Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Tinetti and Short Physical Performance Battery test specificities for detecting neuromotor pathologies

Introduction: Increasing elderly populations require specific and accurate health assessment tools. Purpose: To compare the specificities of the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and the Tinetti Index validated in Brazil in patients with and without neuromotor dysfunctions. Materials and methods: Thirty-nine individuals (19 healthy and 20 with neuromotor changes) of both sexes aged 60–75 years, living in Coari (Amazonas state in Brazil), underwent SPPB and Tinetti scale assessments on alternate dates. Results and discussion: We observed significant differences between the scales, where the distribution was very concentrated after the Tinetti assessment and more dispersed after the SPPB in healthy individuals. This demonstrated that SPPB can detect minimal differences in gait and balance between healthy individuals, while the Tinetti scale is better at discriminating between healthy and those affected by mobility disorders. Conclusion: SPPB was more specific than the Tinetti Index in detecting changes in gait and balance.
Constrained predictive control based on state space model of Organic Rankine Cycle system for waste heat recovery

Due to the advantages of recovering energy from low-grade heat sources, Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system is adopted as the primary technology for waste heat recovery. As the ORC system is a multivariable system with high complexity and nonlinear coupling, the conventional control strategy may not achieve satisfactory results. In this paper, the application of constrained model predictive control (MPC) for an ORC system is demonstrated. The simulation results are given to illustrate the efficiency and feasibility of the proposed control strategy.
Designing Radio Interferometric Positioning Systems with Undersampling Techniques

The associated location information is crucial for the data collected by wireless sensor newtworks (WSNs), and nodes have to locate themselves when they are deployed randomly. The radio interferometric positioning system (RIPS) provides high accuracy at low-complexity, which is suitable for cost-limited nodes in WSNs. In the RIPS, two transmitters transmit sinusoids at slightly different frequencies, and the received signal is squared to achieve a low-frequency differential signal at the receivers. The phase difference of the low-frequency differential signals at two receivers is estimated to achieve a range metric called the Qrange, which is a linear combination of distances among four nodes. The squaring operation, however, increases the noise power that degrades the range-estimation performance, and also the Qrange estimator with the traditional RIPS receivers consists of the approximation error. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose the RIPS receiver employing the under sampling techniques (RIPSu) that directly samples the received signal. By avoiding the squaring operation, the RIPS-u can achieve high accuracy and obtain the Q-range estimate without approximation. We provide the MATLAB simulation results to confirm the effectiveness of our proposed RIPS-u.
Prosocial behaviour in palliative nurses: psychometric evaluation of the prosociality scale.

AIM The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a prosociality scale within the palliative nursing context, and then examine the impact of prosocial behaviour in relation to job and educational satisfaction among palliative nurses. METHODS An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in 25 Italian palliative care centres, with a total of 107 nurses completing the prosociality scale by Caprara et al (2005) . Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were examined to evaluate a multidimensional model of prosociality. RESULTS A three-factor solution with a second order factor fitted the data well. The three dimensions extracted were labelled as helping, empathy, and sharing. Participants reported high levels of prosociality. In addition, prosociality was positively associated with job and educational satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS The prosociality scale was valid and reliable when tested with palliative nurses. Although prosociality may be embedded in nurses' personalities, this quality should be actively promoted to expand and improve the culture and the ethics of nursing.
1,25(OH)2D, the Preferred Substrate for CYP24

In a recent issue, Taniguchi et al. (1) reported that the enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3-24-hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 also known as 1 a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D324-hydroxylase (CYP24), has a much higher affinity for 25(OH)D3 than for 1a,25-(OH)2D3, leading the authors to conclude that 25(OH)D 3 is the preferred substrate. This conclusion is completely opposite to the current dogma that CYP24 metabolizes 1 a,25(OH)2D3 very efficiently, and that one of its major roles in the body is to catabolize the vitamin D hormone inside target cells. (2,3) The latter is based on numerous studies performed over the past 15 years from a number of laboratories, including a collaborative investigation of our own in isolated murine renal mitochondria. (4) In that study, 24-hydroxylase activity was measured using [H]-labeled 25(OH)D3 and 1a,25(OH)2D3 substrates, and both substrate and products of the reaction were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. We concluded from that data that the apparent Km of the 24-hydroxylase is at least 10-fold lower for 1 a,25(OH)2D3 than for 25(OH)D3. (4) These findings were corroborated in subsequent studies by two other groups, Shinki et al. (5) nd Burgos-Trinidad and DeLuca. (6)
Orienting Responses to Various Visual Stimuli in Children With Visual Processing Impairments or Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome

Quantification of orienting responses can be used to differentiate between children with cerebral visual impairment and infantile nystagmus syndrome. To further improve the sensitivity of this method, we compared orienting responses to a Cartoon stimulus, which contains all sorts of visual information, to stimuli that contain only Contrast, Form coherence, Motion coherence, Color and Motion detection. The stimuli were shown on an eye tracker monitor using a preferential looking paradigm. We found that both groups of children showed general slowing in orienting responses compared to controls. The children with cerebral visual impairment had significantly prolonged responses to Cartoon compared to the children with nystagmus, whereas the children with nystagmus had prolonged responses to Motion detection and larger fixation areas. Previously reported differences in orienting responses to Cartoon were replicated. Application of specific visual information did not alter the sensitivity of the method to distinguish between children with visual processing deficits.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Ten Patients with Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome

Ten cases of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome have been followed for 3-19 years (mean, 11 years and four months). Criteria of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome were restricted to the following: complete absence of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) in hemolysate and fibroblast, spasticity, choreoathetosis, mental retardation, self-mutilation, and occurrence in males. Two patients have died of pneumonia and two died suddenly. However, autopsies produced no positive findings. Hyperuricemia has been controlled by benzbromarone in nine patients. One patient did not take any medical treatment and died suddenly when he was 19 years old, but showed no gouty signs. Patients with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome indicated no change or aggravation of choreoathetosis or spasticity. Self-mutilation was difficult to control by any treatment with continuing effect. After the age of ten, self-mutilation declined in seven cases, and in one patient disappeared completely. Mental delay was remarkable and suspected developmental age (DA) was 7 months - four years and 10 months (chronological age, 7 years and five months - 19 years and 6 months). Mean DQ score was 15.6. Physical development was severely delayed, and weight age was 28.9-46.4%, mean 37.4% of chronological age. Future investigations will evolve clarification of CNS signs and its treatment, and etiological research of sudden death.
An analyses of skill related physical fitness level of kayaking and canoeing inter-university players

The purpose of this study was to compare Skill related Physical Fitness level of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar male InterUniversity Kayaking and Canoeing, Players. To obtain data, the investigators had selected Twenty four (N = 24) male Kayaking Canoeing Player of 18 to 25 years (Mean ± SD: Age: 19.761 ± 2.488 years; Body Mass: 1.749 ± 7.046 kilograms; Body Height: 65.047 ± 9.286 meters) of age to act as subjects. Components of Physical fitness (i.e., Speed, Agility, Balance, Coordination and Reaction Time) were taken up for the present study. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows version 16.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The Student’s t-test was employed for between-group comparisons on each variable. The results revealed no significant differences were found in Speed, Agility, Balance, Coordination, and Reaction Time.
A fast model-based prostate boundary segmentation using normalized cross-correlation and representative patterns in ultrasound images

Segmentation of prostate boundaries in transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images plays a great role in early detection of prostate cancer. Due to the low signal to noise ratio and existence of the speckle noise in TRUS images, prostate image segmentation has proven to be an extremely difficult task. This paper introduces a new fully automatic model-based prostate boundary segmentation method based on normalized cross-correlation (NCC). Using lower and upper boundary representative patterns, a strip rotates around the center of the probe and emphasizes the prostate boundaries. Representative patterns are constructed from a dictionary learning method, referred to as iterative least squares dictionary learning algorithm (ILS-DLA). Affine transformation parameters transform the prostate model to a position that best fit on the emphasized boundaries. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) is adopted to evaluate the accuracy of the automatic segmentation procedure. Successful experimental results and the average DSC value of 90.6% and computational time of 3.08 seconds validate the proposed method.
Hemicellulose biorefineries: a review on biomass pretreatments

Biomass pretreatment (BP) plays a crucial role in a lignocellulose feedstock-based biorefinery (LCFBR) for processing of three major output streams (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) into chemicals and biofuels. BP includes processing of lignocellulosic material (LCM) under aqueous, dilute acid or alkaline media to obtain a cellulosic fraction, which is then fermented to produce bioethanol. Hemicellulose is usually treated as a secondary stream due to lack of efficient fermentation of hemicellulosic sugars to ethanol. This review provides BPs assuming that hemicellulose stream should be integrated in LCFBR as a primary fraction for converting into value-added compounds other than bioethanol. Different LCM treatments are analyzed foreseeing bio-based products possible to obtain from hemicellulose path.
Prevention of violence through music: Empirical impact analysis of a music therapy model project

