Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On optimal usage of centroid units in CMLP network

In our recent studies we have investigated a centroid based multilayer perceptron (CMLP) network architecture for nonlinear modelling purposes. In CMLP network the first hidden layer is a centroid layer which performs a circular transformation for the input data. The output of this centroid layer is then fed to a usual multilayer perceptron network. We have found that this hybrid can provide significant advantages over standard multilayer perceptron networks in terms of fast and efficient learning, and compact network structure in complex classification problems. Previously the number of units for the centroid layer has been determined empirically. Here we extend our work by introducing a method for determining the minimum or near minimum number of units for the centroid layer in a given problem. The proposed scheme is based on the usage of principal component analysis. The presented benchmark simulations demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively discover the minimum number of centroid units. However such a minimum structure is shown to be relatively sensitive for the weight initialization.
Changes in the Role of the CD45 Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase in Regulating Lck Tyrosine Phosphorylation during Thymic Development1

CD45-dependent dephosphorylation of the negative regulatory C-terminal tyrosine of the Src family kinase Lck, promotes efficient TCR signal transduction. However, despite the role of CD45 in positively regulating Lck activity, the distinct phenotypes of CD45 and Lck/Fyn-deficient mice suggest that the role of CD45 in promoting Lck activity may be differentially regulated during thymocyte development. In this study, we have found that the C-terminal tyrosine of Lck (Y505) is markedly hyperphosphorylated in total thymocytes from CD45-deficient mice compared with control animals. In contrast, regulation of the Lck Y505 phosphorylation in purified, double-negative thymocytes is relatively unaffected in CD45-deficient cells. These changes in the role of CD45 in regulating Lck phosphorylation during thymocyte development correlate with changes in coreceptor expression and the presence of coreceptor-associated Lck. Biochemical analysis of coreceptor-associated and nonassociated Lck in thymocytes, and in cell lines varying in CD4 and CD45 expression, indicate that CD45-dependent regulation of Lck Y505 phosphorylation is most evident within the fraction of Lck that is coreceptor associated. In contrast, Lck Y505 phosphorylation that is not coreceptor associated is less affected by the absence of CD45. These data define distinct pools of Lck that are differentially regulated by CD45 during T cell development.
Pathophysiology and treatment of focal cerebral ischemia. Part II: Mechanisms of damage and treatment.

The mechanisms that give rise to ischemic brain damage have not been definitively determined, but considerable evidence exists that three major factors are involved: increases in the intercellular cytosolic calcium concentration (Ca++i), acidosis, and production of free radicals. A nonphysiological rise in Ca++i due to a disturbed pump/leak relationship for calcium is believed to cause cell damage by overactivation of lipases and proteases and possibly also of endonucleases, and by alterations of protein phosphorylation, which secondarily affects protein synthesis and genome expression. The severity of this disturbance depends on the density of ischemia. In complete or near-complete ischemia of the cardiac arrest type, pump activity has ceased and the calcium leak is enhanced by the massive release of excitatory amino acids. As a result, multiple calcium channels are opened. This is probably the scenario in the focus of an ischemic lesion due to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Such ischemic tissues can be salvaged only by recirculation, and any brain damage incurred is delayed, suggesting that the calcium transient gives rise to sustained changes in membrane function and metabolism. If the ischemia is less dense, as in the penumbral zone of a focal ischemic lesion, pump failure may be moderate and the leak may be only slightly or intermittently enhanced. These differences in the pump/leak relationship for calcium explain why calcium and glutamate antagonists may lack effect on the cardiac arrest type of ischemia, while decreasing infarct size in focal ischemia. The adverse effects of acidosis may be exerted by several mechanisms. When the ischemia is sustained, acidosis may promote edema formation by inducing Na+ and Cl- accumulation via coupled Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchange; however, it may also prevent recovery of mitochondrial metabolism and resumption of H+ extrusion. If the ischemia is transient, pronounced intraischemic acidosis triggers delayed damage characterized by gross edema and seizures. Possibly, this is a result of free-radical formation. If the ischemia is moderate, as in the penumbral zone of a focal ischemic lesion, the effect of acidosis is controversial. In fact, enhanced glucolysis may then be beneficial. Although free radicals have long been assumed to be mediators of ischemic cell death, it is only recently that more substantial evidence of their participation has been produced. It now seems likely that one major target of free radicals is the microvasculature, and that free radicals and other mediators of inflammatory reactions (such as platelet-activating factor) aggravate the ischemic lesion by causing microvascular dysfunction and blood-brain barrier disruption. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Las Políticas Hídricas Catalanas (1980-2000): Los Agricultores de Lérida y el Gobierno del Agua

