Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cloud Model-Based Dynamic Texture Synthesis for Video Coding

This paper presents a novel cloud model which is designed for the inter prediction coding using virtual frame technique. The virtual frame obtained by typical dynamic texture synthesis methods can have a better prediction result in some regions of the encoding frame than the common reference frames, because the non-linear motion and global illumination change between frames is taken into account. However, there are still many limiting factors for current dynamic texture models, which make the video scenes in virtual frames can't better reflect the motion and changing trend of the real scenes. The prediction performance of virtual frame is to some degree reduced or covered up. The proposed method firstly combined the powerful computing capabilities of cloud platform and the extrapolation process of dynamic texture synthesis for video codec. Results show that this method can be used as a significant complement to the current virtual frame technique.
Tympanic Membrane Healing Process and Biocompatibility of an Innovative Absorbable Ventilation Tube

Objective: To investigate tympanic membrane healing process and biocompatibility of pressure-equalizing (PE) tubes, made of a novel biodegradable, absorbable material, in an animal model. Background: Myringotomy and pressure-equalizing tube insertion is a frequent otologic procedure in children. However, results may vary because of the unpredictable extrusion rate of tubes. Furthermore, tubes that are no longer required need a surgical procedure to be removed. The ideal pressure-equalizing tube should remain in place for the time selected by the otologist, with no need for subsequent removal. This objective could be met with pressure-equalizing tubes made from a self-disintegrating material. Methods: Pressure-equalizing tubes, made of poly-bis(ethylalanate)phosphazene, were inserted in 55 ears of 28 Hartley guinea pigs, with survival times of 10, 30, and 60 days after tube insertion. In vivo reactions between the poly-bis(ethylalanate)phosphazene pressure-equalizing tubes and the tympanic membrane were studied. Tympanic membranes, middle ears, and tubes were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results: There was neither infection nor inflammatory reaction to the tube in any animal. The healing process of tympanic membranes revealed neither residual perforation nor inward spread of skin epithelium into the middle ear cavity. At 30 days, 53% of the tubes had disintegrated. At 60 days, tubes were functioning in 25% of ears. Conclusion: These new poly-bis(ethylalanate)phosphazene pressure-equalizing tubes are promising. The healing process of tympanic membranes is excellent, with no complications. The tube disintegration rate can be controlled by varying the formulation of the polymer, obtaining tubes with predictable resorption rates, to adapt treatment to the needs of each single patient.
[Undertreatment in secondary prevention of patients with coronary heart disease after revascularization].

Coronary artery disease is still the no. 1 killer in the developed countries and must thus be detected and treated at an earlier stage. If coronary artery disease is advanced, patients have to be examined regarding the need for revascularization. For secondary prevention, of course, an optimal change of life style and optimal medical treatment of risk factors is mandatory. Independent of the optimal risk factor modification, all of these patients (according to the rules of evidence-based medicine) should take ASA, statins, beta blockers and ACE-inhibitors, if no contraindications or intolerance are present. Therefore, the problem in secondary prevention is not how to identify these patients, but rather how to fulfill their needs. In our own survey in patients with known coronary artery disease referred for PTCA (including patients with post myocardial infarction previous PTCA or bypass surgery), only 89% were on ASA (or clopidogrel), 51% on lipid lowering drugs (46% on statins), 65% on beta blockers, and only 43% had an ACE-inhibitor (MUNICH data in Figures 1 to 4). The analysis of published literature is also depicted in Figures 1 to 4. Until 1996, patients with known coronary artery disease took ASA in only 26% of the cases but later on it was 77 to 100% (Figure 1). Lipid lowering drugs (especially statins) are prescribed in only 13 to 77% (Figure 2), beta blockers in only 30 to 80% (Figure 3) and ACE-inhibitors in only 10 to 72% (Figure 4). In 2 major studies, a decrease in the rate of intake of these drugs during the follow-up years has been documented. The "ideal tablet" for secondary prevention contains ASA (100 mg), a statin (e.g. for most statins 40 to 80 mg), a beta blocker (e.g. metoprolol 100 mg or bisoprolol 10 mg) and an ACE-inhibitor (e.g. ramipril 10 mg). So this ideal "SPM" ("secondary prevention mix") tablet contains 160 to 300 mg of drugs. In conclusion, the analysis of published data for Europe and the USA shows that--in contrast to the statements of politicians and health care insurance companies--we are not overtreating but rather undertreating our patients regarding medications for secondary prevention.
Determination of the Si-SiO/sub 2/ barrier height from the Fowler-Nordheim plot

