Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metamodel-assisted design optimization of piezoelectric flex transducer for maximal bio-kinetic energy conversion

Energy-harvesting devices have been widely used to generate electrical power from the bio-kinetic energy of human body movement. A novel piezoelectric flex transducer based on the Cymbal device has been proposed by other researchers for the purpose of energy harvesting. To further improve the efficiency of the device, optimal design of the piezoelectric flex transducer for maximum output power subject to stress and displacement constraints is carried out in this article. Sequential quadratic programming on metamodels generated with genetic programming from a 140-point optimal Latin hypercube design of experiments is used in the optimization. Finally, the optimal design is validated by finite element simulations. The simulations show that the magnitude of the electrical power generated from this optimal piezoelectric flex transducer harvesting device can be up to 6.5 MW when a safety design factor of 2.0 is applied.
The homologous recombination component EEPD1 is required for genome stability in response to developmental stress of vertebrate embryogenesis

ABSTRACT Stressed replication forks can be conservatively repaired and restarted using homologous recombination (HR), initiated by nuclease cleavage of branched structures at stalled forks. We previously reported that the 5′ nuclease EEPD1 is recruited to stressed replication forks, where it plays critical early roles in HR initiation by promoting fork cleavage and end resection. HR repair of stressed replication forks prevents their repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), which would cause genome instability. Rapid cell division during vertebrate embryonic development generates enormous pressure to maintain replication speed and accuracy. To determine the role of EEPD1 in maintaining replication fork integrity and genome stability during rapid cell division in embryonic development, we assessed the role of EEPD1 during zebrafish embryogenesis. We show here that when EEPD1 is depleted, zebrafish embryos fail to develop normally and have a marked increase in death rate. Zebrafish embryos depleted of EEPD1 are far more sensitive to replication stress caused by nucleotide depletion. We hypothesized that the HR defect with EEPD1 depletion would shift repair of stressed replication forks to unopposed NHEJ, causing chromosome abnormalities. Consistent with this, EEPD1 depletion results in nuclear defects including anaphase bridges and micronuclei in stressed zebrafish embryos, similar to BRCA1 deficiency. These results demonstrate that the newly characterized HR protein EEPD1 maintains genome stability during embryonic replication stress. These data also imply that the rapid cell cycle transit seen during embryonic development produces replication stress that requires HR to resolve.
A QoS based call admission control and resource allocation mechanism for LTE femtocell deployment

Current trends show a growing number of femtocell deployments, this in turn will lead to increased volumes of voice traffic being transmitted through fixed broadband access networks such as Digital Subscriber Line. In this paper the issue of maintaining call quality through the resource constraint expedited forwarding queue of DSLAMs is investigated. A quality based Call Admission Control and resource allocation mechanism is provided to avoid resource overloading and call quality degradation. The ITU-T's E-Model is used for call quality monitoring and a message exchange interface between the mobile and fixed networks which allows dynamic adjustment to network resources is described and simulated. The results show that high voice call quality can be maintained.
Prescribing pattern of acid suppressant drugs in current clinical practice

The most prevailing disease in most of the countries is gastric related problems for which majority of the population prefer acid suppressant agents. The commonest indication for which physicians prescribed acid suppressant drugs are gastro-esophageal reflux disease followed by Dyspepsia followed by peptic ulcer disease followed by with Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and with other drugs. A prospective observational study was conducted to identify and evaluate the appropriateness of acid suppressant drugs in hospitalized patients and also to identify the reason for its use. Case sheets of patients who were prescribed with acid suppressant drugs were included in the study. In the population of 400 patients male (55.75%) were found more than female (44.25%) patients. Most of these drugs were prescribed in the age group of 51-60 years (28%). The Majority of patients on acid suppressant drug therapy suffered from fever (21%). The majority of patients were prescribed with H2 receptor antagonist (49.25%) followed by proton pump inhibitors alone (21.75%) as well as a combination of both (20.25%). Most of the patients received only one (72.75%) than two ASDs (25.55%) in a dosage forms such as injection (52.5%) and tablet (22.75%) respectively. This study found overuse and underuse of acid suppressant drugs in study hospital. The study highlighted the need for a local protocol for rational use of these agents in current clinical practice.
Interconnections of reactive oxygen species homeostasis and circadian rhythm in Neurospora crassa.