Los problemas referidos al agua pueden ser estudiados desde diferentes perspectivas. Esta investigacion enfatiza la dimension sociocultural de la Politica de Aguas y combina aportes de diferentes disciplinas y en particular de la Ciencia Politica y del Analisis de Politicas Publicas. El conflicto social por la provision o el uso continuo de recursos ('guerras del agua'), esta originado no solo por la escacez o distribucion irregular sino tambien por los disenos institucionales que condicionan las acciones de los actores mas importantes. La tesis aborda especialmente las instituciones creadas por el hombre para el uso y la explotacion del agua. Estas instituciones moldean las preferencias y concepciones de los actores sobre la naturaleza del agua. El presupuesto basico a nivel teorico de la Tesis es que los intereses de los actores, sus concepciones y propuestas cientifico-tecnologicas estan basadas en diferentes culturas de gestion del agua: Estos 'estilos de gestion' estan determinados por valores y creencias compartidas y por las estructuras de interaccion. Estas culturas son limitadas y tienen un caracter competitivo. La diversidad de actores, la complejidad de interacciones y la fragmentacion de las politicas e instituciones son factores que aconsejan profundizar el analisis en areas especificas o actores que participan en la politica de aguas. La investigacion prioriza a los agricultores porque estos son actores claves en el proceso de las politicas hidricas. La investigacion considera el periodo 1980-2000 y abarca el area territorial irrigada mas importante de Cataluna que coincide con la de las Comunidades Generales de Regantes de la Provincia de Lerida: Pinyana, Urgel y Aragon y Cataluna. Son estudiadas las caracteristicas institucionales, las formas de interaccion y el comportamiento y estrategia de los agricultores, focalizando especialmente en la influencia de estos actores en los procesos de tomas de decisiones de las politicas hidricas y en la competitividad existente con los usos urbanos de Barcelona. Los procesos de decision de los embalses de Rialb y Santa Liestra muestran la importancia de las tendencias culturales como tambien la capacidad de los regantes para articular los intereses territoriales y las propias inercias institucionales de las politicas hidrica y agraria. La metodologia de investigacion utiliza diferentes tecnicas de estudio que se han desarrollado en diferentes fases de la investigacion.
The inter- and intragenerational impact of gestational diabetes on the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES We investigated the contribution of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to the historic epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Saskatchewan. METHODS We constructed a population-level simulation model of the inter- and intragenerational interaction of GDM and T2DM for the period 1956 to 2006. The model was stratified by gender, ethnicity, and age; parameterized with primary and secondary data; and calibrated to match historic time series. Risk of diabetes was sigmoidally trended to capture exogenous factors. RESULTS Best-fit calibrations suggested GDM may be responsible for 19% to 30% of the cases of T2DM among Saskatchewan First Nations people, but only for approximately 6% of cases among other persons living in Saskatchewan. The estimated contribution of GDM to the growth in T2DM was highly sensitive to assumptions concerning the post-GDM risk of developing T2DM. CONCLUSIONS GDM may be an important driver for the T2DM epidemic in many subpopulations. Because GDM is a readily identifiable, preventable, and treatable condition, investments in prevention, rapid diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of GDM in at-risk populations may offer substantial benefit in lowering the T2DM burden over many generations. Model-informed data collection can aid in assessing intervention tradeoffs.
Thiopental-Rocuronium Versus Ketamine-Rocuronium for Rapid-Sequence Intubation in Parturients Undergoing Cesarean Section

