Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immersive Visual Communication

The National Academy of Engineering recently identified 14 grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century (www.engineeringchallenges. org). We believe that the continuing advances in ubiquitous sensing, processing, and computing provide the potential to tackle two of these 14 grand challenges: specifically, enhancing virtual reality and advancing personalized learning.
The Bacillus subtilis cell division protein FtsL localizes to sites of septation and interacts with DivIC

FtsL is a small bitopic membrane protein required for vegetative cell division and sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. We investigated its localization by fluorescence microscopy using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion. GFP–FtsL was localized at mid‐cell in vegetative cells and at the asymmetric septum in sporulating cells. We also show that FtsL forms a ring‐like structure at the division site and that it remains localized at mid‐cell during the whole septation process. By yeast two‐hybrid analysis and non‐denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with purified proteins, FtsL was found to interact with another membrane‐bound division protein, the FtsL‐like DivIC protein.
Reexamining the Conditional Effect of Foreign Direct Investment

The prevailing consensus is that foreign direct investment (FDI) effects are conditional. At the macro level, they depend upon minimum levels of human capital or financial development, while at the micro level, they depend on type of linkage (forwards, backwards, or horizontal). This paper presents new evidence showing that these effects are substantially less "conditional". We use a meta-analysis on two data sets covering 549 micro and 553 macro estimates of the effects of FDI on performance. We find these effects tend to be larger in macro than in micro studies, and greater in low- than in high-income countries.
Neural Correlates of Direct and Indirect Suppression of Autobiographical Memories

Research indicates that there are two possible mechanisms by which particular target memories can be intentionally forgotten. Direct suppression, which involves the suppression of the unwanted memory directly, and is dependent on a fronto-hippocampal modulatory process, and, memory substitution, which includes directing one’s attention to an alternative memory in order to prevent the unwanted memory from coming to mind, and involves engaging the caudal prefrontal cortex (cPFC) and the mid-ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) regions. Research to date, however, has investigated the neural basis of memory suppression of relatively simple information. The aim of the current study was to use fMRI to identify the neural mechanisms associated with the suppression of autobiographical memories. In the present study, 22 participants generated memories in response to a series of cue words. In a second session, participants learnt these cue-memory pairings, and were subsequently presented with a cue word and asked either to recall (think) or to suppress (no-think) the associated memory, or to think of an alternative memory in order to suppress the original memory (memory-substitution). Our findings demonstrated successful forgetting effects in the no-think and memory substitution conditions. Although we found no activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, there was reduced hippocampal activation during direct suppression. In the memory substitution condition, however, we failed to find increased activation in the cPFC and VLPFC regions. Our findings suggest that the suppression of autobiographical memories may rely on different neural mechanisms to those established for other types of material in memory.
Throughput and Delay Analysis for Convergecast with MIMO in Wireless Networks

This paper investigates throughput and delay based on a traffic pattern, called convergecast, where each of the n nodes in the network acts as a destination with k randomly chosen sources corresponding to it. Adopting Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology, we devise two many-to-one cooperative schemes under convergecast for both static and mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), respectively. We call them Convergimo Schemes. In static networks, our Convergimo scheme highly utilizes hierarchical cooperation MIMO transmission. This feature overcomes the bottleneck which hinders convergecast traffic from yielding ideal performance in traditional ad hoc network, by turning the originally interfering signals into interference-resistant ones. It helps to achieve an aggregate throughput up to Ω(n1-ϵ) for any ϵ >;0. In the mobile ad hoc case, our Convergimo scheme characterizes on joint transmission from multiple nodes to multiple receivers. With optimal network division where the number of nodes per cell is constantly bounded, the achievable per-node throughput can reach Θ(1) with the corresponding delay reduced to Θ(k). The gain comes from the strong and intelligent cooperation between nodes in our scheme, along with the maximum number of concurrent active cells and the shortest waiting time before transmission for each node within a cell. This increases the chances for each destination to receive the data it needs with minimum overhead on extra transmission. Moreover, our converge-based analysis well unifies and generalizes previous work since the results derived from convergecast in our schemes can also cover other traffic patterns. Last but not the least, our schemes are of interest not only from a theoretical perspective but also provide useful theoretical guidelines to future design of MIMO schemes in wireless networks.
Clozapine-associated pneumonia and respiratory arrest secondary to severe constipation

