Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Increasing Comorbidity on Infrainguinal Reconstruction: A 20-Year Perspective

ObjectiveTo examine trends in patient and procedural variables and outcomes associated with autogenous lower extremity arterial reconstruction (LER) in a single center during a period of two decades. Summary Background DataSurgical arterial reconstruction is of proven value in the therapy of patients with critical ischemia of the lower extremities. Changing demographics and increasing comorbidity are resulting in an increasing prevalence and associated complexity of peripheral vascular disease. The effect of these variables on the types and outcomes of surgical reconstructions is not known. MethodsThe authors performed a retrospective analysis of all autogenous LER procedures performed at their institution from 1978 to 1997. Procedures were divided into 5-year intervals: group 1, 1978 to 1982; group 2, 1983 to 1987; group 3, 1988 to 1992; group 4, 1993 to 1997. Categorical parameters were compared using chi-square analysis; rates were computed by the life-table method and compared using Mantel-Cox log-rank analysis. ResultsA total of 1,642 autogenous LER procedures were performed in 1,274 patients. A significant increase in age, female gender, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and prior coronary artery bypass grafting was noted in group 4. Increased technical complexity in this group was reflected by a greater incidence of tissue necrosis as the indication for LER, the use of ectopic or composite vein, and more distal levels of outflow. The surgical death rate remained unchanged (2%) throughout. Patient survival, primary and secondary graft patency, and limb salvage at 5 years for the entire cohort were 70 ± 2%, 63 ± 2%, 73 ± 1%, and 85 ± 1%, respectively. Hospital length of stay was reduced 25% from a mean of 15.7 ± 0.8 days in group 3 to 11.7 ± 0.4 days in group 4. ConclusionIn a tertiary practice setting, patients requiring LER present an increasingly complex medical and surgical challenge compared with the previous decade. Excellent outcomes may still be achieved by an aggressive approach relying on autogenous vein conduit.
The Disappearance of Time: Kurt Gödel and the Idealistic Tradition in Philosophy

This is a book about the philosophy of time, and in particular the philosophy of the great logician Kurt Godel (1906-1978). It evaluates Godel's attempt to show that Einstein has not so much explained time as explained it away. Unlike recent more technical studies, it focuses on the reality of time. The book explores Godel's conception of time, existence, and truth with special reference to Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Frege. In the light of this investigation an attempt is made to shed light on such issues as the precise sense in which Godel believed in the possibility of time travel, the relationship of the reality of time to the objectivity of temporal becoming, and the significance of time for human existence.This is a book about the philosophy of time, and in particular the philosophy of the great logician Kurt Godel (1906-1978). It evaluates Godel's attempt to show that Einstein has not so much explained time as explained it away. Unlike recent more technical studies, it focuses on the reality of time. The book explores Godel's conception of time, existence, and truth with special reference to Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Frege. In the light of this investigation an attempt is made to shed light on such issues as the precise sense in which Godel believed in the possibility of time travel, the relationship of the reality of time to the objectivity of temporal becoming, and the significance of time for human existence.
Pulse inversion imaging of liver blood flow: improved method for characterizing focal masses with microbubble contrast.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To create a microbubble contrast image of vessels that lie below the resolution of an ultrasound system, a technique is required that detects preferentially the agent echo, rejecting that from tissue. Harmonic imaging exploits the nonlinear behavior of microbubbles but forces a compromise between image sensitivity and axial resolution. The authors describe and evaluate a new method that overcomes this compromise and improves contrast imaging performance: pulse inversion imaging. METHODS Sequences of pulses of alternate phase are transmitted into tissue and their echoes summed. A prototype scanner equipped with pulse inversion was used to image phantoms and 16 patients with focal liver masses. RESULTS Pulse inversion images show contrast sensitivity and resolution superior to that of harmonic images. Vessels can be imaged at an incident power sufficiently low to avoid destroying the agent, allowing unique visualization of tumor vasculature. Distinct patterns were seen in hemangiomas, metastases, and hepatocellular carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS Pulse inversion imaging is an improved bubble-specific imaging method that extends the potential of contrast ultrasonography.
Recent trends in meningococcal disease.

