Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute Sulfonylurea Therapy at Disease Onset Can Cause Permanent Remission of KATP-Induced Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) can be caused by gain-of-function ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel mutations. This realization has led to sulfonylurea therapy replacing insulin injections in many patients. In a murine model of KATP-dependent NDM, hyperglycemia and consequent loss of β-cells are both avoided by chronic sulfonylurea treatment. Interestingly, KATP mutations may underlie remitting-relapsing, transient, or permanent forms of the disease in different patients, but the reason for the different outcomes is unknown. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS To gain further insight into disease progression and outcome, we examined the effects of very early intervention by injecting NDM mice with high-dose glibenclamide for only 6 days, at the beginning of disease onset, then after the subsequent progression with measurements of blood glucose, islet function, and insulin sensitivity. RESULTS Although ∼70% of mice developed severe diabetes after treatment cessation, ∼30% were essentially cured, maintaining near-normal blood glucose until killed. Another group of NDM mice was initiated on oral glibenclamide (in the drinking water), and the dose was titrated daily, to maintain blood glucose <200 mg/dL. In this case, ∼30% were also essentially cured; they were weaned from the drug after ∼4 weeks and again subsequently maintained near-normal blood glucose. These cured mice maintain normal insulin content and were more sensitive to insulin than control mice, a compensatory mechanism that together with basal insulin secretion may be sufficient to maintain near-normal glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS At least in a subset of animals, early sulfonylurea treatment leads to permanent remission of NDM. These cured animals exhibit insulin-hypersensitivity. Although untreated NDM mice rapidly lose insulin content and progress to permanently extremely elevated blood glucose levels, early tight control of blood glucose may permit this insulin-hypersensitivity, in combination with maintained basal insulin secretion, to provide long-term remission.
Prostate Cancer Detection at Rebiopsy After an Initial Benign Diagnosis: Results Using Sextant Extended Prostate Biopsy

INTRODUCTION Sextant prostate biopsy remains the standard technique for the detection of prostate cancer. It is well known that after a diagnosis of small acinar proliferation (ASAP) or high grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), the possibility of finding cancer is approximately 40% and 30%, respectively. OBJECTIVE We aim to analyze follow-up biopsies on patients who initially received a benign diagnosis after exclusion of HGPIN and ASAP. METHODS From July 2000 to December 2003, 1177 patients were submitted to sextant extended prostate biopsy in our hospital. The mean patient age was 65.5 years old, and the median number of fragments collected at biopsy was 13. HGPIN and ASAP were excluded from our study. We only considered patients who had a diagnosis of benign at the first biopsy and were subjected to rebiopsies up until May 2005 because of a maintained suspicion of cancer. RESULTS Cancer was initially detected in 524 patients (44.5%), and the diagnosis was benign in 415 (35.3%). Rebiopsy was indicated for 76 of the latter patients (18.3%) because of a persistent suspicion of cancer. Eight cases of adenocarcinoma (10.5%) were detected, six (75%) at the first rebiopsy. Six patients were submitted to radical prostatectomy, and all tumors were considered clinically significant. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that in extended prostate biopsy, the first biopsy detects more cancer, and the first, second, and third rebiopsies after an initial benign diagnosis succeed in finding cancer in 7.9% (6/55), 5.9% (1/15) and 20% (1/4) of patients, respectively.
Similarity in Shape Dictates Signature Intrinsic Dynamics Despite No Functional Conservation in TIM Barrel Enzymes

The conservation of the intrinsic dynamics of proteins emerges as we attempt to understand the relationship between sequence, structure and functional conservation. We characterise the conservation of such dynamics in a case where the structure is conserved but function differs greatly. The triosephosphate isomerase barrel fold (TBF), renowned for its 8 β-strand-α-helix repeats that close to form a barrel, is one of the most diverse and abundant folds found in known protein structures. Proteins with this fold have diverse enzymatic functions spanning five of six Enzyme Commission classes, and we have picked five different superfamily candidates for our analysis using elastic network models. We find that the overall shape is a large determinant in the similarity of the intrinsic dynamics, regardless of function. In particular, the β-barrel core is highly rigid, while the α-helices that flank the β-strands have greater relative mobility, allowing for the many possibilities for placement of catalytic residues. We find that these elements correlate with each other via the loops that link them, as opposed to being directly correlated. We are also able to analyse the types of motions encoded by the normal mode vectors of the α-helices. We suggest that the global conservation of the intrinsic dynamics in the TBF contributes greatly to its success as an enzymatic scaffold both through evolution and enzyme design.
Optimal multi-user MISO solution with application to multi-user orthogonal space division multiplexing

