Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of electron beam tomography data to develop models for prediction of hard coronary events.

BACKGROUND Prediction of hard cardiac events (myocardial infarction and coronary death) remains difficult in spite of the identification of several relevant risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). New indicators of risk might add to our predictive ability. We used measures of coronary artery calcification (CAC) found by electron beam tomography (EBT) imaging to develop prediction models for hard cardiac events alone and in association with traditional risk factors for CAD. METHODS Two groups of patients were studied: group A, 676 asymptomatic patients (mean age 52 years, 51% men) prospectively followed up for 32 +/- 7 months after being referred by primary care physicians for a screening EBT, and group B, 10,122 asymptomatic patients screened by EBT at one center and used as controls for calculation of calcium score nomograms. RESULTS The occurrence of hard events in group A patients was related to traditional risk factors for CAD, presence of CAC (score >0), Ln (1 + absolute calcium score [CS]), and age- and sex-specific CS percentiles (CS%). Univariate analyses showed that age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, presence of CAC, Ln (1 + absolute CS), and CS% were predictive of hard events (all P <.05). Multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated that CS% was the only significant predictor of events and provided incremental prognostic value when added to traditional risk factors for CAD (chi-square, P <.001). In a comparison of receiver-operator characteristic curves for prediction of hard events, the area under the curve for CS% plus conventional risk factors and age was significantly larger than that obtained by use of traditional risk factors and age separately as predictors (0.84 vs 0.71, respectively, P <.001). Furthermore, the area under the curve of CS% alone was significantly larger than that of traditional risk factors and age combined (0.82 vs 0.71, P =.028). CONCLUSIONS Patients are usually selected for EBT screening on the basis of the presence of conventional risk factors for CAD. However, an age- and sex-specific calcium score provides the best predictive model for the occurrence of hard coronary events and adds incremental prognostic information to conventional risk factors for CAD.
Read/Write Channel Modeling and Two-Dimensional Neural Network Equalization for Two-Dimensional Magnetic Recording

An accurate medium modeling method of discretized granular medium with non-magnetic grain boundaries using a discrete Voronoi diagram is proposed for two-dimensional magnetic recording. A simple closed-form representation of a double-shielded reader sensitivity function is also proposed for modeling the reading process. Moreover, a two-dimensional neural network equalizer (2D-NNE) is proposed to mitigate the influence of intertrack interference and jitter-like medium noise. The bit-error rate performance of partial response class-I maximum likelihood (PR1ML) system with the 2D-NNE is obtained by computer simulation based on the proposed read/write channel model. The performance is far superior to that of PR1ML system with a two-dimensional finite impulse response equalizer.
Thermal Interface Materials - A Review of the State of the Art

The past few decades have seen an escalation of power densities in electronic devices, and in particular in microprocessor chips. Together with the continuing trend of reduction in device dimensions this has led to dramatic increase in the thermal issues within electronic circuits. Thermal management is therefore becoming increasingly more critical and fundamental to ensuring that electronic devices operate within their specification. Although a thermal management system may make use of all modes of heat transfer to maintain temperatures within their appropriate limits and to ensure optimum performance and reliability, conductive heat transfer is typically used to spread the heat out from its point of generation and into the extended surface area of a heat sink. To minimise the contact resistance, thermal interface materials (TIMs) are introduced to the joint to fill the air gaps and are an essential part of an assembly when solid surfaces are attached together. This paper reviews the conventional interface materials and then goes on to present a comprehensive review of the emerging state-of-the-art research in the use of carbon nanotube based materials. The paper also outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each TIM category and the factors that need to be considered when selecting an interface material
The spectrum of peripheral T-cell lymphomas

Purpose of reviewThis review summarizes recent progress that has advanced our understanding of the pathobiology and prognosis of peripheral T-cell lymphomas including the changes introduced to the updated World Health Organization classification of lymphoid neoplasms. Recent findingsThe International Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Project was a large collaborative project, highlighting the clinico-pathologic and geographic differences of this diverse group of diseases. Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, is a biologically heterogeneous subtype, and a number of studies including investigations using molecular profiling have explored whether meaningful prognostic or biologic subgroups can be identified. Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma demonstrates overlapping immunophenotypical and molecular features with normal follicular T-helper cells, giving some insight into the cell of origin. Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma is composed of two disease groups based on the presence or absence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase overexpression. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma has a significantly better prognosis than anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma and molecular studies have illustrated that each entity has a distinct molecular profile. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma has been recently shown to have a more favourable, but still unsatisfactory, prognosis than peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, and biological and molecular distinctions confirm that they are separate entities. SummaryAdvances are being made in understanding the unique pathobiology of the peripheral T-cell lymphoma subtypes that will help to refine diagnoses, identify potential prognostic markers, elucidate the molecular mechanisms critical in disease pathogenesis and define new therapeutic targets in the poor-risk population.
Cross-Identification of Synchronous Generator Parameters From RTDR Test Time-Domain Analytical Responses

