Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermal Instability in a Horizontal Layer of Ferrofluid in Anisotropic Porous Medium

Thermal instability in a horizontal layer of ferrofluid saturated by anisotropic porous medium is investigated for free-free boundary conditions. A linear stability analysis based upon perturbation method and normal mode technique is used to study the onset of instabilities of ferrofluid saturated by anisotropic porous medium. Rayleigh number on the onset of stationary convection has been derived by using Galerkin method. Effect of anisotropy parameters and other parameters on stationary convection derived analytically. It is found that the thermal anisotropy parameter has stabilizing effect while mechanical anisotropy parameter and magnetization parameters have destabilizing effect on the stationary convection.
Functional health status in children following surgery for congenital heart disease: a population-based cohort study

Abstract Background Functional health is becoming an important part of outcome assessment following congenital heart surgery. Methods The Child Health Questionnaire was used to evaluate self-reported functional health in a cohort of children operated on for congenital heart disease between 1996 and 2002, now aged 10–20 years. A total of 288 schoolchildren served as controls. The association between demographic and clinical factors such as the Risk Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery, the Aristotle Basic Complexity Score, physical and psycho-social domains was explored by multivariate analysis. Results In total 239 children who were operated on (response rate 68%, mean age at assessment 13.1 years, 50% male children) participated. There were no differences between children operated on for congenital heart disease and controls in nine out of thirteen domains. In multivariate analysis, male gender was positively associated with physical, mental and general health. Higher education of the parents was also associated with better scores for family activities, physical, emotional and general health. In contrast, living with a single parent was negatively associated with mental health. Category 4 in the Risk Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery was associated with worse scores in all behaviour domains. The Aristotle Basic Complexity Score was not associated with any domain. Conclusion Functional health in children operated for congenital heart disease was overall similar to other children of the same age. Male gender of the child, education of the parents, living with a single parent, and category 4 in the Risk Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery were important factors for functional health.
HykGene: a hybrid approach for selecting marker genes for phenotype classification using microarray gene expression data

MOTIVATION Recent studies have shown that microarray gene expression data are useful for phenotype classification of many diseases. A major problem in this classification is that the number of features (genes) greatly exceeds the number of instances (tissue samples). It has been shown that selecting a small set of informative genes can lead to improved classification accuracy. Many approaches have been proposed for this gene selection problem. Most of the previous gene ranking methods typically select 50-200 top-ranked genes and these genes are often highly correlated. Our goal is to select a small set of non-redundant marker genes that are most relevant for the classification task. RESULTS To achieve this goal, we developed a novel hybrid approach that combines gene ranking and clustering analysis. In this approach, we first applied feature filtering algorithms to select a set of top-ranked genes, and then applied hierarchical clustering on these genes to generate a dendrogram. Finally, the dendrogram was analyzed by a sweep-line algorithm and marker genes are selected by collapsing dense clusters. Empirical study using three public datasets shows that our approach is capable of selecting relatively few marker genes while offering the same or better leave-one-out cross-validation accuracy compared with approaches that use top-ranked genes directly for classification. AVAILABILITY The HykGene software is freely available at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wyh/software.htm CONTACT wyh@cs.dartmouth.edu SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary material is available from http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wyh/hykgene/supplement/index.htm.
High-level expression of the tick-borne encephalitis virus NS1 protein by using an adenovirus-based vector: protection elicited in a murine model

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) encodes an abundant, highly immunogenic nonstructural glycoprotein, NS1. The function of this protein has yet to be determined. We have cloned the NS1 gene from the Neudorfl strain of TBEV under the control of the powerful constitutive cytomegalovirus major immediate-early promoter into an adenovirus E1 deletion mutant. The novel combination of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter and the adenovirus vector produced extremely high levels of NS1 expression in cells which do not support replication of the adenovirus deletion mutant. The recombinant protein was shown to be indistinguishable from authentic TBEV NS1 in its (i) apparent molecular weight by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, (ii) glycosylation pattern, (iii) ability to form high-molecular-weight complexes, and (iv) ability to be secreted from cells. Appropriate processing of NS1 expressed by the adenovirus recombinant occurred independently of any additional TBEV-encoded gene function. When directly inoculated into mice, the recombinant adenovirus RAd51 was shown to elicit an antibody response to the TBEV NS1 protein. Immunization with RAd51 conferred protection against challenge with TBEV.
Aggregated 3D-visualization of a distributed simulation experiment of a queuing system

The paper describes an approach for an aggregated animation of a simulation experiment in an interactive 3D environment, visualizing multiple, distributed simulation runs. Although the general approach of a 3-dimensional visualization of material flow simulation helps to understand the dynamic behavior of a system better as well as faster, it remains unclear, how typical the animated simulation represents the model, if there is a stochastic influence for even some parameters. By the integrated visualization of multiple distributed simulation runs, this uncertainty can be solved, which will be shown in this paper for a typical simulation study of a queuing system.
Cavity perturbation technique for the measurement of permittivity tensor of uniaxially anisotropic dielectrics