It is shown that, even considering a field-dependent Si-SiO/sub 2/ barrier height for electron tunneling as predicted by the quantum-mechanical (QM) modeling of Si-SiO/sub 2/ interfaces, the Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) plot is linear. It is proved that the equivalent barrier height extracted from the graph slope is not representative of the actual field-dependent barrier. The problem of correctly estimating the oxide field to be used in F-N plots is also addressed. <<ETX>>
Impacto de percepción de riesgo, severidad, beneficios, barreras, autoeficacia y normatividad subjetiva en etapas de disposición al cambio para uso de mastografía.

Titulo del Estudio: IMPACTO DE PERCEPCION DE RIESGO, SEVERIDAD, BENEFICIOS, BARRERAS, AUTOEFICACIA Y NORMATIVIDAD SUBJETIVA EN ETAPAS DE DISPOSICION AL CAMBIO PARA USO DE MASTOGRAFIA Proposito y Metodo del Estudio: Determinar el impacto de componentes cognitivos (percepcion de riesgo, severidad, beneficios, barreras, autoeficacia y normatividad subjetiva), en etapas de disposicion al cambio para uso de mastografia. Se realizo un estudio transversal comparativo: etapa de precontemplacion (n=240), etapa de contemplacion (n=243), etapa de accion (n=516) y etapa de recaida (n=348). La poblacion de estudio consistio de mujeres entre 40 y 70 anos de edad, sin diagnostico actual o previo de cancer de mama, ovario o utero; localizadas en unidades de salud de la zona metropolitana de Monterrey (IMSS, ISSSTE, HU, Centros Universitarios y Centros de Salud) (n=1,375). Se analizo el impacto de percepcion de riesgo y severidad en etapa de cambio con base en chi cuadrada; y del indice de beneficios, barreras y autoeficacia, con base en analisis de varianza y pruebas post hoc. Asimismo, se realizo analisis multivariado de regresion logistica multinomial para comparar la intensidad de la asociacion de beneficios, barreras, autoeficacia y normatividad subjetiva, segun etapas de disposicion al cambio propias del MTT -variable dependiente-, utilizando como referencia la etapa de accion. Contribuciones y Conclusiones: Se identifico que 6 de cada 10 mujeres se percibian con riesgo medio o muy alto de desarrollar cancer de mama y 9 de cada 10, reconocieron que la enfermedad era muy grave. Sin embargo, ni la percepcion de riesgo o de severidad, distinguieron etapas de disposicion al cambio. La percepcion baja de beneficios distinguio claramente la etapa de precontemplacion, pero su efecto no fue progresivo como la percepcion de obstaculos, la cual si fue disminuyendo a traves de las etapas; el valor mas bajo se observo en accion. En lo que respecta a la percepcion de autoeficacia, el resultado fue progresivamente ascendente, a medida que fue mejorando, se fue avanzando de precontemplacion a contemplacion y recaida; y el registro mas alto fue de nuevo en accion. Asi, la percepcion de riesgo o de severidad, no aportarian mayor efectividad a esfuerzos de promocion a la salud dirigidos a incrementar la utilizacion de la mastografia. En cambio si, la percepcion de autoeficacia, beneficios y barreras. Se considera que aun existe un amplio margen para nuevas investigaciones en mujeres de zonas no urbanas y de otras regiones del pais.
Analysis of the tissue factor pathway inhibitor gene and antigen levels in relation to venous thrombosis