Clozapine is often the drug of choice within patients suffering from treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia. It has a complex side effects profile which includes potentially fatal agranulocytosis. Clozapine has also become increasingly associated with a range of other side effects including constipation and pneumonia. We report on a case of clozapine-induced severe constipation leading to a silent presentation of pneumonia with a subsequent respiratory arrest. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of pneumonia secondary to severe constipation occurring in the absence of respiratory aspiration of feculent vomitus. We suggest a new pathological mechanism by way of severe constipation leading to diaphragmatic dysfunction and subsequent clozapine-induced pneumonia. In addition, implications for clinical practice are outlined.
A Note on the Congruence Proof for Recursionin Markovian Bisimulation EquivalenceMario

This note repairs some inaccuraces in the congruence proof for recursion previously developed for EMPA. We provide a revised proof based on standard machinery obtained by smoothly extending Milner's technique based on bisimulation up to. The machinery we introduce can be easily adapted in order to obtain accurate proofs for any other Markovian process algebra.
BTS guidelines for home oxygen in children

> “… as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know. ” D Rumsfeld, 2002 ### 1.1 Aims and target audience The aims of these guidelines are to present the evidence base for the practice of administering supplemental oxygen to children outside hospital and to make recommendations for best practice. For many aspects high-quality evidence is lacking, and suggestions are made based on clinical experience. It is hoped the guideline will highlight areas where research is needed to further inform clinicians. The target audience is clinicians who prescribe home oxygen for children, principally those in hospital practice. It is also intended for other professionals involved with the whole process, which may include community paediatricians, paediatric neurodisability specialists, nurse specialists, school nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists; this is reflected by the multidisciplinary nature of the guideline committee (section 13). ### 1.2 Methodology for generation of the guidelines The initial literature search was carried out by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York. Further searches were then carried out by members of the working group who concentrated on their own topics. Details of the search strategy are given in Appendix 1 available online. Each section of the guideline was researched and drafted by a subgroup of the Paediatric Section of the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Home Oxygen Guideline Development Group (itself a subcommittee of the BTS Standards of Care Committee). Publications were rated according to the SIGN 50 criteria for the calibre of the methodology of the research to give levels of evidence (see box 1). Once all parts were merged into one document, the whole group then met to discuss the first …
Characterisation of bulk silicon diodes for the magic plate 512 dosimeter array

The aim of this study is the characterisation of an innovative silicon 2D array Detector named Magic Plate 512 for dosimetry in four-dimensional small field external beam radiotherapy. The need for such a device arises from the inability of current commercial dosimetric devices to account for thoracic movement during 4dimensional radiation therapy (4DRT). 4DRT represents the next step from intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), where organ movements during treatment are no longer neglected as the treatment beam will actively follow a target volume. Dynamic multi-leaf collimators (DMLCs) are one solution to this issue of patient respiration as a DMLC will continuously reshape the treatment aperture to compensate for target motion [1]. The Magic Plate 512 (M512) is a 2D dosimeter array utilizing 512 silicon detectors on a bulk p-type substrate, which has been designed as a high resolution quality assurance tool to determine penumbral variations as a result of simulated patient respiration by a phantom. This variation will be compared with the 4DRT software to determine the accuracy and effectiveness of the DMLC treatment. Test structure diodes have been fabricated on two sets of silicon substrates: one from an American silicon wafer provider (named CMRP) with resistivity of 10 cm and 1 cm, the second set from an European silicon facility (named KDB) with resistivity of 10 cm, diodes were fabricated from both substrates with, and without an n+ guard ring. Electrical characterisation as well as radiation damage studies from both photons and photoneutrons were undertaken on these test structures.
Small Molecule Kaempferol Promotes Insulin Sensitivity and Preserved Pancreatic β-Cell Mass in Middle-Aged Obese Diabetic Mice

Insulin resistance and a progressive decline in functional β-cell mass are hallmarks of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Thus, searching for natural, low-cost compounds to target these two defects could be a promising strategy to prevent the pathogenesis of T2D. Here, we show that dietary intake of flavonol kaempferol (0.05% in the diet) significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and circulating lipid profile, which were associated with the improved peripheral insulin sensitivity in middle-aged obese mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet. Kaempferol treatment reversed HF diet impaired glucose transport-4 (Glut4) and AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) expression in both muscle and adipose tissues from obese mice. In vitro, kaempferol increased lipolysis and prevented high fatty acid-impaired glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, AMPK activity, and Glut4 expression in skeletal muscle cells. Using another mouse model of T2D generated by HF diet feeding and low doses of streptozotocin injection, we found that kaempferol treatment significantly improved hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance, and blood insulin levels in obese diabetic mice, which are associated with the improved islet β-cell mass. These results demonstrate that kaempferol may be a naturally occurring anti-diabetic agent by improving peripheral insulin sensitivity and protecting against pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.
Modeling Large Scale Circuits Using Massively Parallel Discrete-Event Simulation

