Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy and precision of CT angiography in a model of carotid artery bifurcation stenosis.

PURPOSE To determine optimal acquisition parameters and measurement techniques for CT angiography of the carotid bifurcation. METHODS Anatomic phantoms were created in which the diameter of the carotid artery stenoses ranged from 15% to 95%. Initially, we compared the accuracy of stenosis determination obtained by using various values of section collimation and table pitch. Subsequently, applying the combination of collimation and pitch that yielded the greatest longitudinal coverage without degradation in accuracy, we compared the accuracy of measurements performed with various display algorithms, including axial, magnified axial, maximum intensity projection (MIP), and shaded surface display (SSD) images. Last, we determined the effect on accuracy of varying both window and level settings. The standard of reference for all measurements was considered to be caliper measurements made of the models at the time of their construction. RESULTS CT angiography was highly accurate for determining the percentage of stenosis; the average difference between CT angiographic measurements and the standard of reference was less than 1% for all parameter combinations and measurement techniques. Precision varied among the measurement techniques. Magnified axial images provided more precise measurements than either the MIP or SSD images. Although there was a trend toward improved precision with the use of magnified versus unmagnified axial images and MIP versus SSD images, neither of these comparisons reached statistical significance. Systematic error was produced by changing the level setting from that halfway between the luminal density and vessel wall density. Random error was introduced by using window settings greater than zero. CONCLUSION CT angiography was highly accurate and precise for determining percentage of stenosis. The highest precision was attained by using magnified axial images with the level halfway between luminal density and vessel wall density and with the window set to zero.
Interferon‐γ Induction in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells by OK‐432, a Killed Preparation of Streptococcus pyogenes

produced IL-2 when the cells were obtained from mice presensitized with OK-432. They also described a lymphokine, distinct from IFNs or IL-2, which was produced by OK-432-restimulated murine spleen cell cultures and displayed the ability to augment NK cell activity. We also recently observed that OK-432 induces broadreacting nonspecific killer cells (presumably so-called lymphokine-activated killer cells) in tumor-bearing mice. In a study of humans, Wakasugi et al (19) showed that OK-432 augments NK cell activity in cancer patients. The augmenting effect of OK-432 on NK cell activity in vitro was reproduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from healthy donors, and the augmentation of NK activity by OK-432 was shown to be mediated by both induced IFNs (ƒ¿and ƒÁ-type) and IL-2. In the
Adaptive robust MPPT for a perturbed PV system with experimental verification

In this paper, a sliding surface is defined based on the inductor current to construct a robust controller for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) in the photovoltaic (PV) systems. An adaptive incremental conductance algorithm has been used to obtain the set point of the controller. An improvement is achieved by this combination, especially in fast irradiance variations. The robust stability of the method is proved using the Lyapunov stability theorem. A comparative study is also made to highlight the benefits of the proposed algorithm. The features of this controller, in terms of robustness against the irradiance variations, are demonstrated by theoretical analysis, simulations and an experimental study. The results demonstrate that the proposed controller can be implemented effectively and economically with high MPPT efficiency.
ardiac Expression of Placental rowth Factor Predicts the Improvement f Chronic Phase Left Ventricular Function n Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

OBJECTIVES Our aim was to investigate cardiac expression of placental growth factor (PlGF) and its clinical significance in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND Placental growth factor is known to stimulate wound healing by activating mononuclear cells and inducing angiogenesis. The clinical significance of PlGF in AMI is not yet known. METHODS Fifty-five AMI patients and 43 control subjects participated in the study. Peripheral blood sampling was performed on days 1, 3, and 7 after AMI. Blood was also sampled from the coronary artery (CAos) and the coronary sinus (CS), before and after acute coronary recanalization. Cardiac expression of PlGF was analyzed in a mouse AMI model. RESULTS In AMI patients, peripheral plasma PlGF levels on day 3 were significantly higher than in control subjects. Plasma PlGF levels just after recanalization were significantly higher in the CS than the CAos, which indicates cardiac production and release of PlGF. Peripheral plasma levels of PlGF on day 3 were negatively correlated with the acute phase left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), positively correlated with both acute phase peak peripheral monocyte counts and chronic phase changes in LVEF. Placental growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid expression was 26.6-fold greater in a mouse AMI model than in shamoperated mice, and PlGF was expressed mainly in endothelial cells within the infarct region. CONCLUSIONS Placental growth factor is rapidly produced in infarct myocardium, especially by endothelial cells during the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Placental growth factor might be over-expressed to compensate the acute ischemic damage, and appears to then act to improve LVEF during the chronic phase. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2006;47:1559–67) © 2006 by the ublished by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jacc. 2005.11. 064
Empirical research on the relationship of export trade and carbon emissions