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) inhibits tissue factor‐induced coagulation. The major part of TFPI is releasable by heparin. We recently found eight patients with thrombosis and low levels of heparin‐releasable TFPI in whom we investigated the TFPI gene for mutations. A transition of G to A coding for Valine264Methionine in the heparin‐binding domain was found. The Val264Met polymorphism had an allele frequency of 3% in 96 healthy individuals. A silent polymorphism was identified in TFPI exon IV (T→C), which does not alter Tyrosine 56. Apart from Val264Met, which was detected in one out of the eight patients, no other mutations in the TFPI gene were found in patients with low heparin‐releasable TFPI. Analysis of Val264Met in 317 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 292 controls showed no association between Val264Met and DVT. However, a study of total TFPI antigen levels in 122 DVT patients and 126 controls demonstrated an association between TFPI levels and venous thrombosis (P = 0·0001). These results provide evidence for a relationship between venous thrombosis and total TFPI level as a possible risk factor, whereas they do not support a link between DVT and mutations in the nine exons of the TFPI gene.
Mining scientific databases for territorial intelligence

Today, economic growth depends more and more on innovation and network alliance. In the context of innovation clusters (poles of competency), decision makers need information about the innovation capacity of their territory and the organisation of research activities for a local geographical area (region, department, etc.). The paper presents a local technology intelligence system for measuring the level of knowledge creation and analysing scientific cooperations. This decision support system is based on knowledge discovery in bibliographic databases providing geographical locations. Through the use of data mining algorithms, it helps in analysing the complexity of territorial networks. We illustrate this approach through a case study of an urban area (Sud Loire, City of Saint-Etienne, France).
Symbiotic implications of type III protein secretion machinery in Rhizobium

The symbiotic plasmid of Rhizobium sp. NGR234 carries a cluster of genes that encodes components of a bacterial type III secretion system (TTSS). In both animal and plant pathogens, the TTSS is an essential component of pathogenicity. Here, we show that secretion of at least two proteins (y4xL and NolX) is controlled by the TTSS of NGR234 and occurs after the induction with flavonoids. Polar mutations in two TTSS genes, rhcN and the nod‐box controlled regulator of transcription y4xI, block the secretion of both proteins and strongly affect the ability of NGR234 to nodulate a variety of tropical legumes including Pachyrhizus tuberosus and Tephrosia vogelii.
HCN channels are expressed differentially in retinal bipolar cells and concentrated at synaptic terminals

Hyperpolarization‐activated and cyclic nucleotide‐gated (HCN) channels codetermine the integrative behaviour of neurons and shape their response to synaptic stimulation. We used immunohistochemistry and patch‐clamp recording to study the composition and distribution of HCN channels in the rat retina. All four HCN channel isoforms (HCN1–4) are expressed differentially in the retina. In particular, different classes of bipolar cells have a different inventory of HCN channels. We found no evidence for the formation of heterooligomeric HCN channels. HCN channels are densely clustered at synaptic terminals of bipolar cells and photoreceptors. This suggests that HCN channels are involved in the control of transmitter release.
Evaluation of coupled inductor Voltage Regulators

Usually for a CPU voltage regulator (VR), there are several different coupled inductor VR setups to improve the CPU VR performance. For example, there are three different coupled inductor VR setups for a 6 phase CPU VR: 3*2 phase coupled inductor VR, 2*3 phase coupled inductor VR and 1*6 phase coupled inductor VR. Based on one industrial CPU VR demo board, the different coupled inductor VR setups are evaluated by means of the analysis and the experiments. Advantages and drawbacks of all the setups are shown. The suggested coupled inductor VR setup is given finally.
The ACE2/Angiotensin-(1–7)/MAS Axis of the Renin-Angiotensin System: Focus on Angiotensin-(1–7)

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a key player in the control of the cardiovascular system and hydroelectrolyte balance, with an influence on organs and functions throughout the body. The classical view of this system saw it as a sequence of many enzymatic steps that culminate in the production of a single biologically active metabolite, the octapeptide angiotensin (ANG) II, by the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). The past two decades have revealed new functions for some of the intermediate products, beyond their roles as substrates along the classical route. They may be processed in alternative ways by enzymes such as the ACE homolog ACE2. One effect is to establish a second axis through ACE2/ANG-(1–7)/MAS, whose end point is the metabolite ANG-(1–7). ACE2 and other enzymes can form ANG-(1–7) directly or indirectly from either the decapeptide ANG I or from ANG II. In many cases, this second axis appears to counteract or modulate the effects of the classical axis. ANG-(1–7) itself acts on the receptor MAS to influence a range of mechanisms in the heart, kidney, brain, and other tissues. This review highlights the current knowledge about the roles of ANG-(1–7) in physiology and disease, with particular emphasis on the brain.
Warning signs in subarachnoid hemorrhage: a cooperative study