We investigated the neuromuscular effects and conditions of tracheal intubation after administration of rocuronium in 40 parturients undergoing elective cesarean section.After preoxygenation, anesthesia was induced in 20 patients by thiopental 4 mg/kg and, in the other 20 patients, by ketamine 1.5 mg/kg. Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was then administered, and neuromuscular transmission was assessed using electromyographic response to train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist every 10 s. The time to T1/control ratio of 50% neuromuscular block (NMB) as well as the time to maximum NMB (onset time) were compared in the two groups. The time to 50% block was 45 +/- 10 s in the thiopental group and 42 +/- 14 s in the ketamine group, while the onset time was 105 +/- 35 s in the thiopental group and 101 +/- 35 s in the ketamine group. Neither the time to 50% NMB nor the onset time were significantly different between the two groups. Tracheal intubation at 50% NMB was easily performed in all patients in the ketamine-rocuronium group but was difficult in 75% of the thiopental-rocuronium group. We concluded that ketamine 1.5 mg/kg followed by rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg may be suitable for rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia in parturients undergoing cesarean section. (Anesth Analg 1997;84:1104-7)
Mesure du débit cardiaque par Vigileo, Most Care versus Swan-Ganz, en post opératoire de chirurgie cardiaque

La technique de reference de mesure du debit cardiaque est la thermodilution par catheter de Swan-Ganz. De nouvelles techniques moins invasives basees sur l’analyse du contour de l’onde de pouls ont ete developpees : le Vigileo et le MostCare. L’objectif de cette etude est de comparer en post operatoire de chirurgie cardiaque la mesure du debit cardiaque continu (DCC) par ces deux moniteurs a la thermodilution continue par Swan-Ganz. Dix-neuf patients etaient inclus. Pendant 18h, la mesure du DCC par thermodilution d’un moniteur Vigilance II CCO system et la courbe de pression arterielle etaient enregistrees. Secondairement, celle-ci etait injectee dans un simulateur de pression, puis transmise simultanement aux debitmetres cardiaques MostCare et Vigileo. Ces mesures etaient comparees aux mesures de Swan-Ganz de DCC toutes les minutes. 20% des valeurs de debit du MostCare et du Vigileo les plus eloignees etaient supprimees. Les methodes de mesure de DCC etaient comparees par regression lineaire. La methode de Bland et Altman etait utilisee pour determiner le biais et les limites de concordance. Un pourcentage d’erreur, par test de Critchley, inferieur a 30% etait retenu comme critere d’equivalence des 2 methodes. Le coefficient de correlation (r) entre Vigileo et thermodilution etait de 0,89 (p < 0,001 IC 95% = [0,88; 0,90]), le biais de -0,9 L /min, et les limites de concordance de 1.3 L /min. La concordance etait bonne, avec un pourcentage d’erreur de 29%. Le r entre MostCare et thermodilution etait de 0,7 (p < 0,001, IC 95%= [0,68; 0,73]), le biais de 0,9L /min, les limites de concordance de 1.6 L /min, et le pourcentage d’erreur de 44,9%, donc non equivalent.
Evidence that inhibition of medial preoptic dopaminergic activity may be involved in the prepubertal desensitization to the negative oestrogen feedback in female rats.

Immature female rats were bilaterally lesioned in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) or hypothalamic ventromedial-arcuate region (VMAR) at 21 days of age and daily injected with the dopamine (DA) agonist bromocriptine (CB-154) through day 26. Estimation of the serum LH and FSH concentrations following ovariectomy and two injections of 0.05 micrograms oestradiol benzoate (OB)/100 g b.w. revealed that the desensitization to the negative feedback effect of OB induced by lesioning of the MPOA was almost completely prevented by CB-154. A similar effect of the drug was not found in rats lesioned in the VMAR. The DA antagonist alpha-methyldopa (alpha-MD) was then bilaterally implanted in the MPOA or VMAR of 28-day-old females. Evaluation of the gonadotrophin-inhibiting effect of OB on days 30-31 showed that medial preoptic, but not hypothalamic implants of alpha-MD reduced the sensitivity to the inhibitory action of OB. It is proposed that diminution of the dopaminergic activity in the MPOA may play a role in the prepubertal desensitization to the negative oestrogen feedback in female rats.
Assessment of Polyacrylamide and Aluminum Sulphate Coagulants in Turbidity Removal in Wastewater