In a recent work, the authors computed generator parameters from a load-rejection test based on what they called hybrid state model of the synchronous machine. The state matrices were presented in compact numerical form and may prove tedious to implement. Such a model is a complicated function of the unknown machine parameter vector to be computed which is not always easy to comprehend in an identification process for engineering applications. In this paper, therefore, the decoupled property of the so-called hybrid model along with the application of the complete well-known solution of the linear control systems theory is used to derive time-variant analytical waveforms of the phase voltages and the field current following a generator tripping (load rejection) and an open stator field short-circuit tests in terms of the generator parameters. In the cross-identification approach, the field short-circuit test is used to compute the generator d-axis parameters while the q-axis parameters are obtained from the load-rejection test q-axis data. The proposed identification technique is successfully applied for the parameter identification of a 4-pole 1.5-kVA, 208-V, and 60-Hz saturated laboratory synchronous generator.
The influence of health care professional characteristics on pain management decisions.

OBJECTIVE Evidence suggests that patient characteristics such as sex, race, and age influence the pain management decisions of health care providers. Although this signifies that patient demographics may be important determinants of health care decisions, pain-related care also may be impacted by the personal characteristics of the health care practitioner. However, the extent to which health care provider characteristics affect pain management decisions is unclear, underscoring the need for further research in this area. METHODS A total of 154 health care providers (77 physicians, 77 dentists) viewed video vignettes of virtual human (VH) patients varying in sex, race, and age. Practitioners provided computerized ratings of VH patients' pain intensity and unpleasantness, and also reported their willingness to prescribe non-opioid and opioid analgesics for each patient. Practitioner sex, race, age, and duration of professional experience were included as predictors to determine their impact on pain management decisions. RESULTS When assessing and treating pain, practitioner sex, race, age, and duration of experience were all significantly associated with pain management decisions. Further, the role of these characteristics differed across VH patient sex, race, and age. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that pain assessment and treatment decisions may be impacted by the health care providers' demographic characteristics, effects which may contribute to pain management disparities. Future research is warranted to determine whether findings replicate in other health care disciplines and medical conditions, and identify other practitioner characteristics (e.g., culture) that may affect pain management decisions.
Rhéologie des pâtes granulaires

Dans ce memoire, je synthetise les resultats des recherches que j'ai menees sur les proprietes rheologiques des pâtes granulaires au sein du Laboratoire des Materiaux et Structures du Genie Civil (puis Laboratoire Navier) depuis mon integration au CNRS en octobre 2003. Les pâtes granulaires, telles les laves torrentielles, la terre crue, les pâtes alimentaires, les betons frais et les mousses de plâtre, sont des suspensions concentrees de particules tres polydisperses (du nm au cm), qui impliquent une grande diversite d'interactions physiques entre particules (colloidales, hydrodynamiques, contacts). Ce sont generalement des materiaux a seuil, qui ne s'ecoulent que sous l'effet d'une contrainte de cisaillement suffisamment forte. Cette caracteristique joue un role particulierement important dans la mise en oeuvre des materiaux du genie civil. Le comportement des pâtes granulaires depend par ailleurs generalement de leur histoire d'ecoulement, a travers des phenomenes reversibles comme la thixotropie (qui se traduit par leur vieillissement en regime solide, et leur fluidification lorsqu'ils sont cisailles) et des phenomenes irreversibles comme le developpement d'heterogeneites de concentration sous cisaillement. Au cours de mes recherches, je me suis applique a isoler les phenomenes observes dans les pâtes granulaires et a identifier leur origine microscopique, puis a modeliser le comportement macroscopique de ces materiaux. J'ai choisi pour cela d'effectuer des etudes experimentales detaillees sur des materiaux a caractere modele. J'ai notamment cherche a predire les conditions de blocage de leurs ecoulements, a determiner l'evolution de leurs proprietes rheologiques en fonction de la concentration en particules, et a mieux comprendre les conditions de developpement d'heterogeneites. Je me suis par ailleurs attache a valoriser mes travaux dans les domaines de la rheologie et de la mise en oeuvre des betons frais, par des collaborations avec le LCPC et a travers une activite contractuelle importante. Je me suis tout d'abord interesse aux suspensions de particules non-colloidales (chapitre II) dans le cas ou le fluide suspendant est newtonien. Les problemes poses par les betons frais dans lesquels les particules non-colloidales (les granulats) sont plongees dans une matrice a seuil thixotrope (la pâte de ciment) m'ont amene naturellement, dans une demarche de changement d'echelle, a etudier les suspensions de particules en interaction a travers un fluide a seuil (chapitre IV) et a m'interesser aux proprietes des materiaux a seuil simples et thixotropes (chapitre III), en me concentrant sur leur transition liquide/solide.
Cell surface proteoglycan of mouse mammary epithelial cells is shed by cleavage of its matrix-binding ectodomain from its membrane-associated domain