In this paper, we shall show that for a n/sub T/-element base station (BS) communicating with M(/spl les/n/sub T/) single-element mobile stations (MS) (or multi-user MISO) orthogonally in the spatial domain, the optimization problem is equivalent to the least squares (LS) problem for an undetermined linear system. We then prove that the optimal BS antenna weights can be expressed as the pseudo-inverse of the multi-user system channel matrix. This solution decomposes the multi-user system into many single-user systems with maximal resultant channel responses. The average of the squared channel response (defined as channel gain) and the inverse of the normalized variance of the squared channel response (defined as diversity order) are derived for performance analysis. It is found that every individual user of the resulting system behaves like a single-user system with n/sub T/ - M + 1 reception diversity. Finally, by applying the solution on a multi-user MIMO antenna system (i.e., with multiple antennas at the MS as well), an iterative approach is proposed to perform multi-user orthogonal space division multiplexing (OSDM) in the downlink.
Keeping It Real

This article takes up a central theme in William H. Sewell Jr.'s Logics of History, the relationship between relatively durable structures or systems and the more fleeting and contingent moments of their formation, their reproduction, and occasionally their radical altering. The article seeks to highlight how this tension between generals and particulars lies at the heart of the theoretical and disciplinary divisions that Sewell's book seeks to overcome. Arguing that Sewell's partial reliance on a framework inspired by Ferdinand de Saussure is inadequate for the goals of the book, the article points out that an alternative approach derived from the writings of Charles Sanders Peirce is more in keeping with Sewell's objectives.
Advanced Control Strategies for Stability Improvement of Natural Field Orientation

Natural Field Orientation (NFO) is a patented control strategy for induction machines that was first proposed in 1980's. In recent work by R.E. Betz and G.Mirzaeva it was found that the NFO control algorithm has a stability problem in regeneration mode. The authors proposed an augmentation to the basic algorithm in the form of an auxiliary feedback in the angular velocity estimation. This augmentation resulted in improvement of the NFO performance in regeneration, however, limited to relatively small torque magnitudes and slow dynamics in regeneration. It was expected that flexible control of the auxiliary feedback gain and / or application of a PI block in the auxiliary feedback may be beneficial for further performance improvement of the NFO algorithm. This paper develops a full dynamic model of the NFO controlled system and presents results of its linearised stability analysis. Based on the above, it proposes some more advanced versions of the control over the parameters of the auxiliary feedback. The paper further discusses advantages and limitations of the proposed modifications of the NFO algorithm. To support the discussion, it includes results of simulations and experiments obtained for a test induction machine.
Assessment of the hazard potential of ice avalanches using remote sensing and GIS‐modelling

Ice avalanches typically occur when a large mass of ice breaks off from steep glaciers. Since the reach of ice avalanches is usually low, their hazard potential is generally restricted to high mountain areas that are densely populated or frequently visited by tourists. However, far‐reaching disasters are possible in combination with other processes such as rockfalls or snow avalanches. In addition, the hazard potential of ice avalanches is presently increasing as a consequence of climatic and socio‐economic changes in mountain areas. Dealing with ice‐avalanche hazards requires robust tools for systematic area‐wide detection of hazard potentials. Corresponding techniques have not been developed so far. To bridge this methodological gap, a three‐level downscaling approach was developed. This method chain is based on statistical parameters, geographic information system (GIS) modelling techniques and remote sensing. The procedure permits to perform a fast and systematic first‐order mapping of potentially dangerous steep glaciers and their runout paths for an entire region. To validate the approach, a case study was carried out in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland. The results correspond well with local studies using dynamic avalanche models. Improvements can be obtained by expanding the method chain by including basic data of higher spatial resolution as satellite data and digital terrain models (DTM).
Action Refinement for Probabilistic Processes with True Concurrency Models

In this paper, we develop techniques of action refinement for probabilistic processes within the context of a probabilistic process algebra. A semantic counterpart is carried out in a non-interleaving causality based setting, probabilistic bundle event structures. We show that our refinement notion has the following nice properties: the behaviour of the refined system can be inferred compositionally from the behaviour of the original system and from the behaviour of the systems substituted for actions; the probabilistic extensions of pomset trace equivalence and history preserving bisimulation equivalence are both congruences under the refinement; and with respect to a cpo-based denotational semantics the syntactic and semantic refinements coincide with each other up to the aforementioned equivalence relations when the internal actions are
Toward a Solution for the Ca II Triplet Puzzle: Results from Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies

