Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementierung und Evaluation ergänzender Korrekturmethoden für statistische Lernverfahren bei unbalancierten Klassifikationsproblemen

Im Falle binärer Klassifikationsprobleme liefern statistische Lernverfahren bei Vorliegen stark unbalancierter Klassen oftmals keine zufriedenstellenden Ergebnisse insbesondere hinsichtlich der Vorhersage von Beobachtungen aus der kleinen Klasse. Diese sind jedoch in vielen Beispielen aus der Praxis wie z.B. Credit Scoring, Betrugserkennung oder Stornovorhersage gerade von großem Interesse. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist daher die Evaluation und der Vergleich verschiedener Methoden zur Korrektur des Klassenungleichgewichts, die in Kombination mit einem Lernverfahren als Klassifikator auf unbalancierte Daten angewendet werden können. Zu diesem Zweck wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit mehrere Korrekturmethoden in R implementiert sowie in das über CRAN verfügbare Paket mlr (Machine Learning in R) integriert. Die betrachteten Methoden lassen sich dabei allgemein in Samplingund kostenbasierte Ansätze unterscheiden, wobei der Fokus dieser Arbeit auf den Sampling-basierten Korrekturmethoden liegt. Als Gütemaße für die Performance der Verfahren werden AUC (Fläche unter der ROC-Kurve) sowie der F1-Score betrachtet, welche für unbalancierte Klassifikationsprobleme besser geeignet sind als beispielsweise die Gesamtgenauigkeit der Vorhersagen über alle Klassen (Accuracy). In einer Vielzahl von Experimenten wurden insgesamt 23 öffentlich zugängliche Datensätze evaluiert dabei wurden jeweils die betrachteten Lernverfahren (Logistische Regression, Klassifikationsbaum, Random Forest, Gradient Tree Boosting, Support Vector Machine) mit und ohne Parameter-Tuning sowie in Kombination mit verschiedenen Korrekturmethoden auf die einzelnen Datensätze angewendet. Es zeigt sich, dass bereits durch geeignete Wahl des Lernverfahrens, ggf.mit ergänzendem Tuning der Hyperparameter, sehr gute Ergebnisse erzielt werden können. Auch die zusätzliche Verwendung der Korrekturmethoden führt häufig zu weiteren Verbesserungen des AUC und F1-Score. Hierbei liefern insbesondere das SMOTE-Verfahren sowie Class Weighting für verschiedene Datensätze und unter zusätzlicher Berücksichtigung der Laufzeit gute Ergebnisse.
Surgery for Crohn Colitis Over a Twenty-Eight-Year Period: Fewer Stomas and the Replacement of Total Colectomy by Segmental Resection

Background: This study describes how surgery for Crohn colitis developed between 1970 and 1997, towards the end of which period limited resection and medical maintenance treatment was introduced. Methods: A cohort of 211 patients with Crohn colitis (115 population-based), of which 84 had a primary colonic resection (42 population-based), was investigated regarding indication for surgery, the time from diagnosis to operation, type of primary colonic resection, risk for permanent stoma and medication over four 7-year periods. Results: Comparison of the periods 1970-90 and 1991-97 revealed that active disease as an indication for surgery decreased from 64% to 25% ( P < 0.01) while stricture as an indication increased from 9% to 50% ( P < 0.001). Median time from diagnosis to operation increased from 3.5 to 11.5 years ( P < 0.01). Proctocolectomy or colectomy fell from 68.8% to 10% of the primary resections, whereas segmental resection increased from 31.2% to 90%. At the end of the first 7-year period, 26% had medical maintenance treatment, steroids or azathioprine taken by 7%. Corresponding figures for the last period were 70% and 49%. Patients diagnosed during the last two time-periods had less risk for surgery ( P = 0.017), permanent stoma ( P < 0.01) and total colectomy ( P < 0.01). Findings were similar in the population-based cohort. Conclusions: Current management of Crohn colitis implies a longer period between diagnosis and surgery, a reduced risk for surgery and permanent stoma, and the replacement of total colectomy by segmental resection.
Development of mobile robot drive system using mecanum wheels