ABSTRACT Introduction: This article describes the main results of an empirical impact analysis of a music therapy model project for the prevention of violence in schools, developed and investigated by the author. Methods: Based on the investigation of research hypotheses, the assumed effects of the program were explored in a quasi-experimental evaluation study. The study was carried out in two regular secondary schools (middle schools) in the 5th year level. Results: The experiment showed significant but heterogeneous effects. Of 42 time-by-group interaction effects tested, 21 were significant. In one of the two project classes (treatment groups), the positive effect of violence prevention through the project model was confirmed by the research results throughout. In the other project class, the research hypotheses were predominantly rejected with the exception of a highly significant decrease in the category of aggressive acts. Discussion: The results are analyzed and evaluated in terms of class and project variables. For this purpose, interviews with experts are methodically evaluated in a qualitative analysis, which was carried out after completion of the project work. On the basis of the summaries of these research steps, knowledge is obtained indicating which conditions promote preventative effects, such as relations between the students or common interest in the project work, and under which conditions steps for modification of the program are required, such as little willingness to show consideration for others or a sudden decrease in motivation due to a lack of immediate success and a lack of common interests and goals.
Early Readmission of Elderly Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

To the Editor:-The prospective investigation on factors associated with increased likelihood of early readmission in elderly patients with documented congestive heart failure by Vinson et a1 was of great interest. ’ Recurrent heart failure was the most common indication for readmission, and noncompliance with medication and diet accounted for one-third of contributing factors. This statement requires comment. In addition to the findings reported by the authors, there is evidence that cardiovascular manifestations, recurrent heart failure, and uncontrolled hypertension are important consequences of non-compliance with drugs, particularly in elderly Indeed, it has been documented by means of continuous medication monitoring that partial compliance with diuretic therapy was followed by cardiac deterioration and the need for hospitalization.6 However, information on hospital admissions due to non-compliance is sparse. Its prevalence was reported as 3%-7.4% in departments of general or internal medicine and 3.8% in a department of cardiology. Unfortunately, the authors did not mention their definition of compliance, nor did they provide information on how drug compliance and adherence to diet were assessed. This stands in contrast to the otherwise well documented data on their study population. Notwithstanding the difficulties in measuring adherence to diets, it is known that subjective estimates of patients’ drug compliance are inappropriate and may be grossly mi~leading. ~-~ In the study of Vinson et al, a considerable percentage of non-cardiac readmissions was reported to be due to dehydration which was related to excessive diuretic use. Perhaps there actually was overprescribing of diuretics. Overcompliance with drugs may be a problem, but partial compliance appears to be much more frequent. The elderly are no exception. ‘O-” Another point worth mentioning in the conclusions would be that patient education, discharge planning, and enhanced follow-up should include careful assessment of therapy.I3 The patient’s part is only one side of compliance. The other is the prescribing physician and his obligation to comply with principles of optimal therapy. Is ‘perfect’ compliance to be expected with an average of 6.0 f 2.6 drugs prescribed at discharge? Finally, a possible pitfall of the study is the likelihood that therapy had been considerably changed after the patients were discharged from h~spital . ’~ These potential influences on the outcome of congestive heart failure as well as on compliance have not been evaluated. In conclusion, without sound evaluation of compliance, the role of non-compliant patient behavior as a cause of rehospitalization will remain a matter of speculation.
Alternative option in patients with multisegmental left anterior descending coronary artery disease for providing complete myocardial revascularization.

OBJECTIVES The basic aim of surgical interventions in patients with coronary artery disease is to complete myocardial revascularization. In such patients, however, complementary revascularization techniques may require in patients with multisegmental left anterior descending disease. Among the different procedures, we performed an alternative option in patients with multisegmental lad disease for providing complete myocardial revascularization. METHODS This study consists of retrospective analysis of consecutive eight patients between january 2008 and august 2013. In all patients, the surgical procedure consisted of standard aortic and right atrial cannulations followed by coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. At the lesions of non-lad vessels distal anastomoses were performed with saphenous vein graft. After that lad arteriotomies were performed at the proximal and the distal segment of coronary stenosis, and a bridge was formed with a short segment valveless svg. The left internal mammary artery was anastomosed on the bridge. RESULTS This innovative technique was performed successfully in all the patients. There were no morbidity and in-hospital mortality. At follow-up 1 year control, all the patients have no complications. In 2 patients, control angiogram showed a patent lima to a bridge anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS Although our series has a small group population, we advocate that this is a safe, easy, and efficient technique for providing complete revascularization in multisegmental lad disease. This technique could be performed with the good result and easy implementation. It perfuses both the proximal and the distal segments of the multisegmental lad stenoses.
Equilibrium, stability and discretization of some basic epidemic models

Epidemic basic models will be analysed. The goal is to study the stability of equilibrium points using the Lyapunov's indirect method, through the linearisation of the systems to study local stability, and the Lyapunov's direct method to study the global stability of each equilibrium point. A simulation example will show that, despite the simplicity of the models, they can give a good representation of how will be the dynamics of the disease.
Measuring available bandwidth of multiple parts on end-to-end network path