In this research, firstly we calculate the carbon emissions of China from 1978 to 2009 by the Guide to the calculation of carbon emissions from IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), secondly we analyze the long term and short term relationships between carbon emissions and the exports in China by the cointegration theory and the error correction model separately, and through granger causality test, we conclude that there is a unidirectional causality between carbon emission and the exports in China. These results indicate that goods exports have been an important factor accelerating China carbon emission in recent years. Besides, we also predict the carbon emissions during the 12th Five-Year Plan of China by dynamic iterative prediction method. At last we propose the measures on the reduction of Carbon emission from the perspective of international trade.
Review: Recent Development of Signal Processing Algorithms for SSVEP-based Brain Computer Interfaces

Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain computer interfaces (BCIs) have gained considerable research interest because of their higher signal-to-noise ratio and greater information transfer rate than those of other BCI techniques. The signal processing algorithm is of key importance to the performance of BCI systems, and therefore plays a significant role in practical applications. However, there is no comprehensive review of the signal processing algorithms used for SSVEP-based BCIs. This paper reviews relevant papers and analyzes recent developments in use of these algorithms. The aim is to find their limitations to provide a guideline for researchers in this field of SSVEP-based BCIs. Techniques employed for signal preprocessing, feature extraction, and feature classification are discussed. Algorithms that can be applied to nonlinear and non-stationary signal processing are increasingly employed rather than traditional Fourier-based transforms because they are more suitable for the characteristics of SSVEPs. Spatial filtering techniques for channel selection are better at eliminating nuisance signals than those that use a single channel signal for processing. In addition, other factors that affect the performance of the system are discussed.
Physiological and Pharmacological Roles of Nucleoside Transporter Proteins

Nucleoside transporter proteins, CNT and ENT, encoded by gene families SLC28 and SLC29, respectively, mediate the uptake of natural nucleosides (among them adenosine) and are major routes of entry for a variety of nucleoside analogs used in anticancer and antiviral therapies. Expression of NT proteins is apparently redundant in most cell types, and the elucidation of their particular physiological roles still remains elusive. Moreover, transporter-mediated uptake of nucleoside-derived anticancer drugs is crucial for the pharmacogenomic response triggered by these molecules in tumor cells. This review focuses on recent data demonstrating that nucleoside transporters, particularly CNTs, can play physiological roles other than salvage, whereas particular NT isoforms can significantly contribute to the transcriptomic response triggered by nucleoside analogs in cancer cells.
Reducing Preventable Hospitalizations With Two Models of Transitional Care.

PURPOSE Transitional care is an emerging model of health care designed to decrease preventable adverse events and associated utilization of health care through temporary follow-up after hospital discharge. This study describes the approaches and outcomes of two distinct transitional care programs serving different populations: one is provided by master's-prepared clinical nurse specialists (CNS) with a chronic disease self-management focus, another by physicians specializing in palliative care (PPCs). Existing research has shown that transitional care programs with intensive follow-up reduce hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and costs. Few studies, however, have included side-by-side descriptions of the efficacy of transitional care programs varying by healthcare providers or program focus. DESIGN This is a retrospective cohort study comparing the number of ED visits and hospitalizations in the 120 days before and after the intervention for patients enrolled in each transitional care program. Each program included post-hospitalization home visits, but included differences in program focus (chronic disease vs. palliative), assessment and interventions, and population (rural vs. urban). Data from participants in the CNS program (September 2014 to December 2014) were analyzed (n = 98). The average age of participants was 69 years and 65% were female. Data were collected from patients from the PPC program from September 2014 to April 2015 (n = 71). Thirty participants died within 120 days after the intervention and were excluded; the remaining 41 were included in the analysis. Participants had an average age of 81 years and 63% were female. METHODS For the CNS program, a secondary analysis of existing data was performed. For the PPC program, a review of patient charts was done to collect data on encounters. A Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was performed to test for significance. FINDINGS Patients in the CNS intervention had significantly fewer ED visits (p < .005) and hospitalizations (p < .005) in the 4 months after the intervention than in the 4 months before the intervention. Patients in the PPC program had a nonsignificant reduction in ED visits (p = .327) and a significant reduction in hospitalizations postintervention (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS Both transitional programs have value in decreasing rehospitalizations. The CNS intervention also significantly reduced ED visits for their target population. Further study with randomized controlled trials is needed to allow for a better understanding of the healthcare workforce best fitted to enhance transitional care outcomes. Future study to examine the cost savings of each of the interventions is also needed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Transitional care programs have the potential to prevent unnecessary utilization of health care at the critical periods of transition that leave patients vulnerable to adverse events and poor outcomes.
Monoamine oxidase A gene polymorphism predicts adolescent outcome of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

