Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Développement de l'ingénierie tissulaire du disque intervertébral : de la physiopathologie aux modèles animaux

Les douleurs lombaires touchent 80% de la population au moins une fois dans la vie et constituent un veritable probleme de sante publique pour nos societes modernes industrialisees. Ces douleurs lombaires sont, dans la grande majorite des cas, la consequence clinique d'une atteinte des articulations vertebrales marquee par une degenerescence progressive des disques intervertebraux. La connaissance des mecanismes menant a cette degenerescence discale sont aujourd’hui de mieux en mieux connus et laisse envisager une prise en charge etiologique, et non plus uniquement symptomatique. Les premiers resultats concluants en ingenierie tissulaire du cartilage articulaire associes a l'existence de points communs entre le cartilage articulaire et le disque intervertebral laissent suggerer la possibilite de regenerer ce dernier, et en particulier le Nucleus pulposus (element central du disque intervertebral), par ce meme type d'approche. Le principe de cette approche est base sur l'utilisation de cellules associees a un biomateriau. L'ensemble est injecte au sein d'un disque degenere afin de le restaurer. Un etat des avancees actuelles dans ce domaine est realise et les differentes problematiques rencontrees au cours de la mise en œuvre de ce type de projet sont abordees. Il s'agit notamment du choix des cellules a injecter et des matrices associees, des conditions de culture adequates, ainsi que du choix des methodes d'evaluation et des modeles animaux.
Détermination des propriétés mécaniques et des lois de comportement en fluage par indentation instrumentée

Le developpement de nouveaux materiaux necessite la determination de leurs proprietes mecaniques aux echelles macro, micro et nanometrique. Parmi les methodes experimentales les plus courantes, l’essai d’indentation instrumentee permettant de determiner le module d’elasticite et la durete du materiau a toutes ces echelles de mesure est sans doute le plus utilise. Cependant, les valeurs obtenues en micro et en nanoindentation sont souvent en apparente contradiction. Cela a conduit de nombreux auteurs a s’interroger sur la validite des mesures experimentales, sur l’identification des processus physiques mis en jeu lors de l’enfoncement de l’indenteur ou encore sur la pertinence des proprietes mesurees et des echelles de mesure. Sans pretendre etudier tous les aspects de maniere exhaustive ce probleme complexe, nous proposons cependant quelques pistes de reflexions en particulier sur le passage nano/micro en durete. Sur la base de la theorie du gradient de plasticite developpe par Nix et Gao, nous definissons un facteur d’echelle qui relie certaines donnees experimentales a des proprietes fondamentales du materiau. Nous montrons egalement que ce facteur d’echelle, capable de caracteriser la resistance a la deformation plastique, peut donner des informations complementaires pour etudier le comportement des materiau soumis a differentes conditions d’indentation. Dans une deuxieme partie, nous etudions le fluage par indentation comme une alternative aux essais classiques de fluage qui durent generalement plusieurs mois. Meme si le resultat ne repond pas completement aux objectifs fixes, nous montrons qu’un modele rheologique adapte permet de retrouver le module d’elasticite et de calculer un coefficient de viscosite a temperature ambiante du materiau.
Comparison Between Film-Screen and Digital Mammography for Woman Breast Cancer Screening: Mean Glandular Dose

2 Abstract: Introduction: Most studies in mammography have only been carried out in a comparison of image quality and lesion detection in film-screen mammography (FSM) and full field digital mammography (FFDM) systems. The aim of this paper was to evaluate mean glandular dose (MGD) of patient and affecting factors by FSM and FFDM to estimate which one gives a brief radiation protection to patient. Material and Methods: The FSM units with fast and slow screen film detectors used for comparison to FFDM in this study. In addition to technical factors, a set of data consisting of age, weight, height and compressed breast thickness (CBT) were also recorded for each patient.Results: Entrance skin exposure (ESE) for CBT of 4cm, 27 kVp in FSM by fast and slow screen film detector, was 4.5 mR/mAs and 11 mR/mAs, respectively. But ESE variation by FFDM (Gitto) by Mo filter was 14 mR/mAs. In conventional units, mean CBT of 6.02 cm with fast and slow screen film detector were 1.55 and 1.96 mGy. In digital unit by mean CBT of 5.41 cm, MGD was 2.26 mGy, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between MGD and breast thickness, breast density, applied kVp and mAs.inConclusion: In spite of advantages presented by digital technology, this technology leads to a significantly greater MGD to patient when comparing to conventional mammography especially with fast film-screen mammography and patients with high breast thickness.
Distribution and depletion of flubendazole and its metabolites in edible tissues of guinea fowl