The incidence and mortality of meningococcal disease have been slowly rising after a 5year decline from the 1943-44 epidemic. Another trend observed in the civilian population is the appreciable rise in the apparent case fatality. Since modern therapy should have reduced the ratio of deaths to recorded cases, indications are that case reporting has deteriorated in recent years. Data are given here to support these observations, to aid in gauging epidemic potential, and particularly to indicate population segments which appear to be at especial risk.
Multiple Specialization of Logic Programs with Run-Time Test

This paper presents a framework for multiple specialization of logic programs that incorporates run-time testing. This framework supports specialization on the basis of a compiler-generated wish list'' of requirements that enable useful optimizations. In addition, entry mode declarations are used to restrict the class of reachable activations. Our goal is to generate code containing tests at outer levels of the call tree that guard high-performance specialized procedures that are likely to be called. The starting point for this work is the multiple specialization technique of Winsborough, which introduced the notion of a call-path automation. The transition function for a call-path automation specifies which version of a procedure should be invoked by each call in each version of each procedure. As a first step, we extend such automata to include test arcs'' that select different versions. We then show how to construct an automation containing a given set of tests at given test sites. Finally, we discuss techniques for abductively deriving a test at a given site that, upon success, ensures some property at a requirement site. 13 refs.
Video Tracking - Theory and Practice

Video Tracking provides a comprehensive treatment of the fundamental aspects of algorithm and application development for the task of estimating, over time, the position of objects of interest seen through cameras. Starting from the general problem definition and a review of existing and emerging video tracking applications, the book discusses popular methods, such as those based on correlation and gradient-descent. Using practical examples, the reader is introduced to the advantages and limitations of deterministic approaches, and is then guided toward more advanced video tracking solutions, such as those based on the Bayes recursive framework and on Random Finite Sets.Key features:Discusses the design choices and implementation issues required to turn the underlying mathematical models into a real-world effective tracking systems. Provides block diagrams and simil-code implementation of the algorithms. Reviews methods to evaluate the performance of video trackers this is identified as a major problem by end-users. The book aims to help researchers and practitioners develop techniques and solutions based on the potential of video tracking applications. The design methodologies discussed throughout the book provide guidelines for developers in the industry working on vision-based applications. The book may also serve as a reference for engineering and computer science graduate students involved in vision, robotics, human-computer interaction, smart environments and virtual reality programmes
High-pressure phase transition makes B4.3C boron carbide a wide-gap semiconductor

Single-crystal B4.3C boron carbide is investigated through the pressure-dependence and inter-relation of atomic distances, optical properties and Raman-active phonons up to ~70 GPa. The anomalous pressure evolution of the gap width to higher energies is striking. This is obtained from observations of transparency, which most rapidly increases around 55 GPa. Full visible optical transparency is approached at pressures of >60 GPa indicating that the band gap reaches ~3.5 eV; at high pressure, boron carbide is a wide-gap semiconductor. The reason is that the high concentration of structural defects controlling the electronic properties of boron carbide at ambient conditions initially decreases and finally vanishes at high pressures. The structural parameters and Raman-active phonons indicate a pressure-dependent phase transition in single-crystal natB4.3C boron carbide near 40 GPa, likely related to structural changes in the C–B–C chains, while the basic icosahedral structure appears to be less affected.
Fine structural observations on oocyte development in monogeneans