ABSTRACT The present study is part of a survey of subarachnoid hemorrhage cases observed in 16 neurosurgical and 8 neurological departments in Italy between June 1985 and June 1986. Warning signs preceding major hemorrhage were analyzed in 364 patients with intracranial aneurysms confirmed by angiography and reliable clinical history. Seventy‐four (20.3%) had warning signs. Clinical features of premonitory warning signs were compared with symptoms of 78 patients without a history of minor leak and clinical grade I (according to the criteria of Hunt & Hess) at admission. Symptoms of warning signs are generally clear enough to be considered a misdiagnosis of intracranial aneurysm. Thunderclap headache described as severe, unusual and sudden was the main symptom in every case though the higher frequency of focal or diffuse signs in groups with a correct diagnosis attracted more careful attention in referral and diagnostic‐therapeutic management. Improving the identification of minor leak and defining diagnostic strategy are discussed.
Ciclos climáticos e causas naturais das mudanças do clima

A periodica mudanca climatica na Terra pode ser explicada por um numero reduzido de fatores terrestres e astronomicos. Nas escalas anual/diaria, o clima obedece aos movimentos de translacao e de rotacao. Ciclos climaticos de periodos medios (decadas/seculos/milenios) relacionam-se a mudancas na radiacao solar, provocadas pela influencia de grandes planetas do Sistema Solar. As oscilacoes oceânicas (ordem decadal) sao possivelmente causadas por influencias planetarias e lunares. Ciclos climaticos longos (dezenas a centenas de milhares de anos) sao causados por variacoes nos parâmetros da orbita da Terra (excentricidade, obliquidade e precessao). Eventos de impacto de grandes corpos no planeta e extincoes em massa de especies advem de superciclos (dezenas de milhoes de anos) provocados pela oscilacao vertical do Sistema Solar em relacao ao plano galactico. Tectonismo, vulcanismo e a evolucao de supercontinentes exibem superciclos (centenas de milhoes de anos) induzidos pelo deslocamento do Sistema Solar ao redor do centro da Via Lactea e pela variacao de raios cosmicos. Fatores astronomicos permeiam praticamente todas as ordens dos ciclos climaticos e atuam direta ou indiretamente nos processos bio-geo-oceânico-atmosfericos. Conclui-se que o clima na Terra e caracterizado por ciclos controlados astronomicamente pela Lua, o Sol, os planetas, o Sistema Solar e, ate mesmo, a Galaxia.
Seizures in Children with Brain Tumours — Epidemiology, Significance, Management, and Outcomes

Cancer is the most frequently diagnosed disease-related cause of death among children and adolescents [1], and malignancies involving the brain are collectively the most common solid tumour [2, 3]. They are also either first or second in incidence overall (second only to leukae‐ mia) in the United States (USA) [1, 4,7], Canada [8], and Mexico [9]. The American Brain Tumour Association has estimated that approximately 4,200 American children younger than age 20 would be diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in the year 2012, of whom three in four would be under the age of 15 years [10]. However, the overall prognosis for brain malignancies is much better in children than in adults, with up to half of paediatric brain cancer patients surviving long-term [11]. The reason for this enhanced survival in youths is that children and adolescents are much more likely than adults to have low-grade astrocytomas, in particular pilocytic astrocytomas and other low-grade gliomas that are almost never fatal and often cured, depending upon their location and surgical accessibility, rather than the grade III and IV astrocytomas that account for the majority of tumours among adults [12-14].
Performance and scalability evaluation of the Castalia wireless sensor network simulator

Castalia is an open-source simulator for wireless sensor networks and body area networks which is widely used in the academic and research community. This paper presents a basic evaluation study of Castalia, reporting computation time and memory usage for a variety of scenarios/benchmarks. Moreover, key parameters, such as network size, simulation time, fraction of mobile nodes are varied to reveal Castalia's scalability potential. We discuss our results and explain counterintuitive findings in simulator's performance. The results and their explanation can be used by Castalia users as a guide to determine the limits they can push their simulations, as well as to make parameter choices that tradeoff accuracy for performance. They also provide an indication of Castalia's performance capabilities to potential users.
Clinical factors predicting readmission after orthotopic liver transplantation

