Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multicomputer algorithms for wavelet packet image decomposition

In this paper we describe and analyze algorithms for 2-D wavelet packet decomposition for MIMD distributed memory architectures. We discuss two different approaches: On the one hand algorithms generating the entire wavelet packet subband structure (as required for adaptive applications), on the other hand algorithms generating the lowest subband level only (as required for numerical applications). We investigate several optimizations and generalizations of corresponding message passing algorithms and finally compare the results obtained on a Cray T3D and a Parsytec GCel 1024.
Evidence for non‐adaptive immune response in HIV infection

Increased levels of soluble forms of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) and E‐selectin have been found in the sera of HIV‐infected patients and have been associated with disease progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this phenomenon reflects activation of the non‐adaptive immune response in HIV infection. Fifty‐one patients with HIV infection (42 men, nine women) were classified into two subgroups: those with HIV infection but without evidence of AIDS indicator conditions (HIV infected non‐AIDS cases, n = 27) and those with AIDS (AIDS cases, n = 24). The activation of non‐adaptive immune response was evaluated as the production of reactive oxygen species that cause lipid peroxidation, which was assessed by measuring thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) using the thiobarbituric acid assay (TBA). Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), measured by rocket immunoelectrophoresis, were used to show activation of endothelial cells even in the absence of any other causative agent, in these patients. TBARS levels in non‐AIDS cases were significantly higher than in control subjects (n = 17) or AIDS cases (P < 0.001). The mean vWF levels were higher in AIDS cases than in non‐AIDS cases or normal subjects (P < 0.05). TBARS levels remained significantly higher in non‐AIDS cases after adjusting for age, CD4 T‐cell and neutrophil counts, antiretroviral therapy and vWF plasma levels. The above findings indicate that in HIV infection, the virus per se is responsible for the increased oxidative stress that in turn activates various transduction pathways, maybe leading to endothelial cell activation and shedding of adhesion molecules from the cell surface.
Identifying User Needs from Social Media

With the rise of social media, writings by ordinary people are becoming increasingly available for linguistic analysis. Such analyses offer great opportunities to identify individual users’ needs from user-generated content, so that better tailored products or services can be recommended. Literature suggests that several types of human needs are universal and directly influence consumer purchase behavior. In this paper, we investigate the use of social media to identify such fundamental needs for individuals. We developed psychometric measures of universal needs through a crowd-sourced study. We also built several models to predict people’s needs based on their writings. We conducted a detailed analysis of the models and showed that our models can effectively identify users’ needs based on their social media data. Our results also confirm that some inferred needs correlate well with the actual product purchases and suggest a great potential for our models to significantly increase effectiveness of product recommendations. Author
[Assessing autonomic function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

OBJECTIVE Assess the autonomic function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) through heart rate variability (HRV) and to correlate it to echocardiographic data. METHODS Two groups were studied, and compared for gender, age and HR: A) Ten (10) patients reporting septal HCM (70% non-obstructive); B) Ten (10) healthy volunteers. HRV was analyzed along four successive stages: at rest, under controlled breathing, while bending, and controlled breathing associated to bending. Variables means were compared between groups and intra-groups in the different stages; in Group A, variables means were correlated to echocardiographic measurements (interventricular septum and left atrial diameter). RESULTS No HRV difference was reported among groups in the first 3 stages. In the fourth stage vagal activity was shown to be higher in Group A [quadratic mean log between RR intervals (RMSSD) - 1.35+/-0.14 vs 1.17+/-0.16; p=0.019; high frequency component logarithm (LogHF)- 4.89+/-0.22 vs 4.62+/-0.26; p=0.032]. Along the stages, vagal measurements [rate of pairs of consecutive RR intervals whose difference is > or =50 ms (pNN50) and LogHF] also showed lower reduction in the third stage in Group A, while LogHF showed some increase in last stage (p=0.027), thus indicating marked parasympathetic activity in that group. Group A HRV analysis showed no difference among patients reporting larger hypertrophy or atrial diameter. CONCLUSION 1) Parasympathetic prevalence was shown during autonomic stimulation in HCM patients; 2) No correlation was found between HRV and echocardiographic measurements under analysis.
Postmenopausal Hypertension: Role of the Renin-Angiotensin System