Turbidity adds an objectionable appearance to wastewaters. The present research investigates the application of a polymer (non-ionic polyacrylamide) and aluminum sulphate (AI2(SO4)3) in coagulation-flocculation to improve the quality of domestic wastewater. Results of the “jar test” conducted indicated that by adding 150 mg L of AI2(SO4)3 at a contact time of 20 min, turbidity of the solution was reduced to about 90%. However, applying 200 mg L of the polyacrylamide at a contact time of 35 min resulted in 89% turbidity removal. Evaluating the efficiency of turbidity removal of both coagulants, no significant differences were noted in the ability of both coagulants to clarify wastewater. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Formulate Informed Initialization and Develop Customized Metrics for Prototypes of VQ

This paper presents an algorithm of vector quantization (VQ) that is encoded with the informed initialization of prototypes and the employment of prototype-customized metrics, and the algorithm is named as IMVQ. IMVQ extracts points of significant meaning from dataset and derives the first population of prototypes based on them. It creates 1-vs-rest SVMs model and uses its decision functions to learn individual metric for each prototype. The prototype updating takes two fashions rather than a single manner that is used in classical VQ. Experiments are conducted on real datasets to check the quality of initial prototypes, customized metrics as well as IMVQ and show the fine performance of the proposed strategies and algorithm.
[Impact that positive reinforcement during spirometry has on the measurement of VC in healthy volunteers].

OBJECTIVE Physiologically, VC can vary according to gender, age, body weight and posture, as well as ethnic and anthropometric characteristics. In addition, various diseases can alter VC. In order to measure VC, it is necessary to motivate the patient, to make the instructions understandable, to provide clear information and to have a capable examiner. The objective of this study was to determine the impact that positive reinforcement during spirometry has on the measurement of VC in healthy volunteers. METHODS A randomized clinical trial involving 105 healthy volunteers, randomly allocated to one of two groups: control and intervention. In both groups, VC was assessed as baseline (VC1) and again 15 days later (VC2). Positive reinforcement was provided only to patients in the intervention group and only during the determination of VC2. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the baseline characteristics. Females predominated in both groups. There was an increase in VC2 in both groups (p < 0.01), and VC2 was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the importance of using the behavioral strategy in combination with traditional practice in order to obtain better results. The use of positive reinforcement during the determination of VC has proven to be an effective, simple and easily applied strategy.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Tale of Cytoskeletal Proteins and Beyond

The cardiomyopathies are heart muscle disorders associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These disorders are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) into four forms1: (1) dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), (2) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), (3) restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), and (4) arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Recently, another cardiomyopathy, left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC), has gained attention although it has not yet attained separate classification; however, this will change in the near future. The most common cardiomyopathy is DCM, accounting for approximately 55% of cases.1 The importance of these disorders lies in the fact that they are responsible for a high proportion of cases of heart failure and sudden death, as well as the need for transplantation. The mortality rate in the United States due to cardiomyopathy is greater than 10,000 deaths per annum, with DCM being the major contributor to this death rate.2 The total cost of health care in the United States focused on cardiomyopathies is in the billions of dollars and only limited success has been achieved.3,4 In order to achieve improved care and outcomes in children and adults, understanding of the causes of these disorders has been sought in earnest over the past decade. DCM has become a popular target of research over the past 7-8 years, with multiple genes identified during that time period. These genes appear to encode two major subgroups of proteins, cytoskeletal and sarcomeric proteins.5,6 In this review, the underlying basis of DCM will be discussed. In order to understand the mechanisms responsible for the development of the clinical DCM phenotype, an understanding of normal cardiac structure is necessary.
Outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Sequence Type 120, Peru, 2009

In 2009, an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus occurred in Piura, Cajamarca, Lambayeque, and Lima, Peru. Whole-genome sequencing of clinical and environmental samples from the outbreak revealed a new V. parahaemolyticus clone. All the isolates identified belonged to a single clonal complex described exclusively in Asia before its emergence in Peru.
Competition in liver transplantation: Helpful or harmful?