As computing systems grow to exascale levels of performance, the smallest elements of a single processor can greatly affect the entire computer system (e.g. its power consumption). As future generations of processors are developed, simulation at the gate level is necessary to ensure that the necessary target performance benchmarks are met prior to fabrication. The most common simulation tools available today utilize either a single node or small clusters and as such create a bottleneck in the development process. This paper focuses on the massively parallel simulation of logic gate circuit models using supercomputer systems. The focus of this performance study leverages the OpenSPARC T2 processor design using Rensselaer's Optimistic Simulation System (ROSS). We conduct simulations of the crossbar component on both a 24-core SMP machine and an IBM Blue Gene/L. Using a single SMP core as the baseline, our performance experiments on 1024 cores of the Blue Gene/L demonstrate more than 131-times faster execution. Our results capitalize on the balanced compute and network power of the Blue Gene/L system.
Attenuation Bias in Measuring the Wage Impact of Immigration

Although economic theory predicts an inverse relation between relative wages and immigration-induced supply shifts, it has been difficult to document such effects. The weak evidence may be partly due to sampling error in a commonly used measure of the supply shift, the immigrant share of the workforce. After controlling for permanent factors that determine wages in specific labor markets, little variation remains in the immigrant share. We find significant sampling error in this measure of supply shifts in Canadian and U.S. census data. Correcting for the resulting attenuation bias can substantially increase existing estimates of the wage impact of immigration.
Mutans streptococci genetic strains in children with severe early childhood caries: follow-up study at one-year post-dental rehabilitation therapy

Abstract Background : Genotypic strains of cariogenic mutans streptococci (MS) may vary in important virulence properties. In previous published studies, we identified 39 MS strains from pediatric patients undergoing full-mouth dental rehabilitation, including the removal and/or repair of carious lesions and application of antimicrobial rinse and fluoride varnish. Objectives : The objectives of this current 1-year follow-up study are to assess the variability of MS strains that occur at 1-year post-rehabilitation and characterize the xylitol-resistance properties of MS strains that predominate. Methods : Plaque from five children with severe early childhood caries was collected 1-year post-rehabilitation. MS isolates were subjected to arbitrarily primed-polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) for identification of genetic strains and in vitro xylitol-inhibition experiments. To more precisely define strain distributions within each patient, we isolated large numbers of isolates per patient. Results : MS strains diminished from several strains pre-rehabilitation, to one dominant strain at 1-year post-rehabilitation, with several new emergent strains. The majority of the clinical MS strains, as well as the Streptococcus mutans laboratory strains ATCC 25175 and 35668, were predicted to undergo 50% inhibition with 2.48–5.58% xylitol, with some clinical MS strains being significantly more resistant in vitro. Conclusions : Our follow-up study using patients from the original cohort demonstrates that specific MS strains are dominant at 1-year post-dental rehabilitation. Most of the clinical MS strains are similar in xylitol resistance to the attenuated S. mutans ATCC control strains, with some strains being more resistant to xylitol in vitro.
Higher Temperatures Were Closely Associated with Higher Ambulance Transports in Takamatsu Area, Japan

The link between high temperatures and ambulance transports in Takamatsu area, Japan was investigated. Monthly observations for ambulance transports (2004-2008) were obtained from Fire Department Service in Takamatsu. Data of temperatures in Takamatsu area, Japan (2004-2008) were used by Japan Meteorological Agency. Effect of high temperatures on ambulance transports was analyzed. By using data from July to September, there were not clear differences of mean temperatures and ambulance transports among years. Ambulance transports were significantly correlated with parameters of temperatures. Correlation coefficient rate between ambulance transports and the mean temperature of maximum temperatures in a month was highest among parameters (r = 0.738, p = 0.0017). In addition, ambulance transports were also significantly correlated with the number of days over the level of 32? C in a month (r = 0.782, p = 0.0006). Higher temperatures were closely associated with higher ambulance transports in Takamatsu area, Japan.
IPOPT and Neural Dynamics Tips, Tricks and Diagnostics

We describe the process of fitting a phenomenological model for the spiking behavior of a zebra-fish neuron using the IPOPT routines described in Wächter and Biegler 2006. These routines provide a computationally efficient methods for estimating parameters in nonlinear differential equations. However, convergence to global solutions is not guaranteed and we describe a number of strategies that were necessary to obtain parameter estimates from these data. The intention of fitting these data was to improve on the phenomenological models used. The use of diagnostic techniques with IPOPT software is also described.
Cardiomyocyte and Vascular Smooth Muscle-Independent 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 1 Amplifies Infarct Expansion, Hypertrophy, and the Development of Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction in Male Mice