Summary The ultrastructural changes accompanying oocyte differentiation in the ovaries of the monogeneans, Diclidophora merlangi, Diplozoon paradoxum and Calicotyle kröyeri have been described. In each case, oogenesis in the ovary proceeds as far as meiotic prophase in the primary oocyte. A three-stage sequence of development based on oocyte morphology is proposed: (1) Oogonia and early, immature primary oocytes are typically undifferentiated, with chromatin-laden nuclei occupying most of the cell volume. The cytoplasm contains small clumps of mitochrondria and unattached ribosomal aggregates. There is evidence of mitosis and, in later stages, meiotic prophase is indicated by the appearance of nuclear synaptonemal complexes. (2) Maturing primary oocytes are characterized by increased nucleolar volume associated with the production of RNA for export to the cytoplasm. An organized GER and Golgi apparatus are established and involved in the synthesis and packaging of membrane-limited cortical granules. Annulate lamellae and nucleolus-like bodies appear in the cytoplasm and, with development, the cells increase in size and, peripherally, become interdigitated. (3) Mature primary oocytes represent a resting phase when cellular activity is minimal. Golgi disappear and the ER fragments or becomes reduced in dimensions. Mitochondria and free ribo-somes are numerous and cortical granules move to the cell periphery. The cells separate and, when mature, are released from the ovary. There are minor species differences in oocyte ultrastructure and development.
Persistence of psychological distress and correlated factors among patients with head and neck cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: Many patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) suffer from psychological distress associated with dysfunction and/or disfigurement. Our aim was to evaluate the ratio of patients with persistence of psychological distress during hospitalization and identify the predictors of persistence or change in psychological distress among HNC patients. Method: We conducted a single-center longitudinal study with self-completed questionnaires. We evaluated psychological distress (the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and functional level (the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Head and Neck Scale; FACT–H&N) among patients during hospitalization at the Medical Hospital of Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Results: Of 160 patients, 117 (73.1%) completed the questionnaire at both admission and discharge. Some 42 (52.5%) patients reported persistent psychological distress. The physical well-being of patients with continued distress was significantly lower than that of other patients (21.7 ± 4.7, 19.4 ± 6.1, 19.5 ± 5.4; p < 0.01), and the emotional well-being of patients with continued distress was significantly lower than that in patients with no distress and reduced distress (22.3 ± 3.5, 20.5 ± 2.5; p < 0.01). Significant of results: Impaired physical and emotional function appears to be associated with persistent psychological distress among HNC patients. Psychological interventions focused on relaxation, cognition, or behavior may be efficacious in preventing such persistent distress.
Dental needs and status of autistic children: results from the National Survey of Children's Health.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health status and dental needs of a nationally representative sample of 1- to 17-year-old children with or without autism. METHODS In the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, parents reported their child's oral health status and needs. The condition of the child's teeth, demographics, time since last dental visit, and dental needs were assessed in autistic children (N=495) and nonautistic children (N=95,059). For a subset of children with reported fair or poor teeth, specific problems about their dentition were assessed for autistic children (N=69) and nonautistic children (N=7,002). Weighted percentages and chi-square statistics were calculated. RESULTS According to parents, 69% of nonautistic children and 52% of autistic children had their teeth in excellent or very good condition (P <.001). The dental status of children with autism and without autism, identified with fair or poor teeth, was comparable. CONCLUSIONS Overall, parents of US autistic children were more likely to report their children's dentition to be in fair or poor condition than parents of US nonautistic children. Children with or without autism who had fair or poor teeth are faced with similar dental problems.
Águila-Obra, A.R.; Padilla-Meléndez, A.; Serarols-Tarrés, C. (forthcoming, 2006): Value creation and new intermediaries on Internet. An exploratory analysis of the online news industry and the web content aggregators. Accepted for publication in International Journal of Information Management. 20

The traditional news industry is changing and transforming itself into a digital, online news industry. This paper analyzes this phenomenon from the value chain and value creation perspectives and explores the creation of value by new intermediaries. An exploratory study has been conducted based on strategic informants, web content analysis of 56 companies’ websites and 5 received questionnaires (of 24 web content aggregators contacted). Companies from USA, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, UK, and Switzerland have been analyzed. The information gathered provided a knowledge base to describe the value chain of the industry, the main players of the sector, and its roles in the value chain activities. Furthermore, we could identify the Web Content Aggregators (WCAs) as new players that provide third part content to other companies, institutions and end-users. They concentrate mainly in the content packaging and the distribution stages of the value chain, and aggregate the supply and demand in the industry, collect, organize, and evaluate dispersed information, and they also provide infrastructure to other industry players. The Amit and Zott (2001) four drivers (efficiency, complementarities, lock-in, and novelty) of value creation model has been applied specifically to them. Limitations, managerial implications and preliminary conclusions are proposed.
Aplicando técnicas de ingeniería de software al desarrollo de sistemas robóticos educativos

