Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
WEIGHTED MSE BASED METRICS FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF VISUAL QUALITY OF IMAGE DENOISING METHODS

We propose modifications of standard MSE and some other metrics related to it for estimation of visual quality of images filtered by different methods. The modified metrics are based on assumption that it is important for a human observer that details and edges in a filtered image are not smeared. We propose to apply a weighted version of MSE as follows. For image fragments where differences of filtered image values with respect to noise-free image are larger than for the corresponding noisy image the weights are set larger than for other image fragments. An experiment on estimation of filtered image visual quality is carried out for a test set containing 72 images. The weight value equal to 5 is recommended. It is shown that such method of calculating MSE can be used for modifying the metrics PSNR, PSNR-HVS, PSNR-HVS-M. This allows increasing their correspondence to human perception and evaluation of filtered images visual quality.
Coding over random networks

This report is based on the article [1] by Koetter and Kschischang. The authors introduced a novel approach for constructing codes by selecting a subset of a powerset of a vector space. With the code construction, they also defined an operator channel for code transmission. The codewords are vector subspaces. The data is transmitted by using one of the bases of such a subspace. The properties of codes of this type were studied. In this report, an overview of the operator channel, the codes and different bounds on the code’s error correction capabilities are given.
Cognitive function predicts first-time stroke and heart disease

Objective: To investigate whether impaired cognitive function is an early manifestation of vascular injury in the brain and therefore predicts risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease. Methods: The study population consisted of 12,096 middle-aged participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study who had no history of stroke or coronary heart disease (CHD) at the time of cognitive testing. Cognitive function was measured using the Digit-Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Word Fluency Test, and the Delayed Word Recall Test. Cognitive test scores were adjusted for demographic factors and then evaluated as predictors of incident cardiovascular events using Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results: Over a median follow-up period of 6.4 years, there were 516 incident cardiovascular events (292 myocardial infarctions, 50 CHD deaths, and 174 strokes), resulting in an average annual incidence rate of 0.7%. Lower adjusted scores on each cognitive test predicted a greater risk of incident cardiovascular events after controlling for established vascular risk factors (highest vs lowest quartile DSST, adjusted hazard ratio 1.56, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.97, p for linear trend by quartile < 0.001). The magnitude of the association was comparable with other commonly used predictors of vascular risk such as left ventricular hypertrophy on EKG and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of <35 mg/dL. Conclusion: Cognitive test scores below demographic norms predict incident cardiovascular disease in middle-aged subjects independently of established vascular risk factors.
Eye-head coordination during overground locomotion and avoidance of virtual pedestrians

Background: Avoiding collisions with other pedestrians during overground locomotion is a trivial task for young adults, but with age or for stroke survivors it can become a daunting endeavour. Coordinated eye-head movements probably play an important role in obstacle circumvention, but unfortunately the literature on the subject is rather scarce. Objectives: The aim of this study was therefore to investigate eye-head coordination during overground locomotion, and, more specifically, during avoidance of dynamic virtual pedestrians. Methods: We recorded eye (ASL eyetracker ) and body (Vicon system) movements in five healthy young adults during overground locomotion as they navigated in a virtual environment visualized in a helmet mounted display. Medio-lateral (ML) displacements as well as the pattern of eye, head and gaze reorientation in the horizontal plane were examined. Participants were instructed to walk toward a goal represented by a blue target located 9.5m straight ahead and to avoid a non-reactive human-like avatar coming from different angles of approach. Results: We found that ML trajectory displacements were preceded by a head rotation in the direction of veering. Halfway through the ML head displacement, a head rotation in the direction opposite to that of the ML displacement was observed. Head rotations were themselves preceded by eye saccade(s) toward the side of circumvention. During the circumvention, no attempt was made to keep the head in alignment with the goal. Conclusions: Eye/gaze movements appear to play an important role during the avoidance of dynamic obstacles while walking. Eye movements are initiated ahead of the trajectory ML displacement, possibly to localize the obstacle and/or plan the future walking trajectory.
Data-driven dynamic energy pricing