1. We measured the distribution and depletion of residues of flubendazole and its major metabolites in breast muscle, thigh muscle and liver of guinea fowls during and after oral administration of the veterinary medicine Flubenol® 5% at two doses. 2. The guinea fowls were treated orally with normal feed, medicated at doses of 56 and 86 mg per kg feed for 7 successive days. Afterwards, depletion was observed for 8 d. Just before slaughter, body weights were measured. Thigh muscle, breast muscle and liver of three female and three male birds were sampled. The concentrations of the flubendazole-derived residues were determined by a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. 3. The highest residue concentrations were obtained for the reduced metabolite. With the therapeutic dose, the maximum mean residue concentrations obtained for this compound in thigh muscle, breast muscle and liver were 312, 288 and 1043 μg/kg, respectively. The values for flubendazole, the parent molecule, were 114, 108 and 108 μg/kg, respectively. The residues of the hydrolysed metabolite were negligible in the sampled muscle tissues. After 24 h of depletion, the sum of the residues of parent and metabolites in muscle tissue still exceeded 50 μg/kg. After 8 d of depletion, flubendazole-derived residues at low concentrations could still be measured in both muscle tissues and liver. Generally, the disposition of residues in breast and thigh muscle was comparable. 4. The European Union has not established a maximum residue limit (MRL) for flubendazole in edible tissues of guinea fowl. In contrast, the existing MRLs for other bird species are expressed as the sum of parent flubendazole and its hydrolysed metabolites. An estimated withdrawal period of three days will assure residue safety in the edible tissues of guinea fowl treated with flubendazole at therapeutic dose. After this withdrawal period following treatment of the guinea fowl, the residues were approximately constant, very low and far below the established safe MRL level for other bird species.
Response to highly active antiretroviral therapy strongly predicts outcome in patients with AIDS-related lymphoma

Background: AIDS-related lymphoma (ARL) remains a frequent complication of HIV infection. We analyzed the outcome of patients with ARL with respect to the use and efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to potential prognostic factors. Methods: This multicenter cohort study included patients with systemic ARL diagnosed between 1990–2001. We evaluated overall survival and the effects of several variables on overall survival using the Kaplan–Meier method and the extended Cox proportional hazards model. Response to HAART was used as a time-dependent variable and was defined as a CD4 cell count increase of ⩾ 100 × 106 cells/l and/or at least one viral load < 500 copies/ml during the first 2 years following diagnosis of ARL. Results: Among 203 patients with ARL, median overall survival was 9.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.6–12.4 months]. In the univariate analyses, age < 60 years, no previous AIDS, CD4 cell counts ⩾ 200 × 106 cells/l, hemoglobin > 11 g/dl, Ann Arbor stages I–II and A, no extranodal lesion, response to HAART, and complete remission showed statistically significant association with prolonged overall survival. In the multivariate Cox model, the only factors independently associated with overall survival were response to HAART [relative hazard (RH), 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16–0.62], complete remission (RH, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.15–0.36), previous AIDS (RH, 1.92; 95%CI, 1.23–3.01) and extranodal involvement (RH, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.47–5.51). Conclusions: Efficacy of HAART was independently associated with prolonged survival in this large cohort of patients with ARL. Information on patient's response to HAART is crucial for the evaluation of future treatment strategies.
Automatic detection of the inner ears in head CT images using deep convolutional neural networks

Cochlear implants (CIs) use electrode arrays that are surgically inserted into the cochlea to stimulate nerve endings to replace the natural electro-mechanical transduction mechanism and restore hearing for patients with profound hearing loss. Post-operatively, the CI needs to be programmed. Traditionally, this is done by an audiologist who is blind to the positions of the electrodes relative to the cochlea and relies on the patient’s subjective response to stimuli. This is a trial-and-error process that can be frustratingly long (dozens of programming sessions are not unusual). To assist audiologists, we have proposed what we call IGCIP for image-guided cochlear implant programming. In IGCIP, we use image processing algorithms to segment the intra-cochlear anatomy in pre-operative CT images and to localize the electrode arrays in post-operative CTs. We have shown that programming strategies informed by image-derived information significantly improve hearing outcomes for both adults and pediatric populations. We are now aiming at deploying these techniques clinically, which requires full automation. One challenge we face is the lack of standard image acquisition protocols. The content of the image volumes we need to process thus varies greatly and visual inspection and labelling is currently required to initialize processing pipelines. In this work we propose a deep learning-based approach to automatically detect if a head CT volume contains two ears, one ear, or no ear. Our approach has been tested on a data set that contains over 2,000 CT volumes from 153 patients and we achieve an overall 95.97% classification accuracy.
A 56 W power amplifier with 2-level supply and load modulation