ADHD is generally deemed to be a highly heritable disorder with mean heritability of 0.75. The enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO), which has both A and B types, has long been considered a candidate pathological substrate for ADHD, and more recently, the genes for both MAO enzymes have been examined as mediators of the illness. Previous studies indicated that 30–50% of children with ADHD will experience symptoms that persist into adolescence and will have more significant impairment in social and neuropsychological functioning compared to those whose symptoms have remitted. Genes may also influence these characteristics of the disorder, and in this context MAO genes may also be candidates for moderating the presentation of ADHD. The current study examined the association between adolescent outcome of ADHD and MAO gene polymorphisms, including the 941T > G polymorphism in exon 8 (rs1799835) and 1460C > T polymorphism in exon 14 (rs1137070) of the MAOA gene, and the A > G polymorphism in intron13 (rs1799836), C > T polymorphism in the 3'UTR (rs1040399), and 2327T > C polymorphism in exon15 of the MAOB gene. Significant associations were observed between the MAOA gene polymorphisms and ADHD remission. Due to the small sample size and the possibility of phenotypic and etiologic heterogeneity of ADHD outcomes across ethnic or geographic groups, these results must be replicated before they can be generalized to other populations. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Respiratory distress syndrome and the induction of fetal lung maturity by the use of glucocorticoids.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the major cause of death in the pediatric age group. The introduction of neonatal intensive care units has improved the chance for survival for those infants who develop RDS, while amniocentesis to determine lung maturity prior to birth can help the health care team reduce the likelihood of RDS in some circumstances. Trials are now being conducted to see if antepartum administration of steroids to women delivering prematurely can further reduce the number of infants afflicted with RDS.
Dynamics of immune effector mechanisms during infection with Mycobacterium avium in C57BL/6 mice

Opportunistic infections with non‐tuberculous mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium avium are receiving renewed attention because of increased incidence and difficulties in treatment. As for other mycobacterial infections, a still poorly understood collaboration of different immune effector mechanisms is required to confer protective immunity. Here we have characterized the interplay of innate and adaptive immune effector mechanisms contributing to containment in a mouse infection model using virulent M. avium strain 104 in C57BL/6 mice. M. avium caused chronic infection in mice, as shown by sustained organ bacterial load. In the liver, bacteria were contained in granuloma‐like structures that could be defined morphologically by expression of the antibacterial innate effector protein Lipocalin 2 in the adjoining hepatocytes and infiltrating neutrophils, possibly contributing to containment. Circulatory anti‐mycobacterial antibodies steadily increased throughout infection and were primarily of the IgM isotype. Highest levels of interferon‐γ were found in infected liver, spleen and serum of mice approximately 2 weeks post infection and coincided with a halt in organ bacterial growth. In contrast, expression of tumour necrosis factor was surprisingly low in spleen compared with liver. We did not detect interleukin‐17 in infected organs or M. avium‐specific T helper 17 cells, suggesting a minor role for T helper 17 cells in this model. A transient and relative decrease in regulatory T cell numbers was seen in spleens. This detailed characterization of M. avium infection in C57BL/6 mice may provide a basis for future studies aimed at gaining better insight into mechanisms leading to containment of infections with non‐tuberculous mycobacteria.
Dilatonic interpretation of quintessence

We discuss the possibility that 'quintessential effects,' recently displayed by large scale observations, may be consistently described in the context of low-energy string effective action, and we suggest a possible approach to the problem of the cosmic coincidence based on the link between the strength of the dilaton couplings and the cosmological state of our Universe.
Wind turbine fault diagnosis method based on α stable distribution and wiegthed support vector machines