Demand side management has attracted a lot of attention as a method to regulate customer behavior and improve system reliability. In this paper, we solve the day-ahead energy pricing problem in the distribution electricity system by taking into account the fact that customers can change their consumption behavior in response to price changes. We propose two pricing models under two different scenarios. In the first scenario, customers' consumption profiles at different prices are available data. We propose an integer programming model to maximize the revenue of the utility company. In the second scenario, we assume only the consumption profiles at the current price, which is static, are available. A game theoretic bilevel optimization model is built to describe the relationship between electricity price and customers' behavior. We then compare and analyze the results of the two models.
Classification issues and challenges in child and adolescent psychopathology

Abstract The major advances that have taken place over the last half century are reviewed with a focus on those that are particularly important with respect to classification issues in the field of child and adolescent psychopathology. Attention is paid to the conceptual issues in DSM and ICD development and differences between the two classifications. Specific recommendations for changes in ICD-11 are presented and an online supplement provides specific details with respect to diagnostic categories that are in need of further testing.
Sexual Behaviors, Healthcare Interactions, and HIV-Related Perceptions Among Adults Age 60 Years and Older: An Investigation by Race/Ethnicity.

BACKGROUND Older adults are remaining sexually active for longer periods of time, underscoring the need to assess sexual activity patterns in this group and identify differences by race/ethnicity, some of which may have implications for the development and implementation of sexual risk reduction interventions. METHODS Using data from the 2010 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, this study examined responses from 1,429 adults aged 60 years and older. Multinomial logistic regression compared sexual behaviors, health-related indicators, interactions with healthcare professionals, and HIV-related perceptions across participants' race/ethnicity. RESULTS Approximately 81% of participants self-reported as non-Hispanic white, 10.59% as African American, and 8.05% as Hispanic. On average, participants were 69.9 years of age. In the previous year, 49.3% of participants engaged in sexual intercourse; only 3% used condoms. The majority of participants (83.1%) visited a physician at least twice in the previous year, 30.9% had discussed sex with a physician since turning 50, and 14.2% had been tested for HIV. Relative to non-Hispanic whites, African Americans were more likely to be divorced (OR=3.23, P<0.001) or widowed (OR=2.90, P<0.001); have more lifetime sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses (OR=1.67, P=0.030); and have paid for sex (OR=2.83, P=0.002). Although African Americans had greater perceived risk for HIV infection (OR=1.66, P=0.046), they were less likely to have discussed sex with a physician since turning 50 (OR=0.45, P=0.009). CONCLUSION Contextualized interventions to improve patient-provider communication and proactive screening behaviors in sexually-active and aging African Americans are needed.
MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-2 (MMP-2) AND -9 (MMP-9) IN HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

Gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) play a key role during invasion and metastazising of malignant cells and they have been shown to be associated to invasive phenotype and poor prognosis in several solid tumours. However little is known about their role in hematological malignancies. In the present work, gelatinase expression and its clinicopathological correlations were studied with immunohistochemical staining in 10 cases representing normal bone marrow aspirate smears, 123 cases representing diagnostic bone marrow samples of patients with different leukaemias (35 AML, 7 CLL, 6 CML, 75 ALL), 67 diagnostic paraffin-embedded lymph node biopsies from patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and 57 biopsies from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The lymphoma samples were also stained with factor VIII antibody to evaluate the extent of new vessel formation and the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases also with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases -1 (TIMP-1) antibody. CLL did not express either of the MMP enzymes, while CML in the chronic phase expressed strongly both of the enzymes. In ALL, gelatinase expression was weak and detectable in pediatric cases in only 12.7% and in the adults in 65% of the cases. In adult ALL, MMP-2 expression correlated strongly with an extramedullary and invasive pattern of disease presentation. In AML MMP-2 positivity had markedly favorable prognostic and predictive power. In lymphoma studies, no correlations could be detected between gelatinase expression and the clinical parameters of invasion. MMP-9 positivity was related to the presence of B symptoms, which difference was statistically significant in Hodgkin's lymphoma. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, strong MMP-9 expression also implicated decreased neovascularization. In both lymphoma types, strong MMP-9 expression correlated with unfavorable prognosis, which difference was statistically significant in nonHodgkin's lymphomas and remained as a tendency in Hodgkin's lymphoma. MMP-2 had statistically significant association with a favorable prognosis in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Combination of the results of both stainings further increased prognostic power. All together these findings implicate that gelatinases could be used as prognostic tools in AML and lymphomas albeit this needs to be verified in larger materials.
Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistance by the microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility assay.