The cell surface proteoglycan on normal murine mammary gland (NMuMG) epithelial cells consists of a lipophilic domain, presumably intercalated into the plasma membrane, and an ectodomain that binds via its glycosaminoglycan chains to matrix components, is released intact by proteases and is detected by monoclonal antibody 281-2. The antibody 281-2 also detects a proteoglycan in the culture medium conditioned by NMuMG cells. This immunoactive proteoglycan was purified to homogeneity using DEAE-cellulose chromatography, isopycnic centrifugation, and 281- 2 affinity chromatography. Comparison of the immunoreactive medium proteoglycan with the trypsin-released ectodomain revealed that these proteoglycans are indistinguishable by several criteria as both: (a) contain heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains; and (b) are similar in hydrodynamic size and buoyant density; (c) have the same size core protein (Mr approximately 53 kD); (d) are nonlipophilic as studied by liposomal intercalation and transfer to silicone-treated paper. Kinetic studies of the release of proteoglycan from the surface of suspended NMuMG cells are interpreted to indicate that the immunoreactive medium proteoglycan is derived directly from the cell surface proteoglycan. Suspension of the cells both augments the release and inhibits the replacement of cell surface proteoglycan. These results indicate that the cell surface proteoglycan of NMuMG cells can be shed by cleavage of its matrix-binding ectodomain from its membrane- associated domain, providing a mechanism by which the epithelial cells can loosen their proteoglycan-mediated attachment to the matrix.
T Follicular Helper Cells Express a Distinctive Transcriptional Profile, Reflecting Their Role as Non-Th1/Th2 Effector Cells That Provide Help for B Cells1

Effector T cell responses have long been viewed in the context of the Th1/Th2 paradigm. Recently, a third major subset of nonpolarized effector T cells that provides help to B cells has been identified. These T cells, termed T follicular helper (TFH) cells, home to the B cell areas of secondary lymphoid tissue, through interactions mediated via the chemokine receptor CXCR5 and its ligand CXCL13. Affymetrix microarrays were used to identify transcription factors, cytokines, and cell surface molecules that underlie the differentiation pathways and functional properties of the TFH subset. The transcriptional profile of human CXCR5+ TFH cells was compared with that of Th1 and Th2 cells, which enabled the identification of numerous genes expressed preferentially by TFH cells, over the other effector subsets. Certain TFH genes were also expressed by B cells and thus appear to be particularly relevant for humoral immunity. Abs were used to confirm the expression of several factors. In particular, CD84 and CD200, the cytokine IL-21, and the transcription factor BCL6 were all strongly associated with TFH cells. Gene microarrays reveal a highly distinctive transcriptional profile for a third subset of effector T cells that differs markedly from Th1 and Th2 cells.
Creatine supplementation improves muscle strength in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND Both, cardiac and skeletal muscle creatine levels are depressed in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Oral supplementation of creatine (Cr) could increase physical performance in healthy volunteers. We therefore hypothesized that oral creatine supplementation improves skeletal muscle strength, quality of live and symptom-limited performance in patients with CHF. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover-designed study, 20 patients suffering from congestive heart failure more than 6 months and a peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) below 20 ml/min/kg received 4 x 5 g Cr daily vs. placebo for 6 weeks and were crossed over for the following 6 weeks. Peak VO2, VO2 at the anaerobic threshold (VO2AT), ejection fraction (EF), distance in 6-minute-walk-test (6 min W), and muscle strength (Modified Sphygmomanometer (MS)) were determined at baseline, after 6, and after 12 weeks. Dyspnoea after 6-minute-walk-test was measured using the Borg Scale. Quality of live was assessed with the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). RESULTS 13 of 20 Patients finished the study. After 6 weeks of creatine supplementation there was a significant increase in body weight and muscle strength compared to baseline and placebo (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant change in peak VO2, VO2AT, walking distance, quality of life assessment and EF. CONCLUSION Short-term creatine supplementation inaddition to standard medication in patients with CHF leads to an increase in body weight and an improvement of muscle strength. This effect is restricted to the time of supplementation.
Antiadrenergic effect of M-cholinoceptor stimulation on human ventricular contractility in vivo.