Based on microwave resonant perturbation theory, a bimodal TE/sub 112/ cylindrical cavity is developed for the measurement of permittivity tensor of uniaxially anisotropic dielectrics. The two perpendicular TE/sub 112/ degenerate modes in the cavity are used to measure the two complex components in the permittivity tensor of a uniaxial sample, respectively. In the measurement of each component, only the corresponding mode resonates in the bimodal cavity, and the real and imaginary parts of the complex component are deduced from the changes of the resonant frequency and the quality factor of the cavity due to sample insertion. In the present technique, the quality factors of the cavity before and after sample insertion are measured at the same frequency, so the uncertainties caused by the variation of the total stored energy in the cavity due to sample insertion are eliminated. Experimental results show that the present technique is accurate and reliable for the measurement of the permittivity tensor of uniaxial media. As an example, the dielectric properties of /spl alpha/-SiO/sub 2/ samples with different crystal orientations are characterized using the present technique.
Delayed Purchase Options in Single-Leg Revenue Management

Many airline reservation systems offer the commitment option to their potential passengers. This option allows passengers to reserve a seat for a fixed duration before making a final purchase decision. In this study, we develop single-leg revenue management models that consider such contingent commitment decisions. We start with a dynamic programming model of this problem. This model is computationally intractable as it requires storing a multidimensional state space because of bookkeeping of the committed seats. To alleviate this difficulty, we propose an alternate dynamic programming formulation that uses an approximate model of how the contingent commitments behave and we show how to extract a capacity allocation policy from the approximate dynamic programming formulation. In addition, we present a deterministic linear programming model that gives an upper bound on the optimal expected revenue from the intractable dynamic programming model. As the problem size becomes large in terms of flight capacity and the expected number of arrivals, we demonstrate an asymptotic lower bound for the deterministic linear programming model. Our extensive numerical study indicates that offering commitment options can noticeably increase potential revenue even though offering a contingent commitment option may not always be in the best interest of the airline. Also, our results show that the proposed approximate dynamic programming model coordinates capacity allocation and commitment decisions quite well.
Are Users Threatened by Credibility Assessment Systems?

Despite the improving accuracy of agent-based expert systems, human expert users aided by these systems have not improved their accuracy. Self-affirmation theory suggests that human expert users could be experiencing threat, causing them to act defensively and ignore the system's conflicting recommendations. Previous research has demonstrated that affirming an individual in an unrelated area reduces defensiveness and increases objectivity to conflicting information. Using an affirmation manipulation prior to a credibility assessment task, this study investigated if experts are threatened by counterattitudinal expert system recommendations. For our study, 178 credibility assessment experts from the American Polygraph Association (n = 134) and the European Union's border security agency Frontex (n = 44) interacted with a deception detection expert system to make a deception judgment that was immediately contradicted. Reducing the threat prior to making their judgments did not improve accuracy, but did improve objectivity toward the system. This study demonstrates that human experts are threatened by advanced expert systems that contradict their expertise. As more and more systems increase integration of artificial intelligence and inadvertently assail the expertise and abilities of users, threat and self-evaluative concerns will become an impediment to technology acceptance.
Borderline personality disorder: ontogeny of a diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the borderline personality disorder diagnosis, highlighting both the obstacles encountered and the associated achievements. METHOD On the basis of a review of the literature, the author provides a chronological account of the borderline construct in psychiatry, summarizing progress in decade-long intervals. RESULTS Borderline personality disorder has moved from being a psychoanalytic colloquialism for untreatable neurotics to becoming a valid diagnosis with significant heritability and with specific and effective psychotherapeutic treatments. Nonetheless, patients with this disorder pose a major public health problem while they themselves remain highly stigmatized and largely neglected. CONCLUSIONS Despite remarkable changes in our knowledge about borderline personality disorder, increased awareness involving much more education and research is still needed. Psychiatric institutions, professional organizations, public policies, and reimbursement agencies need to prioritize this need.
A Retroperitoneal Bronchogenic Cyst Mimicking a Pancreatic or Adrenal Mass

Retroperitoneal location of bronchogenic cysts is extremely rare. Most commonly they are encountered in the posterior mediastinum. Bronchogenic cysts arise from developmental aberrations of the tracheobronchial tree in the early embryologic period. We report a 42-year-old female patient with a retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst in the left adrenal region. She was admitted to our hospital with epigastric pain and subsequently underwent CT of the abdomen. The examination revealed a mass related to the left adrenal gland. Endocrine tests for adrenal hypersecretion were negative. Because of the uncertain entity, laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed a bronchogenic cyst in proximity to an inconspicuous left adrenal gland. Although very rare, bronchogenic cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal cystic lesions and surgical resection pursued for symptom resolution and to establish a definitive histology.
Repeated Famotidine Administration Results in a Diminished Effect on Intragastric pH in Dogs