Hospitals with the highest readmission rates for high‐cost conditions may be targeted for payment penalties. The primary aim of this study was to determine clinical predictors of 30‐day readmission after discharge for patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) at the University of Washington from January 2003 to October 2010. Secondary aims included the determination of predictors of institutional care after OLT and differences in survival between patients requiring 30‐day readmission and patients not requiring 30‐day readmission. Sixty‐five of 766 discharged OLT patients (8.6%) required institutional care on discharge; 318 of the 701 remaining patients (45%) were readmitted within 30 days. The predictors of readmission included hospitalization within the 90 days before OLT [29.6% versus 18.4%, relative risk (RR) = 1.33, P = 0.04], pre‐OLT portal vein thrombosis (7.9% versus 4.4%, RR = 1.76, P = 0.01), a creatinine level > 1.9 mg/dL (23.9% versus 11.5%, RR = 2.1, P ≤ 0.01), an albumin level < 2.6 mg/dL (51.9% versus 37.6%, RR = 1.57, P < 0.01), postoperative complications (38.7% versus 30.2%, RR = 1.31, P = 0.04), and a high school education or less (14.5% versus 10%, RR = 1.41, P = 0.04). One year after OLT, decreased survival was found for patients requiring 30‐day readmission versus patients not requiring readmission (88.2% versus 95.6%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study has identified patients at high risk of readmission who may benefit from medical optimization. Liver Transpl, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.
Sleep Complaints in Elderly Tinnitus Patients: A Controlled Study

Objectives: Sleep difficulties are among the most frequent complaints associated with tinnitus. Yet most studies reporting on this problem are rather succinct, and all of them lack proper age- and health-matched control subjects. Design: The present study reports on 102 participants (51 with and 51 without tinnitus), assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Beck-II depression inventory, a hyperacusis questionnaire, and a tinnitus-reaction questionnaire (tinnitus group only). Participants were matched for health and relevant socioeconomic factors. Results: Results show that tinnitus patients have greater self-reported sleep difficulties compared with control subjects, specifically sleep efficiency and sleep quality, and that high tinnitus-related distress is associated with greater sleep disturbance. Conclusions: Rather than hearing loss, sleep complaints in this population are mainly explained by hyperacusis, a hallmark of tinnitus, and to a lesser extent by subclinical depressive symptoms.
A Broad-Specificity Multidrug Efflux Pump Requiring a Pair of Homologous SMR-Type Proteins

ABSTRACT The Bacillus subtilis genome encodes seven homologues of the small multidrug resistance (SMR) family of drug efflux pumps. Six of these homologues are paired in three distinct operons, and coexpression in Escherichia coli of one such operon,ykkCD, but not expression of either ykkC orykkD alone, gives rise to a broad specificity, multidrug-resistant phenotype including resistance to cationic, anionic, and neutral drugs.
Kernel Analysis of Partial Least Squares (PLS) Regression Models

An analytical technique based on kernel matrix representation is demonstrated to provide further chemically meaningful insight into partial least squares (PLS) regression models. The kernel matrix condenses essential information about scores derived from PLS or principal component analysis (PCA). Thus, it becomes possible to establish the proper interpretation of the scores. A PLS model for the total nitrogen (TN) content in multiple Thai fish sauces is built with a set of near-infrared (NIR) transmittance spectra of the fish sauce samples. The kernel analysis of the scores effectively reveals that the variation of the spectral feature induced by the change in protein content is substantially associated with the total water content and the protein hydration. Kernel analysis is also carried out on a set of time-dependent infrared (IR) spectra representing transient evaporation of ethanol from a binary mixture solution of ethanol and oleic acid. A PLS model to predict the elapsed time is built with the IR spectra and the kernel matrix is derived from the scores. The detailed analysis of the kernel matrix provides penetrating insight into the interaction between the ethanol and the oleic acid.