After menopause, blood pressure increases in women. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for postmenopausal hypertension are not completely understood. This study was conducted to determine the role that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays in post-menopausal hypertension. Post-estrous cycling (postmenopausal) spontaneously hypertensive rats or young female controls were treated with losartan, an angiotensin (Ang) II type 1 receptor blocker, for 25 days. Mean arterial pressure was recorded continuously by radiotelemetry. Losartan significantly decreased blood pressure in postmenopausal rats and young female controls but failed to normalize blood pressure in postmenopausal rats to levels found in young controls. Plasma renin activity and plasma angiotensinogen were significantly elevated, and intrarenal Ang II type 1 receptor and renin mRNA expression were significantly downregulated in postmenopausal rats. Therefore, RAS only partially contributes to hypertension in postcycling spontaneously hypertensive rats, whereas hypertension in young females is mediated mainly by the RAS. The data suggest that other mechanisms besides activation of the RAS are likely involved in postmenopausal hypertension.
A Miniaturized Microstrip-to-Coplanar-Strip Transition Loaded with Artificial Transmission Lines and 2.4-GHz Antenna Application

A miniaturized microstrip-to-coplanar strip transition and its antenna application are presented in this letter. A composite right/left-handed transmission line and planar artificial transmission lines are used to design the transition in the 2.4-GHz band and to balance the output of the transition over a wider frequency range. In addition, the occupied area of the transition is only 0. 087λg2. The 3-dB back-to-back insertion loss bandwidth is around 84%. Based on the proposed transition, a quasi-Yagi antenna is demonstrated. The impedance bandwidth is 30.3%. The antenna offers excellent endfire radiation performance. The maximum gain and front-to-back ratio are 5.1 dBi and 21 dB, respectively, at the endfire direction in the operating band. The design process and the measured results of the proposed design are presented in detail.
Towards Learning Object Recommendations Based on Teachers' ICT Competence Profiles

Recommender Systems (RS) have been investigated in the Technology enhanced Learning (TeL) field for facilitating, among others, Learning Objects (LOs) selection and retrieval. However, most of the existing approaches focus on the learners' perspective and do not take into consideration teachers' profile. Moreover, the systems that do target teachers, do not explicitly exploit their ICT competence profiles. This can lead to recommending LOs that are beyond the teachers' current ability to use in their teaching practice. In this paper, we aim to tackle this problem and propose, as a first step, a set of mapping rules for aligning teachers' ICT competences and LO metadata elements. Moreover, a preliminary simulated evaluation is described, the results of which indicate that the mapping schema can provide robust identification of appropriate LOs based on both the users' ICT competences and the overall ratings of the educational resources.
Absolute and relative fatigue life prediction methodology for virtual qualification and design enhancement of lead-free BGA

The semiconductor industry is driving toward lead-free solder due to environmental concern and legislation requirement. The industry has also concluded that SnAgCu solder alloy so far is the best lead-free alternative to SnPb solder. Therefore, most existing and new packages have to be tested and qualified using lead-free solder. One of the critical concerns is board level solder joint reliability during thermal cycling test. In this paper, the methodology for an absolute life prediction is described for virtual qualification of packages. A good absolute fatigue life prediction requires an appropriate solder creep model and actual test data on packages. Two new sets of lead-free Anand's constants for SnAgCu solder are introduced for creep models. These Anand's creep models are compared with other lead-free and eutectic solder model and the relative design trend is similar. A fatigue corrective factor is introduced to integrate the different solder models together for convenient relative design enhancement with acceptable range of absolute life prediction. These fatigue corrective factors can also be used to compare different finite element modeling assumptions such as element size and solution time step. Subsequently, design analysis is performed to study the effects of 11 key package dimensions and material properties. It is found that the relative design trend for packages with lead-free and eutectic solder is similar. Therefore, the design guidelines established for the previous eutectic solder is still valid for lead-free solder.
Love and sexuality in aging