SIGNIFICANCE Both circadian rhythm and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are fundamental features of aerobic eukaryotic cells. The circadian clock enhances the fitness of organisms by enabling them to anticipate cycling changes in the surroundings. ROS generation in the cell is often altered in response to environmental changes, but oscillations in ROS levels may also reflect endogenous metabolic fluctuations governed by the circadian clock. On the other hand, an effective regulation and timing of antioxidant mechanisms may be crucial in the defense of cellular integrity. Thus, an interaction between the circadian timekeeping machinery and ROS homeostasis or signaling in both directions may be of advantage at all phylogenetic levels. RECENT ADVANCES The Frequency-White Collar-1 and White Collar-2 oscillator (FWO) of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is well characterized at the molecular level. Several members of the ROS homeostasis were found to be controlled by the circadian clock, and ROS levels display circadian rhythm in Neurospora. On the other hand, multiple data indicate that ROS affect the molecular oscillator. CRITICAL ISSUES Increasing evidence suggests the interplay between ROS homeostasis and oscillators that may be partially or fully independent of the FWO. In addition, ROS may be part of a complex cellular network synchronizing non-transcriptional oscillators with timekeeping machineries based on the classical transcription-translation feedback mechanism. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Further investigations are needed to clarify how the different layers of the bidirectional interactions between ROS homeostasis and circadian regulation are interconnected.
Linked Semantic Model for Information Resource Service Toward Cloud Manufacturing

Information resource services are the key element for resource sharing in cloud manufacturing. Traditional resource service models focus on modeling the attributes, interfaces, and descriptions of the resources into resource information services. Such resource services are suitable for local environment but suffer semantic heterogeneities in open cloud environment. Recently, well-designed ontologies are applied in resource service models to unify the schema and eliminate the semantic heterogeneities among the services. However, the effectiveness of ontology-based models mainly depends on the expertise of the ontology experts in ontology designing. Moreover, it is difficult to catch the dynamic changes in the cloud once the ontology has been embedded. In this paper, a semantic model is presented for information resource service modeling that uses semantic links instead of ontologies. The model takes advantage of semantic links to enable automated integrating and distributed updating in resource service cloud. In the experiment, the model is applied on practical manufacturing resources from a wheel manufacturing company. The case study and experimental results show that the proposed model is suitable for modeling manufacturing resources into cloud services and enables the flexible and distributed manipulation on resource services in the cloud environment.
Music and Social Being1

Abstract Extract In this essay I shall make a number of claims about music. I shall claim that music, like language, is a fundamental part of the human communicative toolkit. It is unique and specific to humans, but music is not ‘natural’ while language is symbolic; music and language are both equally symbolic and natural domains of human thought and behaviour. I shall propose that music—musicality—underpins the intellectual and social flexibility displayed by modern humans. As a corollary of this, I shall claim that many of the most important abstract concepts that frame and give meaning to human interaction—such as social justice, that aspect of morality which is concerned with the achievement of equity in human relations— have their roots in human musicality. I am not proposing that without music there can be no social justice; I am simply submitting that without musicality the flexibility in managing social relations that characterizes modern humans and that constitutes the matrix within which abstract conceptions such as social justice can take form is less likely to have arisen.
Optimized Platelet‐Rich Fibrin With the Low‐Speed Concept: Growth Factor Release, Biocompatibility, and Cellular Response

BACKGROUND Over the past decade, use of leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) has gained tremendous momentum in regenerative dentistry as a low-cost fibrin matrix used for tissue regeneration. This study characterizes how centrifugation speed (G-force) along with centrifugation time influence growth factor release from fibrin clots, as well as the cellular activity of gingival fibroblasts exposed to each PRF matrix. METHODS Standard L-PRF served as a control (2,700 revolutions per minute [rpm]-12 minutes). Two test groups using low-speed (1,300 rpm-14 minutes, termed advanced PRF [A-PRF]) and low-speed + time (1,300 rpm-8 minutes; A-PRF+) were investigated. Each PRF matrix was tested for growth factor release up to 10 days (eight donor samples) as well as biocompatibility and cellular activity. RESULTS The low-speed concept (A-PRF, A-PRF+) demonstrated a significant increase in growth factor release of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, epidermal growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor, with A-PRF+ being highest of all groups. Although all PRF formulations were extremely biocompatible due to their autogenous sources, both A-PRF and A-PRF+ demonstrated significantly higher levels of human fibroblast migration and proliferation compared with L-PRF. Furthermore, gingival fibroblasts cultured with A-PRF+ demonstrated significantly higher messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of PDGF, TGF-β, and collagen1 at either 3 or 7 days. CONCLUSIONS The findings from the present study demonstrate modifications to centrifugation speed and time with the low-speed concept favor an increase in growth factor release from PRF clots. This, in turn, may directly influence tissue regeneration by increasing fibroblast migration, proliferation, and collagen mRNA levels. Future animal and clinical studies are now necessary.
Understanding alcohol abuse in American Indian/Alaskan Native youth.