RATIONALE Mortality is exceedingly high and rapid among patients infected with HIV and tuberculosis (TB), in part because of limited access to appropriate TB diagnostics. The microscopic observation drug-susceptibility (MODS) assay is a simple, rapid, low-cost test for TB and multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB, but data in individuals infected with HIV and in Africa are limited. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the MODS assay in a high-HIV-prevalence setting. METHODS We performed a prospective diagnostic accuracy study of consecutive adults suspected to have TB from outpatient and inpatient settings at a district hospital in rural South Africa. Sputum was tested by concentrated smear microscopy; agar (Middlebrook 7H11) and liquid (mycobacterial growth indicator tube) culture; and the MODS assay. Drug-susceptibility testing (DST) was by indirect 1% proportion method and MODS. Reference standard for Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection was growth on Middlebrook or mycobacterial growth indicator tube culture; 1% proportion was the reference standard for isoniazid and rifampin DST. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Among 534 adults enrolled, 388 (73%) were HIV-positive, with a median CD4 count of 161 cells/mm(3) (interquartile range [IQR]: 72-307). TB was diagnosed by the reference standard culture in 113 (21%). MODS sensitivity was 85% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78-92%), and specificity was 97% (CI, 95-99%). MODS test performance did not differ by patients' HIV status (sensitivity 88% vs. 90%, specificity 97% vs. 100% for HIV-positive versus HIV-negative, respectively). For MDR-TB diagnosis (n = 11), sensitivity was 100% (one-sided CI, 68-100%) and specificity was 94% (CI, 82-98%). Median turnaround time for MDR-TB diagnosis was 7 days (IQR: 6-9) with MODS versus 70 days (IQR: 49-96) with indirect proportion method (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Among adult TB suspects predominantly infected with HIV, MODS provided high sensitivity and specificity for rapid diagnosis of TB and MDR-TB. Given the high mortality from TB and MDR-TB and prolonged opportunity for TB transmission before diagnosis, the MODS assay warrants serious consideration for use in similar high-HIV-prevalence, resource-limited settings.
Nitrite formation from organic nitrogen by Streptomyces antibioticus supporting bacterial cell growth and possible involvement of nitric oxide as an intermediate

The actinomycete Streptomyces antibioticus was shown to produce nitrite and ammonium () when aerobically incubated in an organic nitrogen-rich medium. The production of was synchronized with rapid cell growth, whereas most was produced after cell proliferation had ceased. Intracellular formation of nitric oxide (NO) was also observed during the incubation. The production of these inorganic nitrogen compounds along with cell growth was prevented by several enzyme inhibitors (of nitric oxide synthase or nitrate reductase) or glucose. Distinct, membrane-bound nitrate reductase was induced in the -producing cells. Tungstate (a potent inhibitor of this enzyme) prevented the production and cell growth, whereas it did not prevent the NO formation. These results revealed the occurrence of novel nitrogen metabolic pathway in S. antibioticus forming from organic nitrogen by which rapid cell growth is possible. NO synthase, NO dioxygenase (flavohemoglobin), and dissimilatory nitrate reductase are possible enzymes responsible for the formation. Graphical Abstract A novel nitrogen metabolic process in S. antibioticus, through which organic nitrogen compounds are mineralized into nitrite () and ammonium ().
An 8 year nationwide prospective registration of non-consented HIV testing in Belgium.