Nowadays, Mobile robot system is becoming more and more useful in many areas such as in warehouse, military, hazardous area and production line. Many types of mobile robot have been developed all around the world to facilitate human life. This paper shows how Mecanum wheels act as a drive system for Omni-directional mobile robot. The Mecanum wheels are used because the movement provides excellent mobility and agility. The aim of this paper is to explain how to control the Mecanum wheel by using Arduino Mega as a controller. All sensors used for obstacle avoidance will also be discussed in this paper. This robot will move forward, reverse, left and right or rotate with the control command from a wireless Play Station 2 (PS2) Controller.
Circulating Tumor Necrosis Factor α is Elevated in Male but Not in Female Patients With Type II Diabetes Mellitus

The cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) was proposed to mediate obesity related insulin resistance upon production in fat cells and to participate in tissue remodelling leading to vascular complications upon being released by macrophages. To assess its putative role in diabetes we determined plasma levels of TNF alpha in 105 adult humans. Male nondiabetic subjects had significantly lower TNF alpha levels than female controls (4.4 +/- 0.3, n = 17 vs. 6.6 +/- 1.0 pg/ml, n = 13; p = 0.049). Men with NIDDM had elevated TNF alpha (6.7 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, n = 34) compared to nondiabetic subjects (4.4 +/- 0.3 pg/ml, n = 17; p = 0.012). Such a difference was not apparent in women. Levels of TNF alpha were correlated with serum triglyceride levels in male controls (r2 = 0.64; p = 0.007) but not in NIDDM. Neither body mass index nor glycosylated hemoglobin correlated with TNF alpha in any of the groups. The presence of retinopathy (p = 0.046) but not of neuropathy or nephropathy or macroangiopathy was associated with significantly elevated plasma TNF alpha. We conclude that plasma levels of TNF alpha are sex-dependent and that increased TNF alpha occurs in male but not female NIDDM and may participate in the development of diabetic complications.
Soluble Rous Sarcoma Virus Reverse Transcriptases α, αβ, and β Purified from Insect Cells Are Processive DNA Polymerases That Lack an RNase H 3′ → 5′ Directed Processing Activity*

Reverse transcriptase (RT) isolated from Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) consists of heterodimeric RTαβ, RTα, and RTβ. The α subunit (63 kDa) contains an N-terminal polymerase and a C-terminal RNase H domain. The N terminus of β (95 kDa) corresponds to α with the integrase domain attached to the C terminus (32 kDa). We have constructed baculoviruses expressing the genes for α or β or the entire pol (99 kDa). Infection of insect cells with recombinant virus yielded highly active and soluble RSV RT enzymes that could be purified to >90% homogeneity. HPLC gel filtration showed that α is a dimeric enzyme that can be partially monomerized upon the addition of 45% Me2SO. DNA synthesis on DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA primer-templates in the presence of competitor substrates revealed that αβ and β as well as α are processive polymerases. However, the affinity of β and αβ for primer-template substrates appears to be higher than that of α. All RSV enzymes investigated have the potential to displace RNA-RNA duplexes more efficiently than human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RT. Unlike human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RT, RSV RTs can catalyze an initial RNase H endonucleolytic cleavage of the RNA template but not a 3′ → 5′ directed processing activity.
Present and future prospects of gan-based power electronics

GaN/AlGaN device technologies are reviewed aiming at the applications to power switching systems. SL (Super Lattice) capping and QA (Quaternary Alloy) over-layer techniques have been developed to reduce the on-resistance of GaN/ AlGaN HFET. Further, we achieved GaN on Silicon epitaxial growth technology with almost the same mobility keeping the same 2DEG density, which will make the cost comparable to conventional Si one. The experimentally obtained RonA of the FET is 1.9 m¿cm2, which is 14 times lower than that of Si ones. Additionally, a novel approach to realize enhancement mode operation of GaN/AlGaN FET is proposed using minority carrier injection by the gate.
Allogeneic Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Combination with Platelet Rich Plasma are Safe and Effective in the Therapy of Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis in the Horse