P. Marandola, S. Musitelli*, R. Noseda*, S. Stancati*, D. Vitetta*, H. Jallous, D. Porru, H. Zmerly*, M. Mensi, P. Colombo, G. Orlando, T. Cebrelli, M. Gerardini*, G. Giliberto*, L. Pasini, B. Lillaz*, F. Pietropaolo*, C. Sali and B. Rovereto Institute of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Pavia, Department of Urology, Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia; *School of Urology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Accelerated growth of intestinal tumours after radiation exposure in Mlh1‐knockout mice: evaluation of the late effect of radiation on a mouse model of HNPCC

Mlh1‐knockout mice have been developed as a useful model of hereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). In this study, we analyzed the pathology of gastrointestinal tumours (GIT) in these mice in detail and examined the possible effects of ionizing radiation on the induction of intestinal tumours to evaluate the late response to radiotherapy in HNPCC. Mlh1–/– mice spontaneously developed GIT and thymic lymphomas by 48 weeks. GIT included not only well differentiated adenocarcinomas but also poorly differentiated and mucinous adenocarcinomas, suggesting that this mouse is a good model for HNPCC. In contrast to colon cancers from HNPCC patients, however, carcinomas of Mlh1–/– mice expressed p53 and showed a lack of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐βRII mutation, which resulted in the expression of TGF‐βRII protein. Irradiation of 10‐week‐old Mlh1–/– mice accelerated GIT development but had little effect at 2 weeks. Mlh1+/– and Mlh1+/+ mice were not susceptible to spontaneous or radiation‐induced thymic lymphomas and GIT until 72 weeks after birth. The development and pathology of GIT in Mlh1–/– mice suggest that this mouse is a good model for HNPCC, although tumour‐related responsible genes might be different from HNPCC. As X‐ray exposure promoted carcinogenesis of GIT in adult Mlh1–/– mice, an increased risk of secondary cancers after radiotherapy for HNPCC patients should be taken into consideration.
Digital anthropomorphic phantoms of non-rigid human respiratory and voluntary body motion for investigating motion correction in emission imaging

The development of methods for correcting patient motion in emission tomography has been receiving increased attention. Often the performance of these methods is evaluated through simulations using digital anthropomorphic phantoms, such as the commonly used extended cardiac torso (XCAT) phantom, which models both respiratory and cardiac motion based on human studies. However, non-rigid body motion, which is frequently seen in clinical studies, is not present in the standard XCAT phantom. In addition, respiratory motion in the standard phantom is limited to a single generic trend. In this work, to obtain a more realistic representation of motion, we developed a series of individual-specific XCAT phantoms, modeling non-rigid respiratory and non-rigid body motions derived from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisitions of volunteers. Acquisitions were performed in the sagittal orientation using the Navigator methodology. Baseline (no motion) acquisitions at end-expiration were obtained at the beginning of each imaging session for each volunteer. For the body motion studies, MRI was again acquired only at end-expiration for five body motion poses (shoulder stretch, shoulder twist, lateral bend, side roll, and axial slide). For the respiratory motion studies, an MRI was acquired during free/regular breathing. The magnetic resonance slices were then retrospectively sorted into 14 amplitude-binned respiratory states, end-expiration, end-inspiration, six intermediary states during inspiration, and six during expiration using the recorded Navigator signal. XCAT phantoms were then generated based on these MRI data by interactive alignment of the organ contours of the XCAT with the MRI slices using a graphical user interface. Thus far we have created five body motion and five respiratory motion XCAT phantoms from the MRI acquisitions of six healthy volunteers (three males and three females). Non-rigid motion exhibited by the volunteers was reflected in both respiratory and body motion phantoms with a varying extent and character for each individual. In addition to these phantoms, we recorded the position of markers placed on the chest of the volunteers for the body motion studies, which could be used as external motion measurement. Using these phantoms and external motion data, investigators will be able to test their motion correction approaches for realistic motion obtained from different individuals. The non-uniform rational B-spline data and the parameter files for these phantoms are freely available for downloading and can be used with the XCAT license.
[Processing speed in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: the role played by the depressive symptoms].