Dynamic load modulation is proposed to improve the efficiency of an RF power amplifier with discrete supply modulation. A 47.5 dBm, 2.7 GHz power amplifier is realized to show the potential of the method. The amplifier design is based on continuous wave load-pull measurements to determine the optimum load impedances, using the statistics of a 10.2 dB PAPR OFDM signal. The output network contains a single SiC varactor for adaptive output matching. The supply voltage is adjusted by a 2-level supply modulator. Static evaluation of the amplifier shows an improvement in PAE of approximately 9.7 percentage points at 10 dB back-off due to load modulation.
Global Blockchain Benchmarking Study

This study provides an empirical overview of the current state of both enterprise and public sector use of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT). The study gathered data from over 200 enterprise DLT start-ups, established corporations, central banks and other public sector institutions, including non-public data obtained through confidential online surveys. The study details the emergence and evolution of the DLT ecosystem, explores its actors and their business models, and examines the current state of the industry in terms of use cases, network/application deployments, and key challenges to broad DLT adoption. The study also explains the concept of ‘blockchain’ and DLT, highlights the different DLT architectures, and dives into governance-related issues. Finally, an entire section is dedicated to investigating how the public sector is approaching DLT.
Output feedback control based on a high-order sliding manifold approach

In this note, we address the problem of output feedback control of multiple-input-multiple-output plants. The proposed approach is based on a high-order sliding manifold strategy. The resulting controller exhibits strong robustness properties, similar to high-gain control laws, but avoids peaking phenomena, thanks to the adoption of a time-varying sliding surface. Moreover, the dynamic control law is continuous and differentiable, thus avoiding chattering problems.
The Effects of Iran's Reallocating its Oil and Gas Sales Revenues to Developing its Upstream Affairs

Oil and Gas sector, with notable participation in national product and funding public expenditures, plays a seminal role in Iran's economy. Although there is a relative lag in providing proportionate supply, Iran stands at the highest rank of owning world's related proven reserves. Using a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of the increase in the acquisition rate of Iran's oil and gas upstream affairs from oil revenues on GNP and public budget, which are supposed to help the government keep its main obligations often funded from oil revenues. By applying the 18% gain, instead of the current 14.5%, to the oil and gas upstream affairs, short-run recession against long-run booming effects would emerge. Accordingly, maintaining the initial level of either the Public Goods and Services (PGS) output or Government Financial Supports on PGS, GNP could boost up to 5% with over 15% of required contraction in the public budget. On the contrary, maintaining the initial level of either the Transfer Payments or Transfer Payments and Financial Supports on PGS (simultaneously), GNP would rise only 1%, due to the negligible required contraction in the public budget. Therefore, allocating more oil revenues to developing upstream affairs (even under the presence of the contemporary main obligations) is recommended due to its potential to spur notable growth in GNP.
A statistical model-based voice activity detection using multiple DNNs and noise awareness

In this paper, we propose the ensemble of deep neural networks (DNNs) by using acoustic environment classiﬁcation for statistical model-based voice activity detection (VAD). Since conventional decision functions for statistical model-based VAD are based on shallow model and it cannot take an advantage of the diversity of the space distribution of features, we present to use the multiple DNNs separately trained on different noise condition as decision function for the statistical model-based VAD. And, environmental noise classiﬁcation is also performed based on the separate DNN since acoustic environment classiﬁcation makes it possible to achieve high detection performance at various type of noise environment by using different algorithm according to current noise condition. In the training stage, a number of DNNs are independently trained according to different type of noise environments, and separate DNN is organized to detect one of the environmental conditions. In an online stage, the environmental knowledge on each frame is contributed to allow us to combine the speech presence probabilities, which are derived from the ensemble of the trained DNNs for the individual environment. Our approach for VAD was evaluated in terms of objective measures and showed signiﬁcant improvement compared to the conventional algorithm.
Vibrational Communication and the Ecology of Group-Living, Herbivorous Insects1

Abstract Communication among members of a colony is a key feature of the success of eusocial insects. The same may be true in other forms of insect sociality. I suggest that substrate-borne vibrational communication is important in the success of group-living, herbivorous insects. I examine three challenges encountered by herbivorous insects: locating and remaining in a group of conspecifics; locating food resources; and avoiding predation. Studies of groups of immature treehoppers, sawflies and butterflies suggest that vibrational communication can be important in each of these contexts, enhancing the ability of these group-living herbivores to exploit the resources of their host plants.
Strategic planning and performance management : develop and measure winning strategy