Overstrain tendonitis are common pathologies in the sport horses. Therapeutic approaches to tendon healing do not always result in a satisfactory anatomical and functional repair, and healed tendon is often characterized by functional impairment and high risk of reinjury. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) have been proposed as novel therapeutic treatments to improve the tendon repair process. MSCs are multipotent, easy to culture and being originated from adult donors do not pose ethical issues. To date, autologous MSCs have been investigated mainly in the treatment of large bone defects, cardiovascular diseases, osteogenesis imperfecta and orthopaedic injuries both in human and veterinary medicine. The clinical applications in which autologous MSCs can be used are limited because patient-specific tissue collection and cell expansion require time. For clinical applications in which MSCs should be used right away, it would be more practical to use cells collected from a donor, expanded in vitro and banked to be readily available when needed. However, there are concerns over the safety and the efficacy of allogeneic MSCs. The safety and efficacy of a therapy based on the use of allogeneic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) associated to platelet rich plasma (PRP) were evaluated in 19 horses affected by acute or subacute overstrain superficial digital flexor tendonitis (SDFT). The application of allogeneic ASCs neither raised clinical sign of acute or chronic adverse tissue reactions, nor the formation of abnormal tissue in the long term. After a follow–up of 24 months, 89.5% horses returned to their previous level of competition, while the reinjury rate was 10.5%, comparable to those recently reported for SDFT treated with autologous bone marrow derived MSCs. This study suggests that the association between allogeneic ASCs and PRP can be considered a safe and effective strategy for the treatment of SDF tendonitis in the horse.
A multidimensional grading system (BODE index) as predictor of hospitalization for COPD.

STUDY OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that the BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity) index would better predict hospitalization for COPD than FEV1 alone, and the purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis in a cohort of patients with COPD. DESIGN Historical cohort study. SETTING University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS One hundred twenty-seven patients with COPD recruited from the outpatient clinic of a single institution were followed up for a mean period of 16.2 months. MEASUREMENTS The BODE index was calculated for each patient using variables obtained within 4 weeks of enrollment. The main outcome measure was the number of hospital admissions for COPD during follow-up. We used the Poisson regression model to quantify and compare the relationship between FEV1 and BODE scores with the number of hospital admissions. RESULTS During the follow-up period, 47% of patients required at least one hospital admission and 17% died. Using Poisson regression analysis, a significant effect of BODE score on the number of hospital admissions was found (incidence rate ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15 to 1.25; p < 0.001). In comparison, there was a significant but smaller effect of the FEV1 percentage of predicted on the number of hospital admissions (incidence rate ratio, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.16; p < 0.001). When categorizing the BODE scores into four quartiles, we found that the BODE index is also a better predictor of hospital admissions than the staging system of COPD as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. The pseudo r2 using quartiles of the BODE index as the predictor was 0.16, as compared to 0.04 for stages of severity based on FEV1. CONCLUSIONS The BODE staging system, which includes in addition to FEV1 other physiologic and clinical variables, helps to better predict hospitalization for COPD.
Impact of phosphate binder type on coronary artery calcification in hemodialysis patients.