INTRODUCTION Reduced speed of information processing seems to characterize neuropsychological performance in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the impact in speed of information processing of depressive symptoms, that are highly prevalent in this population, has not been precisely defined yet due to the presence of some methodological limitations in most preceding studies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 42 MS remittent recurrent patients, 20 with depressive symptoms (BDI > 13), and 22 without, were compared to 24 healthy controls in neuropsychological tasks of speed of processing (SDMT, Stroop, TMT y PASAT-BNB). RESULTS MS patients without depressive symptoms performed significantly worse than healthy controls the Stroop (W, C and WC), and the PASAT-BNB (execution time) tests. MS patients with depressive symptoms performed significantly worse than healthy controls the Stroop (W, C and WC), SDMT, TMT (A, B and B-A), and the PASAT-BNB (execution time and errors) tests. MS patients with depressive symptoms performed significantly worse than MS patients without depressive symptoms the SDMT, TMT (A, B and B-A), and the PASAT-BNB (execution time) tests. CONCLUSIONS MS impact was not generalized in neuropsychological performance of patients. Depressive symptoms seem to play and important role determining the speed deficit. While MS reduced speed of information processing, depressive symptoms were associated to specific cognitive deficit different from speed ones.
Biological variation and reference intervals for circulating osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, total soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein

Objective. Monitoring inflammatory diseases and osteoclastogenesis with osteopontin (OPN), osteoprotegerin (OPG), total soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (total sRANKL) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) has recently attracted increased interest. The purpose of our study was to determine reference intervals, variability caused by sampling time, biological variation and stability after repeated freeze–thaw cycles of circulating levels of OPN, OPG, total sRANKL and hsCRP. Material and methods. Plasma OPN and plasma OPG concentrations were determined with sandwich ELISA; serum total sRANKL concentration was determined using a two‐site sandwich ELISA; and hsCRP was analysed by turbidimetry in 300 Danish blood donors (183 M and 117 F) with a median age of 43 years (range 18–64 years). Variability due to biological variation and sampling time was studied in serial samples from 38 healthy subjects. Results. The 95th percentiles in the donors were 76 µg/L for OPN, 4.2 pmol/L for OPG, 40.2 nmol/L for total sRANKL and 12 mg/L for hsCRP. The overall medians for both genders were 51 µg/L, 2.2 pmol/L, 0.66 nmol/L and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. We found a significant correlation between hsCRP and OPN (rho = 0.173; p<0.003). The biological within‐subject variations were calculated to be 8.2 % for OPN, 8.8 % for total sRANKL and 50 % for hsCRP. Conclusions. Reference intervals have been established with a high analytic performance for OPN and an acceptable analytic performance for OPG and total sRANKL. The study revealed low biological variation for OPN and total sRANKL and high biological variation for hsCRP.
Totally Changed, Yet Still the Same

Bariatric surgery provides sustainable weight loss and increased quality of life for most, but not all patients. To increase the knowledge of this complex patient group and their needs during follow-up, we aimed to describe the essential meaning of bariatric surgery patients’ long-term experiences by using a phenomenological lifeworld approach. Eight patients were interviewed between 5 and 7 years after bariatric surgery. Life after bariatric surgery was described as living with tension, ambivalence, and reinforced attention toward one’s own body. The tension was related to embodied change and altered relations to the social world. The patients express an ongoing demand for control of health-related habits and practices, and to not lose control over the body again. Surgical weight loss and improved physical function do not necessarily mean changed health-related habits and practices in the long term. Experiencing weight regain is connected with emotional stress, shame, and self-contempt.
TRICHOBEZOAR WITH LARGE BOWEL OBSTRUCTION IN CHILDREN - CASE REPORT