BACKGROUND Little information is available on the number of HIV tests that are carried out without the patient's consent. The aim of this study was to find out about the number of HIV tests for which the specific consent of the patient was not obtained and to describe the circumstances in which these tests were carried out. METHODS Since 1993 a representative network of sentinel general practitioners (GPs) has recorded data about requests for HIV tests, risk behaviour and the patient's awareness about the test. RESULTS In total 11,660 HIV tests were recorded and for 3628 tests the question about patient awareness was completed. Although non-consensual HIV testing (NHT) is against European guidelines on informed consent, 453 tests were performed without informed consent. Of the 292 participating GPs, 17.5 per cent never completed the question about the patient's awareness and 35.6 per cent performed at least one non-consensual HIV test. For 28.9 per cent of NHT, no risk behaviour for HIV infection was identified and for 43.4 per cent the risk behaviour was unknown. NHT was recurrent for patients with suggestive symptoms (22.7 per cent), patients consulting for a check-up (21.1 per cent) and women consulting for antenatal care (12.8 per cent). CONCLUSION Never before have figures been available about NHT forthcoming from a prospective registration including such a large number of tested subjects. Physicians should be reminded once more about the unacceptability of NHT. Instead of performing a non-consensual HIV test, physicians should invest more time in pre-test counselling, especially in those patients with a higher risk or with suggestive symptoms for HIV.
Identifying patients at high risk of emergency hospital admissions: a logistic regression analysis.

OBJECTIVE To use routine data to identify patients at high risk of future emergency hospital admissions. DESIGN Descriptive analysis of inpatient hospital episode statistics. Predictive model developed using multiple logistic regression. SETTING National Health Service hospital trusts in England. PARTICIPANTS All patients with an emergency admission to an NHS hospital between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES 'High-impact users' were defined as patients who had at least one emergency inpatient admission and who then went on to have at least two further emergency hospital admissions in the 12 months following the start date of that index admission. RESULTS 2,895,234 patients were admitted as emergencies in 2000/2001, of whom 147,725 (5.1%) did not survive their first spell. Of the 2,747,509 surviving patients, 269,686 (9.8%) subsequently had at least two or more emergency admissions within 365 days of the index date of admission. A further 236,779 (8.6%) died during this period. Risk factors for becoming a high-impact user included the number of emergencies in the 36 months before index spell, comorbidity, age, an admission for an ambulatory care sensitive condition, ethnicity, area-level socioeconomic data, local admission rates, the number of episodes in the index spell, sex and the source of admission. The predictive model based on all emergency admissions produced a receiver operating characteristic curve score of 0.72. CONCLUSIONS Routine hospital episode statistics can be used to identify patients who are at high risk of suffering future multiple emergency hospital admissions. The potential cost savings in preventing a proportion of these subsequent admissions need to be compared with the costs of case management of these patients.
Production , Manufacturing and Logistics Secure collaborative supply chain planning and inverse optimization – The JELS model

0377-2217/$ see front matter 2010 Elsevier B.V. A doi:10.1016/j.ejor. 2010.08. 018 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel. : +49 611 360 18 800; E-mail address: yingying.zhang@ebs.edu (Y. Zhang It is a well-acknowledged fact that collaboration between different members of a supply chain yields a significant potential to increase overall supply chain performance. Sharing private information has been identified as prerequisite for collaboration and, at the same time, as one of its major obstacles. One potential avenue for overcoming this obstacle is Secure Multi-Party Computation (SMC). SMC is a cryptographic technique that enables the computation of any (well-defined) mathematical function by a number of parties without any party having to disclose its input to another party. In this paper, we show how SMC can be successfully employed to enable joint decision-making and benefit sharing in a simple supply chain setting. We develop secure protocols for implementing the well-known ‘‘Joint Economic Lot Size (JELS) Model” with benefit sharing in such a way that none of the parties involved has to disclose any private (cost and capacity) data. Thereupon, we show that although computation of the model’s outputs can be performed securely, the approach still faces practical limitations. These limitations are caused by the potential of ‘‘inverse optimization”, i.e., a party can infer another party’s private data from the output of a collaborative planning scheme even if the computation is performed in a secure fashion. We provide a detailed analysis of ‘‘inverse optimization” potentials and introduce the notion of ‘‘stochastic security”, a novel approach to assess the additional information a party may learn from joint computation and benefit sharing. Based on our definition of ‘‘stochastic security” we propose a stochastic benefit sharing rule, develop a secure protocol for this benefit sharing rule, and assess under which conditions stochastic benefit sharing can guarantee secure collaboration. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Modulation of Rac1 and ARF6 Activation during Epithelial Cell Scattering*