AIMS In individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), coronary artery calcification (CAC) is common. We hypothesized that, in MHD patients, intake of the calcium-free phosphate binder sevelamer is associated with lower CAC compared to calcium-based phosphate binders (CBPB). MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of MHD patients, who underwent computerized tomography to assess coronary artery calcium scores (CACS). Patients were stratified into two mutually exclusive groups based on taking only a CBPB vs. sevelamer. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (OR) of CACS > or = 400, CACS 100 < or =; CACS < 400, 10 < or =; CACS < 100 vs. CACS < 10. RESULTS 117 MHD patients were either on a CBPB alone (n = 60) or sevelamer alone (n = 57). Despite increased prevalence of DM in the sevelamer group (58%) as compared to the CBPB group (35%), CACS was significantly lower with sevelamer use (283 + or - 83 vs. 494 + or - 94, p = 0.02). The OR of significant CACS > or =; 400 vs. CAC < 10 was 4.35 (95% confidence interval: 1.5 - 9.9, p = 0.008) for CBPB compared with sevelamer, after controlling for case-mix, cholesterol-lowering medication, DM, and inflammatory markers. CONCLUSION In our cohort, significant CAC was significantly more prevalent among MHD patients taking CBPB as compared to sevelamer monotherapy.
Compact Multiscale Finite Volume Method for Heterogeneous Anisotropic Elliptic Equations

The multiscale finite volume (MSFV) method is introduced for the efficient solution of elliptic problems with rough coefficients in the absence of scale separation. The coarse operator of the MSFV method is presented as a multipoint flux approximation (MPFA) with numerical evaluation of the transmissibilities. The monotonicity region of the original MSFV coarse operator has been determined for the homogeneous anisotropic case. For grid-aligned anisotropy the monotonicity of the coarse operator is very limited. A compact coarse operator for the MSFV method is presented that reduces to a 7-point stencil with optimal monotonicity properties in the homogeneous case. For heterogeneous cases the compact coarse operator improves the monotonicity of the MSFV method, especially for anisotropic problems. The compact operator also leads to a coarse linear system much closer to an M-matrix. Gradients in the direction of strong coupling vanish in highly anisotropic elliptic problems with homogeneous Neumann boundary d.
Microdysgenesis in epilepsy

Microdysgenesis is a microscopic malformation of cortical development characterized by heterotopic neurones and abnormal cortical architecture. It has been described in primary generalized and partial epilepsy. Its significance in epileptogenesis is controversial, partly due to lack of consensus of diagnostic criteria. Different terms have also been used for the malformation. Several quantitative studies have been performed of the histopathological aberrations associated with microdysgenesis. A majority of the studies have revealed an increased number of heterotopic neurones in specimens from epilepsy patients. However, the quantitative values given for abnormal numbers of white matter neurones vary greatly between studies and there is no consensus yet on quantitative criteria for microdysgenesis. There have also been conflicting results from studies correlating microdysgenesis with clinical data. Both favourable and worse outcome after epilepsy surgery have been reported in patients with increased numbers of white matter neurones and microdysgenesis. While some studies have shown earlier seizure onset and increased frequency of mental retardation in patients with microdysgenesis, others have not. Differences in inclusion criteria and definition might contribute to the contradictory results. There is some evidence that microdysgenesis could be important in epileptogenesis, but the mechanisms involved remain unknown and difficult to investigate. A consensus on what histopathological criteria to use for the diagnosis of microdysgenesis is needed to explore this further and enable comparisons between centres. There are advantages and disadvantages both with quantitative stereological and with qualitative assessments. It is necessary to evaluate these in the decision on diagnostic criteria, if possible taking both qualitative and quantitative aspects into account.
A Study of Energy Management System of Electric Vehicles

