Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stereo matching in spatio-temporal accumulation for the estimation of vehicular mean speed

Measuring the speed of vehicles in a road is of great importance in the planning and regulation of traffic. This article shows a recent method of capture the video, which greatly reduces the computational complexity of an algorithm for estimating the average speed of a road. The basis of the processing technique used, consists in accumulating sections each video frame in a matrix, in which one dimension corresponds to a section accumulated in a video frame, usually a line “the space dimension” and the other dimension to each video frame “the timedimension”. The accumulation is done on vertical or horizontal lines and the resulting matrix can be seen as a new image. If an accumulation in done on the spatio-temporal video two lines spaced by a known distance, vehicle speed can be estimated calculating the difference of this on the time axis of the two resulting images. This document shows the results of applying common techniques in stereo matching to the problem of matching images resulting from the space-time accumulation, used for estimating the average speed of a road.
Correlation of soluble adhesion molecules in the peripheral blood of scleroderma patients with their in situ expression and with disease activity.

OBJECTIVE To correlate serum levels of the soluble adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin with (a) clinical disease activity and progression and (b) the in situ expression and distribution of these adhesion molecules in lesional skin, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS Serum samples from 12 SSc patients and 36 healthy controls were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistologic staining was carried out on cryostat sections of lesional skin. RESULTS Patients whose SSc was in the early inflammatory stage or who had prominent disease progression showed elevated serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules. Serum levels correlated positively with the expression of these molecules on endothelial cells and fibroblasts in lesional skin. CONCLUSION Serum levels of soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin, and, to a lesser degree, E-selectin correlate well with their in situ activity and with clinical disease activity. These parameters therefore provide a useful tool for the characterization of disease stage, progression, and prognosis in SSc.
Clinical utility of antioxidant gene expression levels in circulating cancer cell clusters for the detection of prostate cancer in patients with prostate‐specific antigen levels of 4–10 ng/mL and disease prognostication after radical prostatectomy

To test antioxidant genes (AOX) expression in circulating cancer cell clusters (CCC). A novel method using molecular, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based detection of CCC was applied for predicting prostate cancer and to assess the effect of radical prostatectomy (RP) on reducing CCC and for prognostication of relapse‐free survival (RFS), as serum total prostate‐specific antigen (tPSA) has limited specificity at 4–10 ng/mL.
Identification of a novel nucleotide-sensitive microtubule-binding protein in HeLa cells

A protein of Mr 170,000 (170K protein) has been identified in HeLa cells, using an antiserum raised against HeLa nucleotide-sensitive microtubule-binding proteins. Affinity-purified antibodies specific for this 170K polypeptide were used for its characterization. In vitro sedimentation of the 170K protein with taxol microtubules polymerized from HeLa high-speed supernatant is enhanced in the presence of an ATP depleting system, but unaffected by the non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue AMP-PNP. In addition, it can be eluted from taxol microtubules by ATP or GTP, as well as NaCl. Thus it shows microtubule-binding characteristics distinct from those of the previously described classes of nucleotide-sensitive microtubule-binding proteins, the motor proteins kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein, homologues of which are also present in HeLa cells. The 170K protein sediments on sucrose gradients at approximately 6S, separate from kinesin (9.5S) and cytoplasmic dynein (20S), further indicating that it is not associated with these motor proteins. Immunofluorescence localization of the 170K protein shows a patchy distribution in interphase HeLa cells, often organized into linear arrays that correlate with microtubules. However, not all microtubules are labeled, and there is a significant accumulation of antigen at the peripheral ends of microtubules. In mitotic cells, 170K labeling is found in the spindle, but there is also dotty labeling in the cytoplasm. After depolymerization of microtubules by nocodazole, the staining pattern is also patchy but not organized in linear arrays, suggesting that the protein may be able to associate with other intracellular structures as well as microtubules. In vinblastine- treated cells, there is strong labeling of tubulin paracrystals, and random microtubules induced in vivo by taxol are also labeled by the antibodies. These immunofluorescence labeling patterns are stable to extraction of cells with Triton X-100 before fixation, further suggesting an association of the protein with cytoplasmic structures. In vivo, therefore, the 170K protein appears to be associated with a subset of microtubules at discrete sites. Its in vitro behavior suggests that it belongs to a novel class of nucleotide-sensitive microtubule-binding proteins.
Amorphization of itraconazole by inorganic pharmaceutical excipients: comparison of excipients and processing methods