A new way of thinking Your foundation stones At the cutting edge It's wise to analyze - strategically Where are you going The fatal flaw Doing what you do better Why diversification is not a strategy Avoiding naive strategy Tracking strategy in real time The need for action Outside looking in Appendices Glossary Annotated Bibliography Index
Functional proteomics characterization of residual triple-negative breast cancer after standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND In this study, we used functional proteomics to determine the molecular characteristics of residual triple receptor-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients after neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy (NCT) and their relationship with patient outcomes in order to identify potential targets for therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Protein was extracted from 54 residual TNBCs, and 76 proteins related to breast cancer signaling were measured by reverse phase protein arrays (RPPAs). Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were fitted for each protein. Survival outcomes were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. Training and cross validation were carried out. The coefficients estimated from the multivariable Cox model were used to calculate a risk score (RS) for each sample. RESULTS Multivariable analysis using the top 25 proteins from univariable analysis at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 0.3 showed that AKT, IGFBP2, LKB1, S6 and Stathmin were predictors of recurrence-free survival (RFS). The cross-validation model was reproducible. The RS model calculated based on the multivariable analysis was -1.1086 × AKT + 0.2501 × IGFBP2 - 0.6745 × LKB1+1.0692 × S6 + 1.4086 × stathmin with a corresponding area under the curve, AUC = 0.856. The RS was an independent predictor of RFS (HR = 3.28, 95%CI = 2.07-5.20, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We found a five-protein model that independently predicted RFS risk in patients with residual TNBC disease. The PI3 K pathway may represent potential therapeutic targets in this resistant disease.
A novel fuzzy logic based robust speed controller for permanent magnet synchronous motor servo drive

A robust fuzzy logic based control system is proposed to control the speed of electrical servo drives in this paper. A novel speed controller is designed using the concept of fuzzy logic, which ensures robust speed control against parameter variations. A fuzzy logic control is implemented for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo drive. Heuristic knowledge is applied to define fuzzy membership functions and rules. Simulations results validate the robustness of the servo drive. The controller has better performance and robustness than conventional PI controller in the PMSM servo system.
A Word Embedding and a Josa Vector for Korean Unsupervised Semantic Role Induction

We propose an unsupervised semantic role labeling method for Korean language, one of the agglutinative languages which have complicated suffix structures telling much of syntactic. First, we construct an argument embedding and then develop a indicator vector of the suffix such as a Josa. And, we construct an argument tuple by concatenating above two vectors. The role induction is performed by clustering the argument tuples.These method which achieves up to a 70.16% of F1-score and 75.85% of accuracy.
Indocyanine Green–Enhanced Lymphography for Upper Extremity Lymphedema: A Novel Severity Staging System Using Dermal Backflow Patterns

Background: Management of arm lymphedema following breast cancer treatment is challenging, and emphasis should be put on early diagnosis and prevention of secondary lymphedema. Indocyanine green lymphography is becoming a method of choice for evaluation of lymphedema. Methods: Twenty patients with secondary arm lymphedema after breast cancer treatment underwent indocyanine green lymphography. Characteristic findings of indocyanine green lymphography were analyzed according to corresponding clinical stages and duration of edema. Based on changes in indocyanine green lymphography findings with progression of lymphedema, a new severity stage, arm dermal backflow stage, was developed and compared with clinical stages. Results: The indocyanine green lymphographic findings were classified into two large groups: linear pattern and dermal backflow patterns. The dermal backflow pattern could be subdivided into splash, stardust, and diffuse patterns. The dermal backflow patterns were found more frequently than the linear pattern in the proximal upper extremity (p = 0.001). The dermal backflow patterns also increased significantly in prevalence overall as the duration of lymphedema increased (p = 0.032). The arm dermal backflow stage was linearly correlated with clinical stage as described by the line y = 1.092x + 0.083 (R2 = 0.997; analysis of variance, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Indocyanine green lymphography is a safe and convenient evaluation method for lymphedema that allows qualitative pathophysiologic assessment of lymphedema. The arm dermal backflow stage, based on indocyanine green lymphographic findings, is a simple severity staging system that demonstrates a significant correlation with clinical stage. Indocyanine green lymphography may come to play an important role in early diagnosis of secondary arm lymphedema. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, V.
Impact of food labelling systems on food choices and eating behaviours: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized studies

Food labels are considered a crucial component of strategies tackling unhealthy diets and obesity. This study aims at assessing the effectiveness of food labelling in increasing the selection of healthier products and in reducing calorie intake. In addition, this study compares the relative effectiveness of traffic light schemes, Guideline Daily Amount and other food labelling schemes. A comprehensive set of databases were searched to identify randomized studies. Studies reporting homogeneous outcomes were pooled together and analysed through meta‐analyses. Publication bias was evaluated with a funnel plot. Food labelling would increase the amount of people selecting a healthier food product by about 17.95% (confidence interval: +11.24% to +24.66%). Food labelling would also decrease calorie intake/choice by about 3.59% (confidence interval: −8.90% to +1.72%), but results are not statistically significant. Traffic light schemes are marginally more effective in increasing the selection of healthier options. Other food labels and Guideline Daily Amount follow. The available evidence did not allow studying the effects of single labelling schemes on calorie intake/choice. Findings of this study suggest that nutrition labelling may be an effective approach to empowering consumers in choosing healthier products. Interpretive labels, as traffic light labels, may be more effective.