A trichobezoar is a mass of cumulated hair within the gastrointestinal tract. Stomach is the common site of occurrence. Intestinal obstruction due to trichobezoar is extremely rare. In this report, we describe one case of an atypical localization of a trichobezoar in an 11year-old girl, who presented with large bowel obstruction. We performed an exploratory laparotomy and we diagnosed a movable intraluminal tumor of the left angle of transverse colon. Treatment consists of milking the contents to the rectum.
Treewidth of Chordal Bipartite Graphs

Chordal bipartite graphs are exactly those bipartite graphs in which every cycle of length at least six has a chord. The treewidth of a graph G is the smallest maximum cliquesize among all chordal supergraphs of G decreased by one. We present a polynomial time algorithm for the exact computation of the treewidth of all chordal bipartite graphs.
Biased Evaluations of In-Group and Out-Group Spectator Behavior at Sporting Events: The Importance of Team Identification and Threats to Social Identity

Previous researchers have demonstrated that sport fans often exhibit in-group bias by reporting more positive evaluations of fellow in-group fans than of rival out-group fans. The authors designed the present investigation to extend previous research by replicating past efforts in a field setting and to advance our understanding of the impact of social identity threat. The present authors hypothesized that, in addition to the base-level in-group bias effect, the bias effect would be most pronounced in situations involving a threat to one's social identity. The authors believed that fans of a losing team and fans of a home team would experience threats to their identity and, consequently, exhibit particularly high levels of in-group favoritism. Further, because past researchers had shown that one's level of group identification plays a vital role in social perception, the present authors predicted an interaction in which the greatest amount of bias would be exhibited by highly identified fans rooting for a home team that had lost. Data gathered from spectators (N = 148) at 2 North American college basketball games confirmed the authors' expectations, with the exception that the supporters of the winning team reported higher levels of bias. The authors discussed the factors underlying the unexpected game outcome effect and the use of in-group bias as a coping strategy.
Nonlinear model predictive control of an intensified continuous reactor using neural networks

In this work a neural network based nonlinear model predictive control algorithm is developed and applied for an intensified continuous reactor. At first, a neural network model of the process is trained and tested using available data sets generated from the first-principal model. Next, a local linearization of neural network model at every sample time is developed to guarantee an efficient online optimization. Simulations are implemented for set point tracking and model mismatch scenarios.
ATP-dependent Regulation of Sodium-Calcium Exchange in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Transfected with the Bovine Cardiac Sodium-Calcium Exchanger (*)

Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the bovine cardiac Na/Ca exchanger were treated with ouabain to increase [Na]and stimulate Cainflux by Na/Ca exchange. Depletion of cellular ATP inhibited Ca uptake by 40% or more and reduced the half-maximal Naconcentration for inhibition of Ca uptake from 90 to 55 m M. ATP depletion also reduced the rate of rise in [Ca]when [Na]was reduced and inhibited the decline in [Ca]when high [Na]was restored. The effects of ATP depletion were either absent or reduced in cells expressing a mutant exchanger missing most of the cytosolic hydrophilic domain. We were unable to detect a phosphorylated form of the exchanger in immunoprecipitates from P-labeled cells. ATP depletion caused a breakdown in the actin cytoskeleton of the cells. Treatment of the cells with cytochalasin D mimicked the effects of ATP depletion on the [Na] inhibition profile for Ca uptake. Thus, ATP depletion inhibits both the Cainflux and Caefflux modes of Na/Ca exchange, and may alter the competitive interactions of extracellular Naand Cawith the transporter. The latter effect appears to be related to changes in the actin cytoskeleton.