La inclusion del sistema educativo argentino al modelo de “una computadora portatil por nino” a traves del programa “Conectar Igualdad”, entre otros, junto con el solido proposito tanto del Ministerio de Educacion como del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia de equipar a las escuelas con articulos tecnologicos concretos, tales como robots y adquisidores de datos, nos da una oportunidad unica de desarrollar plataformas roboticas / automatizadas dirigidas a la educacion. Mientras que los sistemas roboticos crecen hasta ser mas y mas complejos, la necesidad de formalizar su proceso de desarrollo de software crece tambien. Los enfoques tradicionales que se utilizan en el proceso de desarrollo de estos sistemas de software estan alcanzando sus limites; las metodologias y el conjunto de herramientas no alcanzan para atender / las necesidades de tal complejo proceso de desarrollo de software. El objetivo general de este proyecto es la definicion de un marco metodologico sustentado por un conjunto de herramientas tecnologicas capaces de lidiar con los requerimientos del proceso de desarrollo del software robotico. Un desafio muy importante es dar el paso desde “code-driven” a “model-driven” en el desarrollo de sistemas de software de robotica. La separacion del conocimiento de robotica de la aplicacion de tecnologias de ciclo corto es esencial para fomentar el reuso y el mantenimiento. El contexto en el cual seran aplicados los resultados comprende el campo de desarrollo de los sistemas roboticos en general, pero los remitiremos especificamente a los sistemas roboticos educativos que podrian ser potencialmente usados en las aulas argentinas.
Heterodimeric Capping Protein from Arabidopsis Is a Membrane-Associated, Actin-Binding Protein1[W][OPEN]

A key regulator of the actin cytoskeleton is shown to be associated with endosomal membranes. The actin cytoskeleton is a major regulator of cell morphogenesis and responses to biotic and abiotic stimuli. The organization and activities of the cytoskeleton are choreographed by hundreds of accessory proteins. Many actin-binding proteins are thought to be stimulus-response regulators that bind to signaling phospholipids and change their activity upon lipid binding. Whether these proteins associate with and/or are regulated by signaling lipids in plant cells remains poorly understood. Heterodimeric capping protein (CP) is a conserved and ubiquitous regulator of actin dynamics. It binds to the barbed end of filaments with high affinity and modulates filament assembly and disassembly reactions in vitro. Direct interaction of CP with phospholipids, including phosphatidic acid, results in uncapping of filament ends in vitro. Live-cell imaging and reverse-genetic analyses of cp mutants in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) recently provided compelling support for a model in which CP activity is negatively regulated by phosphatidic acid in vivo. Here, we used complementary biochemical, subcellular fractionation, and immunofluorescence microscopy approaches to elucidate CP-membrane association. We found that CP is moderately abundant in Arabidopsis tissues and present in a microsomal membrane fraction. Sucrose density gradient separation and immunoblotting with known compartment markers were used to demonstrate that CP is enriched on membrane-bound organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. This association could facilitate cross talk between the actin cytoskeleton and a wide spectrum of essential cellular functions such as organelle motility and signal transduction.
Effective Methods for Negotiating Teamwork amongst Autonomous Robots operating in Dynamic Environments PhD Research Proposal