The available bandwidth on an end-to-end network path is an important metric for detecting network congestion, adapting transmission rate, configuring paths and topologies on overlay networks, and so on. The existing available bandwidth measurement techniques aimed only at knowing available bandwidth of the bottleneck part on the path and most of them do not specify where is the bottleneck, and they do not measure available bandwidth of each part of the path separately. Also, they can not measure available bandwidth of multiple parts on the path. In this paper, we propose a simultaneous measurement method of available bandwidth of multiple parts on an end-to-end network path. The proposed method estimates the available bandwidth based on changes in packet sending and arrival intervals under the situation where intermediate routers on the path can record time on incoming packets as a timestamps. We present extensive simulation results of the proposed method and confirm that it can accurately measure available bandwidth of each part on the path even when the available bandwidth of the sender-side network is smaller than that of the receiver-side network.
Profile of a Winner: Brandeis University and Ullanta Performance Robotics' "Robotic Love Triangle"

tested robots’ ability to perform an interactive task (hors d’oeuvres service) entertainingly and effectively in a dynamic, crowded environment. Effectiveness included safety, coverage of the reception area, recognition of humans, offering of hors d’oeuvres, and detection of need for refills; entertainment value was determined by popular vote. To fully exploit the talents of our team, drawn from Brandeis’s multirobot Interaction Lab and robotic theater troupe Ullanta Performance Robotics, we entered a team of three dramatically interacting robots. Effective Service Our PIONEER robots (BEN, MAE, and ULLANTA THE ROBOT LEVIN) are quite sturdy but only one foot tall. At this height, they could neither effectively serve nor avoid being tripped over in the crowd, and our participation in the Find-Life-on-Mars event dictated that we be able to switch software and hardware to turn a Mars exploration team into a domestic service staff in fewer than five minutes. We contrived a simple manipulator able to physically offer snacks at a convenient height by attaching a 3-foot pole to the back of each robot. On top of this pole was hinged a rigid tube with a snack container at one end and a serving bowl at the other (see figure). A dowel connected the bowl to the robot’s gripper; lowering the gripper caused the snack (peanuts) to flow into the bowl, which extended somewhat like an offering hand, and raising the gripper caused the bowl to empty back into the container. Behavior-based control (Werger 1998) allowed the robots to respond rapidly to the environment. Separate behaviors controlled velocity to maintain a safe distance from walls, robots, and people; rotation for navigation; and snack offering (lowering of the gripper and motion inhibition) in response to “humanlike” sonar signatures. Contest rules specified that only one team member could be present to ensure safety and reload hors d’oeuvres. This rule was a special challenge for us as the only multirobot entry: It was essential that the robots maintain a cohesive group in the dense crowd and that, in case of separation, they continue to perform safely while they attempt to reunite.
Involvement of TLR2 in innate response to Bacillus anthracis infection

The involvement of TLR2 receptor in the innate response to infection with Bacillus anthracis was investigated. We studied the response to virulent or attenuated Vollum strains in either in vitro assays using macrophage cultures, or in an in vivo model comparing the sensitivity of Syrian hamster cells (expressing normal TLR2) to Chinese hamster cells (lacking functional TLR2) to infection by the various B. anthracis strains. Phagocytosis experiments with murine cell cultures or primary macrophages from both hamster strains, using virulent or attenuated Tox+Cap -, Tox-Cap+ or Tox-Cap- spores indicated that the secretion of TNF-α was induced by all the bacterial spores and purified spore antigens. In contrast, capsular antigens induce secretion of TNF-α only by Syrian hamster macrophages indicating the involvement of a functional TLR2 in macrophage activation. Challenge experiments with both hamster strains by intranasal spore inoculation, indicated that, while both strains are equally sensitive to infection with the virulent strain, the Chinese hamster demonstrated a higher sensitivity to infection with the toxinogenic or encapsulated strains. In conclusion, our findings imply that TLR2 has an important role in the attempt of the innate immunity to control B. anthracis infection, although TNF-α secretion was found to be mediated by both TLR2-dependent and TLR2-independent pathways.
Design of contract net protocol-based distributed image processing system

In the current era of large scale distributed computing, users voluntarily donate computation power of their idle computers or desktop machines. However, there is an urgent need of a utility-based distributed problem solving environment to attract more users. Related to applying the utility concept, we are working on design and implementation of a distributed image processing system that uses: 1 contract net protocol for task assignment; 2 concept of utility-based distributed computing; 3 task graph concept for application design. In this paper, we present our results of the design aspects of the system. We propose the design of contract net protocol-based distributed image processing system and analyse characteristics of the proposed system. We evaluate and select available options for implementation of the system. The proposed system allows transparent execution of task graph-based applications in a distributed environment.