Improved outcomes of liver transplantation have led to increases in the numbers of US transplant centers and candidates on the list. The resultant and ever‐expanding organ shortage has created competition among centers, especially in regions with multiple liver transplant programs. Multiple reports now document that competition among the country's transplant centers has led to the listing of increasingly high‐risk patients and the utilization of more marginal liver allografts. The transplant and medical communities at large should carefully re‐evaluate these practices and promote innovative approaches to restoring trust in the allocation of donor organs and confirming that there is nationwide conformity in the guidelines used for evaluating and listing potential candidates for this scarce resource. Liver Transpl 21:145‐150, 2015. © 2014 AASLD.
Changes in the rotational axes of the tibiofemoral joint caused by resection of the anterior cruciate ligament

Kinematic alignment is a method of aligning implants in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that strives to restore the native flexion–extension (F–E) and longitudinal rotation (LR) axes of the tibiofemoral joint. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is typically resected at the time of TKA, which might change the position, and orientation of these axes from that of the native knee. Our objective was to determine whether resecting the ACL causes changes in the F–E and LR axes. A custom designed and validated instrumented spatial linkage (ISL) measured the F–E and LR axes in nine cadaveric knees before and after ACL resection. Changes in these axes were computed for knee flexion from 0° to 120°. For the F–E axis, the two statistically significant yet relatively small changes were internal rotation of 0.5° (p = 0.02) and posterior translation of 0.3 mm (p = 0.04). For the LR axis, the statistically significant and relatively large change was medial translation of 2.1 mm (p = 0.01). Changes to the LR axis in both medial‐lateral position and varus‐valgus orientation varied widely; 77% of a population of knees would have a medial–lateral position change greater than 1 mm, and 53% of a population of knees would have a varus–valgus orientation change greater than 1°. Knowledge of changes of the F–E and LR axes caused by resecting the ACL provides an important baseline for determining the changes in these axes caused by kinematic alignment and mechanical alignment of bi‐cruciate retaining, posterior cruciate retaining, and posterior cruciate substituting implants. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:886–893, 2017.
La productivite du travail dans les etablissements de fabrication au Canada sous controle canadien et etranger

La presente etude utilise des donnees pour etudier les gains de la productivite du travail observes chez les etablissements sous controle canadien et etranger dans le secteur de la fabrication pour la periode de 1973 a 1993. Elle examine aussi les ecarts de productivite du travail que peuvent presenter les petits et grands etablissements et les secteurs industriels et la facon dont ils ont evolue avec le temps. L'analyse se compose de trois parties. La premiere examine le lien entre la main-d'oeuvre et la production, plus precisement la tendance dans differents sous-groupes a utiliser une main-d'oeuvre marginale a court et a long terme. La volatilite a ce titre est moins importante dans les etablissements sous controle etranger. La deuxieme partie examine la croissance de la productivite moyenne du travail chez les memes groupes. Ici, les etablissements sous controle etranger affichent des taux de croissance plus eleves. Enfin, dans la derniere partie, nous cherchons a decouvrir si les taux de croissance pour les grands et petits etablissements sous controle canadien et etranger recelent des tendances quelconques et si ces ecarts se sont amplifies au fil des ans.
Will the Kyoto Protocol Affect Growth in Russia?

In light of the recent argument that rapid economic growth in Russia over the next decade, might result in emissions higher than the Kyoto target, thereby putting much-needed growth at risk, the authors revisit the discussion on the costs and benefits of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Russia. They conclude that even under a very high economic growth assumption, and even under very conservative assumptions about the decoupling between carbon dioxide emissions, and economic growth, Russia still benefits from a net surplus of emissions allowances, and thus will not see its growth adversely affected by the Kyoto target. In addition, a review of the possible costs, and benefits of the Kyoto Protocol suggests that the potential sale of excess allowances, far outweighs the other costs.