Effective models of teamwork between robots operating in dynamic and changing environments is an open challenge in Artificial Intelligence. This research aims to investigate different types of teamwork and the impact of task allocation and communication models on interaction between robots. Both simulated and physical environments will be used to test teams of homogeneous and heterogeneous robots in a number of different scenarios. This research will develop new approaches to effective teamwork between robots operating in dynamic environments.
MARCADORES FISIOLÓGICOS DO ESTRESSE E PERFIL METABÓLICO DE BOVINOS DAS RAÇAS CURRALEIRO PÉ- DURO, PANTANEIRO E NELORE EM CONFINAMENTO EXPERIMENTAL

Com este estudo propos-se avaliar o desempenho e os marcadores fisiologicos de estresse de bovinos de diferentes racas. Foram avaliados 45 bovinos Curraleiro Pe-Duro (Gcur), Pantaneiro (Gpan) e Nelore (Gnel) terminados em confinamento. Analisaram-se os indices cortisol, proteinas de fase aguda, hemograma, perfil proteico, energetico e a avaliacao enzimatica em tres momentos, M0, M56 e M103; o desempenho ponderal e o exame histopatologico de fragmentos de figado e linfonodos. Os valores de cortisol em Gnel no M0 foram maiores em relacao ao M103. Nos tres grupos, os valores do volume globular, hemoglobina, albumina e α-1 glicoproteina acida foram mais elevados em M103 quando comparados ao M0 e o mesmo ocorreu com a transferrina em Gpan e Gnel. A IgG foi maior em M0 nos tres grupos. O fibrinogenio no Gpan e Gnel foi menor em M103 em relacao ao M0. O ganho em peso foi satisfatorio em todos os grupos. Os valores sericos da ALP e a GGT foram menores em M0 e da AST em M103. Os perfis proteico e energetico (colesterol) aumentaram ao longo do experimento. A analise histopatologica do figado e linfonodos mesentericos revelou presenca de colangio hepatite. O sistema de confinamento para bovinos da raca Curraleiro Pe-Duro, Pantaneiro e Nelore ocasiona discretas alteracoes no eritrograma e na proteina de fase aguda (α1- glicoproteina acida). Os perfis metabolico e enzimatico, a avaliacao histopatologica hepatica e de linfonodos indicaram presenca de colangiohepatite, e essas alteracoes aparentemente nao comprometeram o desempenho produtivo.
Current trends in trichloroethylene biodegradation: a review

Abstract Over the past few years biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) using different microorganisms has been investigated by several researchers. In this review article, an attempt has been made to present a critical summary of the recent results related to two major processes - reductive dechlorination and aerobic co-metabolism used for TCE biodegradation. It has been shown that mainly Clostridium sp. DC-1, KYT-1, Dehalobacter, Dehalococcoides, Desulfuromonas, Desulfitobacterium, Propionibacterium sp. HK-1, and Sulfurospirillum bacterial communities are responsible for the reductive dechlorination of TCE. Efficacy of bacterial communities like Nitrosomonas, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, and Xanthobacter sp. etc. for TCE biodegradation under aerobic conditions has also been examined. Mixed cultures of diazotrophs and methanotrophs have been used for TCE degradation in batch and continuous cultures (biofilter) under aerobic conditions. In addition, some fungi (Trametes versicolor, Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME-446) and Actinomycetes have also been used for aerobic biodegradation of TCE. The available information on kinetics of biofiltration of TCE and its degradation end-products such as CO2 are discussed along with the available results on the diversity of bacterial community obtained using molecular biological approaches. It has emerged that there is a need to use metabolic engineering and molecular biological tools more intensively to improve the robustness of TCE degrading microbial species and assess their diversity.
Analysis and Circuit Implementation of a Novel Piecewise Linear Chaotic System

In this paper, a novel piecewise linear three-dimensional autonomous chaotic system is presented. The nonlinear terms of the system are absolute value function and jump function, which are easy to be implemented in circuit. Basic properties of the system are analyzed by means of Lyapunov exponent spectrum. Circuit implementation of the system consists operational amplifiers, analog switches, diode and capacitors with resistors, which is applicable from a practical engineering perspective