The relevance of an indirect negative inotropic effect of pharmacological or vagally mediated M-cholinoceptor stimulation in the human ventricle in vivo is unknown. The inotropic response induced by isoproterenol (isoprenaline, 20 ng.kg-1 x min-1), measured by m-mode echocardiography as the increase of fractional shortening in seven healthy subjects, was reduced from 17.1 +/- 4.3 to 9.1 +/- 3.9% (P < 0.01) by M-cholinoceptor stimulation using intravenous injection of 3.6 micrograms/kg carbachol. However, the inotropic response of increasing doses of isoprenaline (5-20 ng.kg-1 x min-1) did not differ in 13 healthy subjects without and after M-cholinoceptor blockade (atropine, 0.015 mg/kg i.v.); the increase of fractional shortening amounted to 17.4 +/- 4.0 vs. 19.5 +/- 4.8% (NS) in response to 20 ng.kg-1 x min-1 isoprenaline. It is concluded that pharmacological M-cholinoceptor stimulation of the human ventricle significantly reduces the inotropic response of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. This may offer a new therapeutic approach to attenuate an increased cardiac sympathetic tone. However, M-cholinoceptor blockade, i.e., interruption of parasympathetic influences, does not augment the inotropic response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. Therefore, in healthy resting humans a physiological role of the parasympathetic nervous system in mediating an indirect negative inotropic effect on ventricular contractility seems to be absent.
Factors that impact health-related quality of life in adults with celiac disease: a multicenter study.

AIM To evaluate the factors involved in the impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with celiac disease. METHODS A multicenter, cross-sectional prospective study was performed in patients with celiac disease who completed two HRQOL questionnaires: the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) and the EuroQol-5D (EQ). RESULTS Three hundred and forty patients (163 controlled with a gluten-free diet, and 177 newly diagnosed with a normal diet) were included. The GIQLI score was significantly better in patients on a gluten-free diet (GFD) than in non-treated patients on their usual diet, both in terms of the overall score (3.3 vs 2.7, respectively; P < 0.001), as well as on the individual questionnaire dimensions. Both the preference value of the EQ as the visual analogue scale were significantly better in treated than in non-treated patients (0.93 vs 0.72 P < 0.001 and 80 vs 70 P < 0.001, respectively). Variables significantly associated with a worse HRQOL score were female gender, failure to adhere to a GFD, and symptomatic status. CONCLUSION In untreated celiac disease, the most important factors that influence patient perception of health are the presence of symptoms and a normal diet. HRQOL improves to levels similar to those described in the general population in celiac disease patients well controlled with a GFD.
A novel state-of-charge estimation method for lithium-ion battery pack of electric vehicles

In this paper, a novel state-of-charge (SOC) estimation method is proposed for lithium-ion battery packs of electric vehicles. An equivalent circuit model, which comprises an open circuit voltage source and a resistance-capacitance network connected in series, is built for each cell to characterize its dynamic and static performance. Then, the EKF is applied to calculate each cell's SOC. By calculating and screening all the cells' SOC, a group of parameters, which include a weighed SOC value, SOC variance value, maximum and minimum cell SOC, are selected to represent the pack SOC. Experiment results prove that the proposed method can calculate the pack SOC more reasonably, thus ensuring safer operation of the battery pack.
Characterization of Cross-Protection by Genetically Modified Live-Attenuated Leishmania donovani Parasites against Leishmania mexicana

Previously, we showed that genetically modified live-attenuated Leishmania donovani parasite cell lines (LdCen−/− and Ldp27−/−) induce a strong cellular immunity and provide protection against visceral leishmaniasis in mice. In this study, we explored the mechanism of cross-protection against cutaneous lesion-causing Leishmania mexicana. Upon challenge with wild-type L. mexicana, mice immunized either for short or long periods showed significant protection. Immunohistochemical analysis of ears from immunized/challenged mice exhibited significant influx of macrophages, as well as cells expressing MHC class II and inducible NO synthase, suggesting an induction of potent host-protective proinflammatory responses. In contrast, substantial inhibition of IL-10, IL-4, and IL-13 expression and the absence of degranulated mast cells and less influx of eosinophils within the ears of immunized/challenged mice suggested a controlled anti-inflammatory response. L. mexicana Ag–stimulated lymph node cell culture from the immunized/challenged mice revealed induction of IFN-γ secretion by the CD4 and CD8 T cells compared with non-immunized/challenged mice. We also observed suppression of Th2 cytokines in the culture supernatants of immunized/challenged lymph nodes compared with non-immunized/challenged mice. Adoptively transferred total T cells from immunized mice conferred strong protection in recipient mice against L. mexicana infection, suggesting that attenuated L. donovani can provide protection against heterologous L. mexicana parasites by induction of a strong T cell response. Furthermore, bone marrow–derived dendritic cells infected with LdCen−/− and Ldp27−/− parasites were capable of inducing a strong proinflammatory response leading to the proliferation of Th1 cells. These studies demonstrate the potential of live-attenuated L. donovani parasites as pan–Leishmania species vaccines.