We present new estimates of ages and metallicities, based on VLT FORS optical (4400-5500 Å) spectroscopy, of 16 dwarf elliptical galaxies (dE's) in the Fornax Cluster and in southern groups. These dE's are more metal-rich and younger than previous estimates based on narrowband photometry and low-resolution spectroscopy. For our sample we find a mean metallicity [Z/H] = -0.33 dex and mean age 3.5 Gyr, consistent with similar samples of dE's in other environments (Local Group, Virgo). Three dE's in our sample show emission lines and very young ages. This suggests that some dE's formed stars until a very recent epoch and were self-enriched by a long star formation history. Previous observations of large near-infrared (~8500 Å) Ca II absorption strengths in these dE's are in good agreement with the new metallicity estimates, solving part of the so-called calcium puzzle.
An Exploratory Study of Aging and Perceptual-Motor Expertise in Handball Goalkeepers

Few studies have examined the effect of age on skilled perception. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the perceptual-motor abilities of highly skilled performers in dynamic, time-constrained sports exhibited the same pattern of age-related decline seen in other areas. The sample for this study involved five age-specific groups of handball goalkeepers. Each participant completed an eye-tracking task, a temporal occlusion task, and an eight-choice reaction time task. Results revealed age-related declines in motor performance but not perceptual performance. Skilled perception appears resistant to normal age-related declines over time through the use of compensatory mechanisms.
Dual Window Pattern Recognition Classifier for Improved Partial-Hand Prosthesis Control

Although partial-hand amputees largely retain the ability to use their wrist, it is difficult to preserve wrist motion while using a myoelectric partial-hand prosthesis without severely impacting control performance. Electromyogram (EMG) pattern recognition is a well-studied control method; however, EMG from wrist motion can obscure myoelectric finger control signals. Thus, to accommodate wrist motion and to provide high classification accuracy and minimize system latency, we developed a training protocol and a classifier that switches between long and short EMG analysis window lengths. Seventeen non-amputee and two partial-hand amputee subjects participated in a study to determine the effects of including EMG from different arm and hand locations during static and/or dynamic wrist motion in the classifier training data. We evaluated several real-time classification techniques to determine which control scheme yielded the highest performance in virtual real-time tasks using a three-way ANOVA. We found significant interaction between analysis window length and the number of grasps available. Including static and dynamic wrist motion and intrinsic hand muscle EMG with extrinsic muscle EMG significantly reduced pattern recognition classification error by 35%. Classification delay or majority voting techniques significantly improved real-time task completion rates (17%), selection (23%), and completion (11%) times, and selection attempts (15%) for non-amputee subjects, and the dual window classifier significantly reduced the time (8%) and average number of attempts required to complete grasp selections (14%) made in various wrist positions. Amputee subjects demonstrated improved task timeout rates, and made fewer grasp selection attempts, with classification delay or majority voting techniques. Thus, the proposed techniques show promise for improving control of partial-hand prostheses and more effectively restoring function to individuals using these devices.
CL-PRE: a certificateless proxy re-encryption scheme for secure data sharing with public cloud

We propose CL-PRE, a certificateless proxy re-encryption scheme for secure data sharing with public cloud, which leverages maximal cloud resources to reduce the computing and communication cost for data owner. Towards running proxy in public cloud environment, we further propose multi-proxy CL-PRE and randomized CL-PRE, which enhance the security and robustness of CL-PRE. We implement all CL-PRE schemes and evaluate their security and performance.
Kinematics of Vega-like stars: Lifetimes and temporal evolution of circumstellar dust disks

We have used the velocity dispersion as an age indicator to constrain the ages of a large sample of main sequence Vega-like stars in order to study the lifetimes and temporal evolution of the dust disks around them. We use Hipparcos mea- surements to compute stellar velocities in the sky plane. The velocity dispersion of Vega-like stars is found to be systematically smaller than that of the normal main sequence field stars for all spectral types, suggesting that the main sequence dusty systems, on average, are younger than normal field stars. The debris disks seem to survive longer around late type stars as compared to early type stars. Further, we find a strong correlation between fractional dust luminosity ( fd ≡ Ldust/L� ) and velocity dispersion of stars with dust disks. Fractional dust luminosity is found to drop off steadily with increasing stellar age from early pre-main sequence phase to late main sequence phase.
Affordances in HCI: toward a mediated action perspective