Renewable energy sources akin to wind energy are profusely available without any limitation. Reliability of wind turbine is critical to extract maximum amount of energy from the wind. The vibration signals in wind turbines rotation parts are of universal non-Gasussian and nonstationarity and the fault samples are usually very limited. Aiming at these problems, this paper proposed a wind turbine fault diagnosis method based on method based on α stable distribution and Weighted Support Vector Machines (WSVM). Firstly, the α staple from vibration rotating machine as the input feature vector. Secondly, the weighted support vector machine (SVM) was applied to automate the fault diagnosis procedure. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed method is a very powerful algorithm for bearing fault diagnosis and has much better performance, also we have noted that we can obtain excellent results despite of less training samples.
Self-Perceived Burden to Others: Patient and Family Caregiver Correlates

Aims To provide further evidence about the prevalence and correlates of the sense of “self-perceived burden” (SPB) to others, and to examine its association with caregiver reports of burden. Methods The participants were 65 patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Patients completed measures of SPB and family members completed a caregiver burden scale. Results SPB was experienced at minimal to mild levels by 35% of patients, and at moderate to extreme levels by another 28%. It was correlated with some physical symptoms, but more frequently with psychological symptoms. The family members of patients who reported that SPB was a significant problem had higher scores on the caregiver burden scale than family members of other patients (p=0.048), although the overall correlation was modest. Conclusions SPB is a common and distressing concern for many patients receiving palliative care and is associated with a number of other distressing concerns.
Ethical Challenges of Research on and Care for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

The purpose of this article is to discuss the ethical challenges faced by researchers who study and practitioners who assess and intervene in cases of intimate partner violence (IPV) — in higher income countries such as the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and also in low and middle income settings — as well as to provide recommendations for research and practice. After a brief overview of the global impact of IPV, the article describes ethical guidelines relevant to research on IPV and the provision of healthcare services, and then discusses ethical challenges related to both research on IPV and the provision of healthcare services. The article concludes with a discussion of recommendations for improving IPV-related research and practice. IPV, one of the most common forms of violence against women (VAW), is now recognized as a significant, global violation of human rights and a serious public health problem.1 IPV is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “actual or threatened physical, sexual, psychological, or stalking violence by current or former intimate partners (whether of the same or opposite sex.)”2 The overwhelming burden of abuse by a partner is endured by women at the hands of men, and, for the purposes of this article, we will focus on aspects of IPV in which a male harms a female. The precise magnitude of IPV is unknown, although there is increasing evidence on prevalence from many different countries. Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS) suggest that in the U.S. 22.1 percent of women have experienced IPV.3 From an international perspective, the World Health Organization (WHO) Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women Ethical Challenges of Research on and Care for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence
Score Following in Practice

Score following was first presented at the 1984 ICMC, independently, by Barry Vercoe and Roger Dannenburg. By 1987, IRCAM was incorporating score following in concert productions. To date, ten IRCAM pieces have relied on score following to synchronize live electronics with flute, clarinet, percussion, and piano. We noticed quickly that algorithms which work well in theory, or even in the laboratory, often cease working when confronted with real examples of instrumental writing. In the case of the clarinet and the flute it has been necessary to use acoustic-only pitch detection, which has further complicated the score following problem. The solutions we have found to date seem far from definitive, but it now seems a good moment to describe carefully and in detail what we are doing, before launching another foray into the unknown. This paper describes, in detail, the algorithm we now use, as well as the compromises that composers are still having to make in order to avoid certain of the algorithm's pitfalls. The work reported here is part of a long-term research program at IRCAM that aims to extend the possibilities of live electronic music performance. As part of this program, several generations of digital synthesis hardware have been developed. The machine in current use for music production is the IRCAM Signal Processing Workstation (ISPW) (Lindemann 1991), which recently replaced the 4X machine as the predominant real-time signal processor at IRCAM.
A biomechanical study of rabbit patellar tendon: Effects of steroid injection

T rules of organized sports have been established to decrease the incidence and severity of injuries while maintaining the spirit of play and competition. Equipment manufacturers have developed helmets, braces, pads, bindings, etc. to minimize injury. Sports physicians, aware of the long term prognosis, have been called upon to determine the optimal time for further sports participation by an injured player. Our goals are to further minimize the incidence and severity of such injuries, and to develop satisfactory treatment techniques for maximum rehabilitation.