Global deficiency of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), an enzyme that regenerates glucocorticoids within cells, promotes angiogenesis, and reduces acute infarct expansion after myocardial infarction (MI), suggesting that 11β-HSD1 activity has an adverse influence on wound healing in the heart after MI. The present study investigated whether 11β-HSD1 deficiency could prevent the development of heart failure after MI and examined whether 11β-HSD1 deficiency in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells confers this protection. Male mice with global deficiency in 11β-HSD1, or with Hsd11b1 disruption in cardiac and vascular smooth muscle (via SM22α-Cre recombinase), underwent coronary artery ligation for induction of MI. Acute injury was equivalent in all groups. However, by 8 weeks after induction of MI, relative to C57Bl/6 wild type, globally 11β-HSD1-deficient mice had reduced infarct size (34.7 ± 2.1% left ventricle [LV] vs 44.0 ± 3.3% LV, P = .02), improved function (ejection fraction, 33.5 ± 2.5% vs 24.7 ± 2.5%, P = .03) and reduced ventricular dilation (LV end-diastolic volume, 0.17 ± 0.01 vs 0.21 ± 0.01 mL, P = .01). This was accompanied by a reduction in hypertrophy, pulmonary edema, and in the expression of genes encoding atrial natriuretic peptide and β-myosin heavy chain. None of these outcomes, nor promotion of periinfarct angiogenesis during infarct repair, were recapitulated when 11β-HSD1 deficiency was restricted to cardiac and vascular smooth muscle. 11β-HSD1 expressed in cells other than cardiomyocytes or vascular smooth muscle limits angiogenesis and promotes infarct expansion with adverse ventricular remodeling after MI. Early pharmacological inhibition of 11β-HSD1 may offer a new therapeutic approach to prevent heart failure associated with ischemic heart disease.
Overuse Physeal Injuries in Youth Athletes

Context: Despite rising awareness of the risks associated with sports participation, overuse injuries continue to increase in youth athlete populations. Physeal injuries are one type of overuse injury exclusive to pediatric populations that are often sustained during athletic practice or competition. Overuse physeal injuries are, in theory, preventable; however, little consensus has been reached surrounding the risk factors, prevention, and treatment strategies. Objective: This systematic review summarizes the best available evidence concerning overuse physeal injuries in youth and adolescent athletes. It can be used to develop prevention and treatment programs specific to this population. Data Sources: PubMed and Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost) were explored using the keyword physeal injuries from January 1950 through May 2015 to identify 24 studies. Study Selection: Original research studies of athletic populations with mechanisms of injury related to sport were chosen. Study Design: Systematic review. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Data Extraction: Data were extracted as available from 24 eligible studies. Study quality was rated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine (OCEBM) guidelines. Results: Risk factors for injury include periods of accelerated growth, chronological age, body size, training volume, and previous injury. Injury prevention strategies currently emphasize participation limitations and sport-specific training programs in skeletally immature athletes. The most effective treatment after an overuse physeal injury was an extended period of active rest and joint immobilization when necessary. Conclusion: Overuse physeal injuries are multifactorial in nature. Muscular imbalances after accelerated growth periods predispose young athletes to overuse injuries. Modifiable risk factors such as flexibility, strength, and training volume should be regularly monitored to prevent these injuries.
Chemokine Binding Protein M3 of Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Modulates the Host Response to Infection in a Natural Host

Murine γ-herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) infection of Mus musculus-derived strains of mice is an attractive model of γ-herpesvirus infection. Surprisingly, however, ablation of expression of MHV-68 M3, a secreted protein with broad chemokine-binding properties in vitro, has no discernable effect during experimental infection via the respiratory tract. Here we demonstrate that M3 indeed contributes significantly to MHV-68 infection, but only in the context of a natural host, the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). Specifically, M3 was essential for two features unique to the wood mouse: virus-dependent inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT) in the lung and highly organized secondary follicles in the spleen, both predominant sites of latency in these organs. Consequently, lack of M3 resulted in substantially reduced latency in the spleen and lung. In the absence of M3, splenic germinal centers appeared as previously described for MHV-68-infected laboratory strains of mice, further evidence that M3 is not fully functional in the established model host. Finally, analyses of M3's influence on chemokine and cytokine levels within the lungs of infected wood mice were consistent with the known chemokine-binding profile of M3, and revealed additional influences that provide further insight into its role in MHV-68 biology.