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of solid carriers and processing routes on the properties of amorphous solid dispersions of itraconazole. Three solid carriers with a range of surface properties were studied, (1) a mesoporous silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate (Neusilin US2), (2) a nonporous silicate of corresponding composition (Veegum) and (3) a non-silicate, inorganic excipient, calcium phosphate dibasic anhydrous (A-TAB). The drug was incorporated via either solvent-deposition or ball milling. Both the maximum drug deposited by solvent-based method that produced an amorphous composite and the time for complete amorphization by co-milling was determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Changes in the drug and excipients were monitored by nitrogen adsorption and wettability of the powder. The ability of the excipients to amorphize the drug and enhance its dissolution was related to the powder characteristics. Neusilin provided the fastest amorphization time in the mill and highest drug loading by solvent-deposition, compared with the other two excipients. Solvent-deposition provided greater dissolution enhancement than milling, due to the reduction in Neusilin porosity during high energy milling.This study confirms that substrates as well as the processing routes have notable influence on the drug deposition, amorphization, physical stability and drug in vitro release.
Assessment of Passive Elastic Stiffness for Isolated Heart Muscle and the Intact Heart

A sensitive method was developed for detecting stiffness changes in the left ventricle. Stress-strain relationships (σ—ϵ) were obtained in the form dσ/dϵ = kσ + c from published studies on eight normal canine hearts, five infarcted canine hearts, and seven isolated cat papillary muscles. Utilizing pressure-volume relationships, the elastic stiffness (dσ/dϵ) and the stiffness constant (k) were also evaluated in patients with normal ventricles, inappropriate hypertrophy, and congestive cardiomyopathy. The k values were 35.0 ± 1.7 (isolated muscle, 30°C), 37.3 ± 1.9 (normal canine, 23°C), and 23.9 (infarcted). For the patient groups, k and the passive elastic stiffness were 15.8 ± 0.3 and 249 ± 22.4 g/cm2 for 13 normal patients, 26.4 ± 1.7 and 286 ± 32.0 g/cm2 for 7 patients with inappropriate hypertrophy, and 20.1 ± 1.2 and 1360 ± 209 g/cm2 for 6 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy. The results indicate that (1) k is sensitive to stiffness changes due to infarction, (2) hypertrophy causes an increase in the value of k although elastic stiffness remains within normal limits, and (3) k for the intact human heart is lower than it is for isolated muscle.
Mapping the emotional face. How individual face parts contribute to successful emotion recognition

Which facial features allow human observers to successfully recognize expressions of emotion? While the eyes and mouth have been frequently shown to be of high importance, research on facial action units has made more precise predictions about the areas involved in displaying each emotion. The present research investigated on a fine-grained level, which physical features are most relied on when decoding facial expressions. In the experiment, individual faces expressing the basic emotions according to Ekman were hidden behind a mask of 48 tiles, which was sequentially uncovered. Participants were instructed to stop the sequence as soon as they recognized the facial expression and assign it the correct label. For each part of the face, its contribution to successful recognition was computed, allowing to visualize the importance of different face areas for each expression. Overall, observers were mostly relying on the eye and mouth regions when successfully recognizing an emotion. Furthermore, the difference in the importance of eyes and mouth allowed to group the expressions in a continuous space, ranging from sadness and fear (reliance on the eyes) to disgust and happiness (mouth). The face parts with highest diagnostic value for expression identification were typically located in areas corresponding to action units from the facial action coding system. A similarity analysis of the usefulness of different face parts for expression recognition demonstrated that faces cluster according to the emotion they express, rather than by low-level physical features. Also, expressions relying more on the eyes or mouth region were in close proximity in the constructed similarity space. These analyses help to better understand how human observers process expressions of emotion, by delineating the mapping from facial features to psychological representation.
Two improved authenticated multiple key exchange protocols

Abastract: Many authenticated multiple key exchange protocols were published in recent years. In 2008, Lee et al. presented an authenticated multiple key exchange protocol based on bilinear pairings. However, Vo et al. demonstrated an impersonation attack on the protocol , and it failed to provide authenticity and perfect forward secrecy as they had claimed. Later, Vo et al. proposed their enhancement protocol conforming which conforms to all desirable security properties. But, Vo's protocol required any party had held the public key each other, which required a large amount of storage. In this paper, we propose two new authenticated multiple key exchange protocols based on Lee's protocol, and makes them immune against Vo et al.'s attacks.
Evidence of central modulation of bladder compliance during filling phase

Bladder compliance is one expression of the pressure and volume relationship as the bladder fills. In addition to passive elements, autonomous micromotional detrusor activity contributes to this relationship. In the mouse cystometric model, compliance pressure contributes to voiding expulsive pressure. During attempts to isolate the detrusor contractile component of this filling pressurization, we found that compliance reversibly diminishes under conditions which remove central control from the micturition cycle.
Tibial shock measured during the fencing lunge: the influence of footwear