By almost any measure, the health status of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) teenagers in the United States is below that of the general adolescent population. These youth exhibit more serious problems than the U.S. "all races" population in such areas as depression, suicide, anxiety, substance use, general health status, and school dropout rates. Alcohol misuse is the leading and perhaps most costly risk factor among AI/AN youth today, underlying many major causes of premature death and contributing to an array to physical morbidities. While AI/AN youth generally report that they use alcohol as frequently or more frequently than other youth, major differences are a younger age of first involvement, greater frequency and amount of use, and negative consequences that are more common. The unique historical legacy of dislocation for AI/AN peoples, coupled with the intensity of contemporary threats to the physical, social, and economic vitality of their communities, form the backdrop for this health risk behavior. Heightened concern and attention toward alcohol use in AI/AN youth is warranted by Indian communities and health care providers not only because of the substance use itself, but also because of the other potential accompanying risk behaviors.
Salmonellosis in North Thames (East), UK: associated risk factors

We assessed the rate of salmonella infections and risk factors associated with infection in North East Thames in 1993. Cases of culture confirmed infection were identified through microbiology laboratories and environmental health officers in the North East Thames. A total of 1730 cases were reported and 209 of these individuals (those who could be contacted within a 3-week interval after onset of symptoms) and matched controls were interviewed by telephone. In addition randomly selected controls were interviewed over a 4-month period about recent gastric acid lowering medication and antimicrobial ingestion. Sixty-six serotypes were identified: S. enteritidis was isolated from 1179 (69%) cases, S. typhimurium from 221 (13%), S. virchow from 77 (4%) and S. newport 25 (1%). Infections were more frequent in summer months. Highest rates were documented in children under 2 years of age for S. enteritidis (108/100000) and under 1 year for S. typhimurium (36/100000). Using the Townsend score, highest isolation rates of S. enteritidis were in more prosperous areas (36/100000 vs. 27/100000; odds ratio (OR) 1·3, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1·2–1·6, P<0·0001), while for S. typhimurium, there was no relation between deprivation index and isolation rates areas (6·4/100000 vs. 6·1/100000; OR 1·1, 95% CIs 0·8–1·5, P=0·77). The case control study showed a significant association between ingestion of products containing raw eggs and S. enteritidis infection (8/111 cases vs. 0/110 controls; OR undefined, lower 95% CIs 3·4). Individuals with salmonella infection were significantly more likely to have travelled abroad in the week before the onset of illness [42/186 (23%) vs. 1/182 (0·5%) ; OR 40, 95% CIs=5·5–291, P<0·001] and to report gastroduodenal disease [11/143 (7 %) vs. 3/143 (2 %); OR 5·0, 95% CIs=1·1–23, P=0·04]. There was an association between illness and gastric acid-lowering medications [unmatched controls OR 22·3 (95% CIs 1·5–3·7, P=0·0002), matched controls OR 3·7 (95% CIs 1·0–3·8, P=0·07)], but no association with antimicrobial ingestion.
Printable thermoelectric devices for energy harvesting

This thesis describes the approaches of fabricating and testing thermoelectric generators (TEG) using screen printing. It includes the formation of the pastes, optimizing of the manufacture processes and the measurement of the thermoelectric properties. A nickel/copper based high temperature TEG was made to demonstrating the screen printing can be applied to fabricate thermoelectric materials. A bismuth/antimony based low temperature TEG was fabricated to identify the proper polymer binder for low temperature TEG application. A flexible bismuth tellurium/antimony tellurium low temperature TEG with 4 thermocouples was presented with a generated voltage of 23 mV and an output power of 194 nW when ΔT=20°C. Moreover, a dispenser printed structured TEG was also demonstrated for its ability to achieve 3D structured thermocouples with a thickness of 500 µm. The objective of this work involves developing screen printable thermoelectric material pastes and suitable processes; a proper approach to transfer the printed TEGs from rigid substrate onto flexible substrate (Kapton). The flexibility allows the printed TEGs to be applied on heat sources with curved surface, such as, human body. An additional research on the interface material of textile is also presented.
To Live Close to a Person With Cancer—Experiences of Family Caregivers

The purpose of this study was to obtain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Family Caregivers (FC) living close to a patient with cancer. This article reports on the findings from individual interviews with 15 FCs of patients with cancer. The interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative hermeneutic analysis. This study revealed that living close to a cancer patient over the course of his or her illness affected many aspects of FCs lives in significant ways. Their experiences can be summarized with two major themes: (1) living in an ever changing life world and (2) balancing between conflicting interests and dilemmas. This study contributed to deeper insights into FC's experiences than previously reported in the literature.
Transuteroplacental metabolism of cortisol and cortisone during mid- and late gestation in the baboon.

