events with other genes. Such contribution of functional splice sites by L1 may result in disruption of normal gene expression or formation of alternative mRNA transcripts.
A tale of four kernels

The FreeBSD, GNU/Linux, Solaris, and Windows operating systems have kernels that provide comparable facilities. Interestingly, their code bases share almost no common parts, while their development processes vary dramatically. We analyze the source code of the four systems by collecting metrics in the areas of file organization, code structure, code style, the use of the C preprocessor, and data organization. The aggregate results indicate that across various areas and many different metrics, four systems developed using wildly different processes score comparably. This allows us to posit that the structure and internal quality attributes of a working, non-trivial software artifact will represent first and foremost the engineering requirements of its construction, with the influence of process being marginal, if any.
On the role of shared randomness in two prover proof systems

We consider which aspects of the two prover model are necessary for their striking language recognition and zero-knowledge capabilities. We approach this question by looking at an alternative, more symmetric model which we call the double verifier model. We find that in this model the shared randomness of the verifiers is key to the language recognition power: if the verifiers don't share randomness the power is PSPACE; otherwise it is MIP=NEXPTIME. We find that the shared randomness of the provers is necessary for zero-knowledge: if the provers don't share randomness, statistical zero-knowledge is only possible for languages in BPP/sup NP/; else it is possible for all of NEXPTIME. These results have immediate implications for the standard two-prover model. We see that correlations between the verifier's queries is crucial for the language recognition power of two prover proofs. In particular, the natural analog of IP=AM does not hold in the two-prover model unless NEXPTIME=PSPACE. Similarly, we see that shared randomness, or correlation of the provers answers, is necessary for the statistical zero-knowledge of two prover proofs. <<ETX>>
Update on the causes, investigation and management of empyema in childhood

Despite being recognised for over two millennia and having an increasing incidence in many countries, the management of childhood empyema remains controversial. This review examines the recent literature on its causes and investigation then focuses on its treatment. Following a trial of appropriate intravenous antibiotics, the evidence would currently support the use of chest drain insertion with urokinase instillation as first line treatment with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to be used for failure of medical management. A treatment algorithm is proposed to guide clinical practice.
The Stringent Response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Required for Long-Term Survival

ABSTRACT The stringent response utilizes hyperphosphorylated guanine [(p)ppGpp] as a signaling molecule to control bacterial gene expression involved in long-term survival under starvation conditions. In gram-negative bacteria, (p)ppGpp is produced by the activity of the related RelA and SpoT proteins. Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains a single homolog of these proteins (RelMtb) and responds to nutrient starvation by producing (p)ppGpp. A relMtb knockout strain was constructed in a virulent strain of M. tuberculosis, H37Rv, by allelic replacement. The relMtbmutant displayed a significantly slower aerobic growth rate than the wild type in synthetic liquid media, whether rich or minimal. The growth rate of the wild type was equivalent to that of the mutant when citrate or phospholipid was employed as the sole carbon source. These two organisms also showed identical growth rates within a human macrophage-like cell line. These results suggest that the in vivo carbon source does not represent a stressful condition for the bacilli, since it appears to be utilized in a similar RelMtb-independent manner. In vitro growth in liquid media represents a condition that benefits from RelMtb-mediated adaptation. Long-term survival of therelMtb mutant during in vitro starvation or nutrient run out in normal media was significantly impaired compared to that in the wild type. In addition, the mutant was significantly less able to survive extended anerobic incubation than the wild-type virulent organism. Thus, the RelMtb protein is required for long-term survival of pathogenic mycobacteria under starvation conditions.
EFFICIENT ALGORITHMS FOR MINING SHARE-FREQUENT ITEMSETS

Itemset share has been proposed to evaluate the significance of itemsets for mining association rules in databases. The Fast Share Measure (FSM) algorithm is one of the best algorithms to discover all share-frequent itemsets efficiently. However, FSM is fast only when dealing with small datasets. In this study, we shall propose a revised version of FSM, called the Enhanced FSM (EFSM) algorithm that speeds up the share-frequent itemsets discovery process. In addition, we shall also present two additional algorithms, SuFSM and ShFSM, developed from EFSM. SuFSM and ShFSM prune the candidates more efficiently than FSM and therefore can improve the performance significantly. Simulation results reveal that the proposed methods perform significantly better than ZSP and FSM, and the performance of ShFSM is the best.
Mining Twitter Data for a More Responsive Software Engineering Process

Twitter has created an unprecedented opportunityfor software developers to monitor the opinions of large populationsof end-users of their software. However, automaticallyclassifying useful tweets is not a trivial task. Challenges stem fromthe scale of the data available, its unique format, diverse nature, and high percentage of spam. To overcome these challenges, thisextended abstract introduces a three-fold procedure that is aimedat leveraging Twitter as a main source of technical feedbackthat software developers can benefit from. The main objective isto enable a more responsive, interactive, and adaptive softwareengineering process. Our analysis is conducted using a dataset oftweets collected from the Twitter feeds of three software systems. Our results provide an initial proof of the technical value ofsoftware-relevant tweets and uncover several challenges to bepursued in our future work.