Background Famotidine is an acid suppressant commonly administered to dogs. Prolonged famotidine use in people results in decreased efficacy, but the effect in dogs is unknown. Hypothesis/Objectives To compare the effect of repeated oral administration of famotidine or placebo on intragastric pH and serum gastrin in dogs. We hypothesized that famotidine would have a diminished effect on intragastric pH on day 13 compared to day 1. Animals Six healthy adult colony Beagles. Methods Randomized, 2‐factor repeated‐measures crossover design. All dogs received oral placebo or 1.0 mg/kg famotidine q12h for 14 consecutive days. Intragastric pH monitoring was used to continuously record intragastric pH on treatment days 1–2 and 12–13. Mean pH as well as mean percentage time (MPT) that intragastric pH was ≥3 or ≥4 were compared between and within groups by analysis of variance. Serum gastrin was measured on days 0, 3, and 12 for each treatment. Results Continued administration of famotidine resulted in a significant decrease in mean pH, MPT ≥3, and MPT ≥4 (P < .0001) on day 12 and 13. This resulted in a mean decrease in pH by 1.63 on days 12 and 13 compared to days 1 and 2. Furthermore, a mean decrease of MPT ≥3 and MPT ≥4 by 33 and 45% was observed for the same time period, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Continued administration of famotidine results in a diminished effect on intragastric pH in dogs. Caution is advised when recommending long‐term, daily oral administration of famotidine to dogs.
The California Verbal Learning Test and other standard clinical neuropsychological tests to predict conversion from mild memory impairment to dementia

This study describes the neuropsychological assessment of 34 patients with questionable Alzheimer's disease (QAD) followed up for 3 years. Several measures were selected from the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and compared to other cognitive tasks to assess the best neuropsychological indices for (a) detecting early memory impairment in QAD and (b) predicting conversion to AD. Concerning detection, the results indicated that a recall measure depending on semantic categorization (short-delay cued recall) signaled a memory deficit in stable QAD patients, suggesting that episodic and semantic memory problems are involved in the early cognitive impairments of stable QAD patients. However, the conversion to AD was best predicted by the initial performance at the recency index (score reflecting high reliance on working memory), corroborating the idea that AD patients (even at the questionable stage) essentially rely on preserved phonological loop functioning in memory tasks. Finally, an additional impairment in visuospatial memory (Rey's figure) provided a good discriminant value to distinguish converters from stable QAD patients, showing that various cognitive disabilities deteriorate in AD.
Hus1p, a conserved fission yeast checkpoint protein, interacts with Rad1p and is phosphorylated in response to DNA damage

The hus1+ gene is one of six fission yeast genes, termed the checkpoint rad genes, which are essential for both the S‐M and DNA damage checkpoints. Classical genetics suggests that these genes are required for activation of the PI‐3 kinase‐related (PIK‐R) protein, Rad3p. Using a dominant negative allele of hus1+, we have demonstrated a genetic interaction between hus1+ and another checkpoint rad gene, rad1+. Hus1p and Rad1p form a stable complex in wild‐type fission yeast, and the formation of this complex is dependent on a third checkpoint rad gene, rad9+, suggesting that these three proteins may exist in a discrete complex in the absence of checkpoint activation. Hus1p is phosphorylated in response to DNA damage, and this requires rad3+ and each of the other checkpoint rad genes. Although there is no gene related to hus1+ in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome, we have identified closely related mouse and human genes, suggesting that aspects of the checkpoint control mechanism are conserved between fission yeast and higher eukaryotes.
Defensive Strategies in Rugby Union

Success in rugby union competition is dependent partly on the defensive strategies of a team. Despite this, little empirical evidence exists about effective defensive strategies used during play. This study attempted to identify defensive characteristics associated with increased likelihood of a successful outcome in rugby union, while considering the game situation. Twenty-one matches of the 2010 Super 14 competition were analysed, amounting to 2,394 coded tackle contacts. The likelihood of the defending team winning the breakdown (the post-tackle contact situation where opposing teams compete for possession of the ball) increased as the match progressed. Defensive speed, measured as the speed of the defence in response to the attacking line, was a statistically significant predictor of breakdown wins and preventing the attacking team from advancing towards the gain line. Identifying the relative effectiveness of such strategies allows understanding of rugby match behaviour and may be applied to improve organisation, design, training, teaching and learning the game.
Possible Regulatory Roles of Promoter G-Quadruplexes in Cardiac Function-Related Genes – Human TnIc as a Model