Current electric vehicle power trains comprise on-board energy generation, energy storage and traction drive, where the battery used for energy storage is heavy or expensive or both and requires regular maintenance. Best practice is to use super-capacitors with batteries, reducing the deep charge-discharge cycle and battery size. According to the energy requirements of the EV bus, the control strategies of the energy management system about the dynamic battery and super-capacitor EV bus are studied. With batteries and super-capacitors electric vehicle as the main research subjects, which runs between system and parts time after time, different parts of the dynamic model was built, which include road-load model, super-capacitors model, direct current link model, power transform model and system circuit model etc. The electric vehicle simulation model with the control system of the multi-energy dynamic assembly is built, and simulated, in the ECE 15 which is an urban driving cycle and EDUC (extra urban driving cycle). Simulation results show that the dynamic performance is increased with super-capacitors in the same condition. Based on simulation, average energy consumptions with super-capacitors and without super-capacitors are calculated in typical urban driving and suburb driving cycles respectively. Calculations show that whilst average energy consumption with super-capacitors in urban driving cycle is reduced, this is not so in the suburb driving cycle. The developing low floorboard EV bus (BK6121EV) with multi-energy dynamic assembly system was used to experiment on the test road surface of Tong county in Beijing city, under the different states of the super-capacitors controller on-off. The trend of tested data curve is consistent with the simulation. With super-capacitors, dynamic performance is improved, and both traction battery current and average energy consumption are decreased. The simulation and the control system based CAN bus are both verified by experiment of the low floorboard EV bus
Aligning quality improvement to population health.

Most examples of the use of quality improvement (QI) methodologies currently come from acute care. They often demonstrate more efficient processes, improved staff morale and patient satisfaction and better health outcomes for specific service users but they are rarely able to indicate whether a service improvement has impacted on the population as a whole by targeting those most in need, improving access or identifying which aspects of service provision should be top priorities for improvement. One way of addressing this is to set QI in the context of whole populations. The practicalities of introducing a more strategic approach are not easy, and it requires innovative new partnerships, but there are well-established proxy measures of healthcare needs. Mapping data geographically can help identify ‘hot spots’ of high incidence or prevalence or areas of low service usage where high need would be expected. Adopting this approach has significant potential for ensuring that services are provided more appropriately and efficiently and for improving population health overall. The benefits that modern medicine can bring to society have not been fully realized. The knowledge, therapies and technology is there, but we fall down on implementation. We have systems that are unreliable from day to day and which do not deliver complete care. In the USA, for example, patients receive just over half of the interventions they need, regardless of insurance status [1]. The shortfall is …
Sarcoidosis is not associated with BRAFV600E mutation

Abstract Purpose/Aim of the study: BRAFV600E is an oncogenic point mutation in the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, which is important for cell proliferation and migration. It has been found to be associated with several malignancies and has also been found in significant proportions of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. A recent mouse model which introduces the BRAFV600E mutations only into dendritic cell precursors results in a clinical picture very similar to human sarcoidosis. We therefore hypothesized that somatic BRAFV600E mutations may play a role in granuloma formation and/or maintenance in all or a subset of patients with sarcoidosis. Materials and methods: 28 diagnostic lymph node samples and 1 diagnostic lung parenchyma sample of patients with confirmed sarcoidosis were identified. Paraffin sections including positive and negative controls were stained using pre-diluted Ventana Medical Systems anti-BRAF V600E (VE1) mouse monoclonal antibody and processed on an automated Ventana Benchmark Ultra immunostainer. Slides were analyzed by two independent experts. Results: BRAFV600E immunostaining was negative in all 29 cases. Conclusions: Sarcoidosis is not associated with the BRAFV600E mutation and is very unlikely to be associated with other less common BRAF mutations not tested for in this study. Future studies addressing a potential role of other somatic mutations in cell proliferation and migration pathways are warranted.
A novel soft-switched synchronous buck converter

This paper proposes a zero-voltage-transition (ZVT) pulse-width-modulated (PWM) synchronous buck converter, which is designed to operate at low voltage and high efficiency typically required for portable systems. A new passive auxiliary circuit that allows the main switch to operate with zero-voltage switching has been incorporated in the conventional PWM synchronous buck converter. The operation principles and a detailed steady-state analysis of the ZVT-PWM synchronous converter implemented with the auxiliary circuit are presented. Besides, the main switch and all of the semiconductor devices operate under soft-switching conditions. Thus, the auxiliary circuit provides a larger overall efficiency. The feasibility of the auxiliary circuit is confirmed by simulation results.