Epithelial cell scattering encompasses the dissolution of intercellular junctions, cell-cell dissociation, cell spreading, and motility. The Rac1 and ARF6 GTPases have been shown to regulate one or more of these aforementioned processes. In fact, activated Rac1 has been shown to promote cell-cell adhesion as well as to enhance cell motility, leading to conflicting reports on the effect of Rac1 activation on epithelial cell motility. In this study, we have examined the activation profiles of endogenous Rac1 and ARF6 during the sequential stages of epithelial cell scattering. Using Madin-Darby canine kidney cells treated with hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor or cell lines stably expressing activated v-Src, we show that Rac1 and ARF6 exhibit distinct activation profiles during cell scattering. We have found that an initial ARF6-dependent decrease in the levels of Rac1-GTP is necessary to induce cell-cell dissociation. This is followed by a steady increase in Rac1 and ARF6 activation and cell migration. In sum, this study documents the progression of ARF6 and Rac1 activities during epithelial cell scattering.
Optimum-Grundzustände quantenmechanischer Spin-Systeme in zwei und drei Dimensionen

Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt eine Einfuhrung in die Theorie der Optimum-Grundzustande und ihrer Realisation in Vertex-Zustands-Modellen in Dimensionen D>=2. Mit Hilfe einer Verallgemeinerung der Vertex-Zustands-Modelle konnen Quanten-Spin-Systeme mit Spins der Grose S auf beliebigen Gittern mit beliebiger Koordinationszahl z fur S>= n z/2 realisiert werden. Die Grundzustande dieser Modelle konnen exakt angegeben werden und bieten so Zugang zum Tieftemperaturverhalten dieser Modelle. Mit dieser Methode konstruierte Grundzustande zeigen reichhaltiges physikalisches Verhalten. Es werden Modelle mit anitiferromagnetischer, schwach antiferromagnetischer und mit schwach ferromagnetischer/ ferrimagnetischer Ordnung vorgestellt, deren Grundzustande niedrig entartet sind. Bei vielen Modellen lassen sich Quantenphasenubergange sehen, die erster oder zweiter Ordnung sein konnen. Im Fall der Phasenubergange zweiter Ordnung lassen sich diverse kritische Exponenten bestimmen. Die Abhangigkeiten der unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften von der Grose der Spins, von der Dimensionalitat sowie von der Koordinationszahl werden untersucht.
Fundamental research for the horizontal plane drive of an injection-molding pantograph mechanism for grasping and assembling a small object within a fixed view

When a pantograph mechanism arranged along a horizontal plane is applied to a micromanipulator, the output point of the pantograph mechanism has a vertical output displacement error based on the weight of the end effector. In this research, the output displacement of the output link of the pantograph mechanism arranged along a horizontal plane is measured when the perpendicular direction static load reaches the top of the output link. In the results, the relationship between perpendicular direction load and output displacement was clarified, and it was concluded that static load is proportional to output displacement. Moreover, by changing the thickness of the pantograph mechanism arranged along the horizontal plane, the relationship between the thickness and the rigidity of the mechanism was also clarified. Finally, the design method along with a design flowchart for the pantograph mechanism was obtained using the above relationship between the mechanism's thickness and rigidity when the specification of the micromanipulator and the weight of the end effector are given.