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are four-stranded DNA secondary structures, which are involved in a diverse range of biological processes. Although the anti-cancer potential of G4s in oncogene promoters has been thoroughly investigated, the functions of promoter G4s in non-cancer-related genes are not well understood. We have explored the possible regulatory roles of promoter G4s in cardiac function-related genes using both computational and a wide range of experimental approaches. According to our bioinformatics results, it was found that potential G4-forming sequences are particularly enriched in the transcription regulatory regions (TRRs) of cardiac function-related genes. Subsequently, the promoter of human cardiac troponin I (TnIc) was chosen as a model, and G4s found in this region were subjected to biophysical characterisations. The chromosome 19 specific minisatellite G4 sequence (MNSG4) and near transcription start site (TSS) G4 sequence (−80 G4) adopt anti-parallel and parallel structures respectively in 100 mM KCl, with stabilities comparable to those of oncogene G4s. It was also found that TnIc G4s act cooperatively as enhancers in gene expression regulation in HEK293 cells, when stabilised by a synthetic G4-binding ligand. This study provides the first evidence of the biological significance of promoter G4s in cardiac function-related genes. The feasibility of using a single ligand to target multiple G4s in a particular gene has also been discussed.
Secular changes in fatness and fat distribution in Australian children matched for body size.

OBJECTIVE To investigate secular trends in waist girth and skinfold measures among Australian children from 1985 and 1997/2002, matched for body size. SUBJECTS A total of 2604 children (10-12 years old) measured in the 1985 Australian Health and Fitness Survey and in two later surveys of South Australian schoolchildren (1997/2002), were matched for age, stature, weight and body mass index (BMI). Measurements. The matched children were compared by ANOVA on waist and hip girths, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and abdominal and triceps skinfolds, taken by trained anthropometrists. RESULTS Between the survey periods, there were significant increases in waist girth, WHR, and the two skinfold measures, but more so for abdominal skinfold. The differences in abdominal skinfold, waist girth and WHR were greater for girls than boys. CONCLUSIONS In Australian children matched for body size, there have been increases in measures of fatness and central adiposity over the last 20 years. This suggests that reported secular trends in BMI may be under-estimating the looming public health crisis.
Multi-filling approach for the improvement of thermoelectric properties of skutterudites

Several skutterudite antimonides filled with atoms of different kinds, (Ba, M)/sub y/Co/sub 4/Sb/sub 12/ (M=Ce, La, Sr), have been synthesized by the combination of solid state reaction and melting methods. Thermal conductivity of (Ba,Sr)/sub y/Co/sub 4/Sb/sub 12/ samples shows a behavior similar to that of Ba/sub y/Co/sub 4/Sb/sub 12/. Adding a small amount of Ce or La to the Ba/sub y/Co/sub 4/Sb/sub 12/ system is effective in further reducing the lattice thermal conductivity. The difference in the ionic radii of the two co-filler atoms is the most sensitive factor for scattering of phonons. The multi-filled (Ba, M)/sub y/Co/sub 4/Sb/sub 12/ (M=Sr, Ce, La) show lower Seebeck coefficients as compared to the single-filled Ba/sub y/Co/sub 4/Sb/sub 12/ having the same total filling fraction. It is expected that higher thermoelectric performance could be realized by further optimization of the composition of filler species.
Partially blind adaptive MMSE interference rejection in asynchronous DS/CDMA networks over frequency-selective fading channels

In this work, the problem of joint suppression of multiple-access and narrow-band interference (NBI) for an asynchronous direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system operating on a frequency-selective fading channel is addressed. The receiver structure we consider can be deemed as a two-stage one: the first stage consists of a bank of minimum mean-square-error (MMSE) filters, each keyed to a given replica of the useful signal, and aimed at suppressing the overall interference; the second stage, assuming knowledge of the fading channel coefficients realizations, combines the MMSE filters outputs according to a maximal-ratio combining rule. Due to the presence of the NBI, the resulting structure is in general time-varying, and becomes periodically time-varying if the NBI bit-rate has a rational ratio to that of the CDMA system. Moreover, enlarging the observation window beyond the signaling interval and oversampling the signal space may yield a noticeable performance improvement. For the relevant case that the said ratio is rational, a new cyclic blind recursive least squares (RLS)-based algorithm is introduced, capable of tracking the periodically time-varying receiver structure, and allowing adaptive interference cancellation with a moderate complexity increase. We also come up with a closed-form expression for the conditional bit-error rate (BER), which is useful both to evaluate semi-analytical methods to assess the unconditional BER and to derive bounds on the system near-far resistance. The results indicate that the receiver achieves very satisfactory performance in comparison to previously known structures. Computer simulations also demonstrate that the cyclic blind RLS algorithm exhibits quite fast convergence dynamics.