We measured uterine extraction (i.e. metabolism) and transuteroplacental interconversion of cortisol (F) and cortisone (E) to determine whether metabolism across the uterus changes during pregnancy and contributes to the MCR of these corticosteroids. On day 100 (n = 4) or 170 (n = 3) of pregnancy (term = day 184), baboons (Papio anubis; 14-18 kg) were sedated with ketamine, and a constant infusion (0.38 ml/min) of 8-12 microCi [3H]F and 9-15 microCi [14C]E in 80 ml 0.9% NaCl-1% ethanol was initiated (time zero) via a maternal antecubital vein. At 60 min, animals were laparotomized, and at 70, 80, and 90 min, blood samples were obtained from right and left uterine veins and from a maternal saphenous vein. At 95 min, a transverse incision was made in the uterus, the fetus was isolated, and blood samples were obtained from the umbilical vein and artery. The cord was then clamped, and the fetus was delivered. Radio-labeled F and E were extracted from serum and purified by sequential paper chromatography, and metabolic parameters were calculated. Endogenous F and E levels were determined by RIA. In the mother, the percent conversions of E to F at midgestation (mean +/- SE; 72 +/- 4) and late gestation (65 +/- 3) were similar and exceeded (P less than 0.01) respective values for oxidation of F to E (51 +/- 7 and 46 +/- 7, respectively), indicating that maternal corticosteroid metabolism favors F formation and is unchanged during the second half of gestation. In contrast, corticosteroid metabolism across the uterus and placenta (transuteroplacental) was altered during pregnancy. At midgestation, transuteroplacental conversion of E to F (37 +/- 9) exceeded (P less than 0.05) the reverse reaction (18 +/- 3), whereas oxidation of F to E at term (28 +/- 4) was 7-fold greater (P less than 0.05) than reduction of E to F (4 +/- 1). At midgestation, essentially all of the F and E in umbilical vein was derived from maternal F. This contrasts with that observed in near-term baboons in which only 41 +/- 9% of the F and 64 +/- 8% of the E entering the fetal circulation was of maternal origin. As a result of uterine, placental, and fetal metabolism, 30% of the F and 15% of the E in maternal circulation were extracted by the uterus at both mid- and late gestation. We conclude that transuteroplacental corticosteroid metabolism changes from reduction at midgestation to oxidation at term. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Three-dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations of Radiatively Inefficient Accretion Flows

We present three-dimensional MHD simulations of rotating radiatively inefficient accretion flows onto black holes. We continuously inject magnetized matter into the computational domain near the outer boundary and run the calculations long enough for the resulting accretion flow to reach a quasi-steady state. We have studied two limiting cases for the geometry of the injected magnetic field: pure toroidal field and pure poloidal field. In the case of toroidal field injection, the accreting matter forms a nearly axisymmetric, geometrically thick, turbulent accretion disk. The disk resembles in many respects the convection-dominated accretion flows found in previous numerical and analytical investigations of viscous hydrodynamic flows. Models with poloidal field injection evolve through two distinct phases. In an initial transient phase, the flow forms a relatively flattened, quasi-Keplerian disk with a hot corona and a bipolar outflow. However, when the flow later achieves steady state, it changes in character completely. The magnetized accreting gas becomes two-phase, with most of the volume being dominated by a strong dipolar magnetic field from which a thermal low-density wind flows out. Accretion occurs mainly via narrow slowly rotating radial streams that "diffuse" through the magnetic field with the help of magnetic reconnection events.
On Model-Based Analysis of Ear Biometrics

Ears are a new biometric with major advantage in that they appear to maintain their structure with increasing age. Most current approaches are holistic and describe the ear by its general properties. We propose a new model-based approach, capitalizing on explicit structure and with the advantages of being robust in noise and occlusion. Our model is a constellation of generalized ear parts, which is learned off-line using an unsupervised learning algorithm over an enrolled training set of 63 ear images. The Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), is used to detect the features within the ear images. In recognition, given a profile image of the human head, the ear is enrolled and recognised from the parts selected via the model. We achieve an encouraging recognition rate, on an image database selected from the XM2VTS database. A head-to-head comparison with PCA is also presented to show the advantage derived by the use of the model in successful occlusion handling.
The feature-positive effect in adult humans: within-group design.

: The feature-positive effect has been demonstrated in several species and has been shown to be robust phenomenon in adult humans when between-group designs are used. The present series of experiments replicated earlier work using between-group designs, found the feature-positive effect using within-group designs, and isolated a factor responsible for an earlier failure to find the phenomenon using a within-group design. The results support the argument for a biological, evolutionary influence in the genesis of the feature-positive effect.