Fencing is a high-intensity sport involving dynamic movements such as the lunge exposing the musculoskeletal system to high impact forces, which emphasises the importance of the shock attenuating properties of footwear as a factor in the prevention of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitudes of the transient axial impact shock experienced at the tibia between traditional fencing shoes and standard athletic footwear during the impact phase of the fencing lunge. Peak tibial shock was measured in 19 male fencers in 4 different footwear conditions using an accelerometer placed on the distal aspect of the tibia. The standard footwear (11.08 g and 8.75 g for squash and running shoe, respectively) resulted in significant (p < 0.01) reductions in peak impact shock in comparison to the traditional fencing shoes (15.93 g and 13.97 g for the Adidas and Hi-Tec shoe, respectively). No significant differences were found between the running and squash shoes (p = 0.09) or between the fencing shoes (p = 0.48). The documented reduction in impact shock found suggests that running or squash specific footwear may reduce overuse injury occurrence, indicating that there is justification for a re-design of fencing shoes.
Utility of Measuring 6‐Methylmercaptopurine and 6‐Thioguanine Nucleotide Levels in Managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Treated With 6‐Mercaptopurine in a Clinical Practice Setting

Background: Measuring levels of 6‐mercaptopurine (6‐MP) metabolites (6‐thioguanine nucleotides [6‐TGNs] and 6‐methylmercaptopurine [6‐MMP]) has been proposed as a method to adjust 6‐MP dose to optimize therapeutic response while minimizing toxicity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A 6‐TGN level of >230 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells (RBCs) has been reported to be associated with a higher efficacy rate, and a level of >450 pmol/8 × 108 RBCs has been reported to be associated with myelotoxicity. A 6‐MMP level of >5,700 pmol/8 × 108 RBCs has been reported to be associated with an increased frequency of abnormal results of liver function tests (LFTs). Goals: To report our experience with 6‐MMP and 6‐TGN levels in a clinical practice setting. Study: Using outpatient clinic medical records, we identified 53 measurements. Indications for measurement, 6‐MP dose, and subsequent adjustments were documented. Results: Indications for measurements included the following: persistent symptoms, 31 cases (58.5%); abnormal LFT results, 7 (13.2%); steroid dependency, 6 (11.3%); anemia, 4 (7.5%); and leukopenia, 2 (3.8%). Of the 31 cases with persistent symptoms, 12 had “therapeutic” 6‐TGN levels and other interventions were undertaken. 6‐TGN levels were “subtherapeutic” in 19. The 6‐MP dose was increased, and remission was achieved in 10 cases after a mean period of 3.6 weeks. Among the cases with abnormal LFT results, 6‐MMP levels were high in five and low in two. Among the steroid dependency cases, 6‐TGN levels were “subtherapeutic” in five. The dose was increased and steroids were weaned in three cases. The 6‐TGN level was high in one of the leukopenia cases and the 6‐MP dose was decreased. 6‐TGN levels were not above the “target range” in any of the anemia cases. Conclusion: Measuring levels of 6‐MP metabolites may have a role in customizing 6‐MP dosing. This role is not completely clear and needs to be explored in larger well‐controlled studies.
Distance distributions for Matérn cluster processes with application to network performance analysis

In this work, we analyze the distance statistics corresponding to points in a Matérn cluster (offspring points) and points that do not belong to that cluster (non-offspring points). We first derive the probability density function (PDF) of the distance between an offspring point and a non-offspring point of a Matérn cluster. We then formulate the probability generating functional based on this PDF. Since many wireless networks (e.g., device-to-device (D2D) networks and cognitive radio systems) exhibit device clustering, this formalism enables us to efficiently formulate and evaluate expressions that describe the interference statistics and connection probability in clustered networks. We validate our theoretical analysis with numerical simulations, and illustrate that traditional methods of evaluating similar performance metrics (based on point process statistics instead of distance statistics) are unsuitable for use in such complex scenarios.
Evolving the System's Core: A Case Study on the Identification and Characterization of Key Developers in Apache Ant

Software systems usually include a limited number of important classes that a large number of other classes depend upon. These files comprise the technical core of a software system. Evolving this core is naturally difficult and requires caution, since inappropriate changes may induce side and ripple effects. Indeed, despite the rhetoric about openness in free/libre open source software, modifications to the technical core are usually accomplished by a small set of contributors known as key developers. Automatically identifying key developers is relevant for a number of reasons, such as supporting the recruitment of specialists, assigning tutors to newcomers, and estimating the longevity likelihood of projects. Moreover, little is known about how key developers evolve and about the social skills that support them in their technical tasks. In this paper, we describe a case study involving the Apache Ant project. Our goal was to identify key developers and characterize them in terms of their social activity and contributions. We conceived, implemented, and applied a method to identify key developers. Such method identified four individuals, who were the main target of our investigation. We built communication networks from mailing list data and a coordination requirements network from their development traces. The analysis of these two networks indicated that three key developers socialized more than the others. They acted as bridges connecting other developers and communicated with almost everyone they were supposed to. The other key developer showed a very distinct behavior, as he participated very rarely in the mailing list. We also analyzed key developers' contributions and found some patterns. Core commits and non-core commits were often interleaved and key developers also contributed to peripheral portions of the system. Finally, we observed that the set of key developers was indistinguishable from the set of top committers. We expect this characterization to foster the definition of key developers' profiles that take into account their social activities and contribution characteristics.
Neuropsychological function in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder

Background The assumption that patients with bipolar disorder make a full inter-episode recovery has been challenged by limited evidence that suggests that neuropsychological dysfunction in bipolar disorder may persist beyond episodes of illness. Aims To test the hypothesis that patients with euthymic bipolar disorder show neuropsychological impairment. Method A battery of neuropsychological tests (assessed attention, working memory, learning and executive function) was administered to three matched groups of subjects: good-outcome patients with bipolar disorder (n=21); poor-outcome patients with bipolar disorder (n=20); controls (n=20). All patients were clinically euthymic, although some had low levels of depressive symptoms. Results Patients performed worse than controls on a number of neuropsychological tests. When age, premorbid IQ and depressive symptoms were controlled for, the results indicated impairment of executive function. Conclusions These findings provide good evidence for the existence of neuropsychological impairment in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder, although the possible effect of medication should not be overlooked. This may be of clinical relevance and raises questions about the course and outcome of the illness.
Major complications of airway management in the UK: results of the Fourth National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Difficult Airway Society. Part 1: anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND This project was devised to estimate the incidence of major complications of airway management during anaesthesia in the UK and to study these events. METHODS Reports of major airway management complications during anaesthesia (death, brain damage, emergency surgical airway, unanticipated intensive care unit admission) were collected from all National Health Service hospitals for 1 yr. An expert panel assessed inclusion criteria, outcome, and airway management. A matched concurrent census estimated a denominator of 2.9 million general anaesthetics annually. RESULTS Of 184 reports meeting inclusion criteria, 133 related to general anaesthesia: 46 events per million general anaesthetics [95% confidence interval (CI) 38-54] or one per 22,000 (95% CI 1 per 26-18,000). Anaesthesia events led to 16 deaths and three episodes of persistent brain damage: a mortality rate of 5.6 per million general anaesthetics (95% CI 2.8-8.3): one per 180,000 (95% CI 1 per 352-120,000). These estimates assume that all such cases were captured. Rates of death and brain damage for different airway devices (facemask, supraglottic airway, tracheal tube) varied little. Airway management was considered good in 19% of assessable anaesthesia cases. Elements of care were judged poor in three-quarters: in only three deaths was airway management considered exclusively good. CONCLUSIONS Although these data suggest the incidence of death and brain damage from airway management during general anaesthesia is low, statistical analysis of the distribution of reports suggests as few as 25% of relevant incidents may have been reported. It therefore provides an indication of the lower limit for incidence of such complications. The review of airway management indicates that in a majority of cases, there is 'room for improvement'.
Accelerometer prediction of energy expenditure: vector magnitude versus vertical axis.

UNLABELLED It is suggested that triaxial accelerometers (RT3) are superior to single-plane accelerometers for predicting energy expenditure (EE). PURPOSE To compare the RT3 uniaxial and triaxial prediction of activity EE (AEE) during treadmill activities (TM) and activities of daily living (ADL). METHODS Two hundred and twelve subjects (aged 20-60 yr) completed TM speeds of 1.34, 1.56, and 2.23 m x s(-1) at 0% and 3% grades, stair ascent/descent, moving a box, and two randomly assigned ADL. Subjects wore a portable indirect calorimeter to measure EE to calculate AEE by subtracting resting metabolic rate. Acceleration counts in the vertical (V), medial-lateral, and anterior-posterior planes were collected in a single RT3 secured to the hip. Predicted AEE (RT3AEE) was estimated from vector magnitude (VM) counts using a proprietary algorithm. A paired t-test compared RT3AEE versus AEE. The relationship among V and VM counts and AEE was examined using linear regression analyses. RESULTS RT3 overestimated AEE for all activities combined, overestimated for TM (9.0%), and underestimated for ADL (34.3%; P < 0.001). The R2 values between RT3AEE and AEE for TM and ADL were R2 = 0.78 and R2 = 0.15, respectively. The RT3 underestimated activity with greater upper body movements by 24.4%-64.5% (P < 0.001). V and VM counts were similarly related to AEE (R2 = 0.35) and RT3AEE (R2 = 0.83-0.89). CONCLUSIONS Although the RT3 did not accurately predict AEE from accelerometer counts, stronger relationships existed between predicted and measured AEE for TM compared with ADL. Compared with V counts, using VM counts to predict AEE did not significantly improve the relationship between counts and AEE. Analytic techniques beyond linear regression with VM as a covariate or with counts from each axis entering the model separately may improve estimates of AEE from triaxial accelerometers.