Interpretations of the concept of "affordances" in HCI are becoming increasingly diverse, extending well beyond the original Gibsonian meaning. We discuss some of the key analyses of affordances in HCI research and make three related claims. First, we argue that many current interpretations of the concept are essentially incompatible with Gibson. Second, we hold that the Gibsonian concept of affordances, conceptualized as interaction between animals and their environments, provides some important insights, but is, in the end, of limited relevance to HCI research. Third, we call for adopting a mediated action perspective on affordances as an alternative to Gibson's ecological psychology. We outline a view of technology affordances as possibilities for human action mediated by cultural means conceived as a relational property of a three-way interaction between the person, mediational means, and environment. We conclude with a discussion of prospects for future conceptual and empirical explorations of the meditational perspective in HCI research.
The Effect of Education based on Simulation with Problem-based Learning on Nursing Students’ Learning Motivation, Learning Strategy, and Academic Achievement

본 연구는 문제중심학습 연계 시뮬레이션 기반 교육을 개발하고 적용하여 간호학생의 학습동기, 학습전략 과 학업성취도에 미치는 효과를 검증하고자 시도하였다. 연구대상자는 간호학과 4학년 학생 69명으로 2015 년 9월부터 10월까지 문제중심학습 연계 시뮬레이션 기반 교육을 개발, 적용하고 학습동기, 학습전략, 학업 성취도를 설문조사하였다. 연구결과, 문제중심학습 연계 시뮬레이션 기반 교육 후 통제 동기(외재 동기)는 감소하고, 자율성 동기(확인된 동기, 내재 동기)는 증가하였으며, 자원관리전략 활용 정도가 향상되었다. 학 업성취도(학업성과, 교육만족도) 모두 확인된 동기와 학습전략(인지전략, 메타인지전략, 자원관리전략)과 정상관관계가 있었다. 결론적으로 문제중심학습 연계 시뮬레이션 기반 교육은 간호대학생의 자율성 동기를 증진하고 자원관리전략의 활용 정도를 향상시키는데 효과적인 교육전략으로 볼 수 있다. 문제중심학습 연 계 시뮬레이션 기반 교육을 다양한 간호 상황에서 적용하여 학습 관련 변인에 영향을 미치는 요인과 매개변 수를 파악하는 연구가 필요하다.
In Silico Models for Dynamic Connected Cell Cultures Mimicking Hepatocyte-Endothelial Cell-Adipocyte Interaction Circle

The biochemistry of a system made up of three kinds of cell is virtually impossible to work out without the use of in silico models. Here, we deal with homeostatic balance phenomena from a metabolic point of view and we present a new computational model merging three single-cell models, already available from our research group: the first model reproduced the metabolic behaviour of a hepatocyte, the second one represented an endothelial cell, and the third one described an adipocyte. Multiple interconnections were created among these three models in order to mimic the main physiological interactions that are known for the examined cell phenotypes. The ultimate aim was to recreate the accomplishment of the homeostatic balance as it was observed for an in vitro connected three-culture system concerning glucose and lipid metabolism in the presence of the medium flow. The whole model was based on a modular approach and on a set of nonlinear differential equations implemented in Simulink, applying Michaelis-Menten kinetic laws and some energy balance considerations to the studied metabolic pathways. Our in silico model was then validated against experimental datasets coming from literature about the cited in vitro model. The agreement between simulated and experimental results was good and the behaviour of the connected culture system was reproduced through an adequate parameter evaluation. The developed model may help other researchers to investigate further about integrated metabolism and the regulation mechanisms underlying the physiological homeostasis.
Social workers' education, training, and experience in practice with clients bereaved by suicide death

This study is a mixed-methods descriptive survey of social workers with and LCSW or LMSW about their understanding of suicide survivorship, and their access to professional training related to treatment of survivors of suicide loss. The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes and experiences of clinical social workers with regards to their education and training, as well as their knowledge and comfort level, in treating patients who are bereaved by a suicide death. Results show that social workers have limited opportunities for education and training in suicide bereavement, however they desire increased training opportunities in a variety of issues related to this issue. Social workers who treated a suicide loss survivor in the past, or attended a course or lecture on suicide bereavement, and/or had explored personal beliefs about suicide in a formal educational or professional setting reported having more preparation to assess and treat complex grief and bereavement than clinicians without this education and experience. In congruence with the literature related to suicide postvention practice, it is clear that encouraging social work graduate institutions, licensing boards, and mental health agencies to require training related to the prevention, assessment, and treatment of suicide assessment, intervention, and postvention practices would be a significant step for the
Location and Associated Carbon Storage of Erosional Escarpments of Seagrass Posidonia Mats

Seagrasses of the genus Posidonia can form an irregular seascape due to erosional processes exposing thick walls of organic matter-rich soils. However, little is known about the location and characteristics of these particular formations. Here we provide comprehensive estimates of organic carbon (Corg) storage in P. oceanica and P. australis meadows, while providing insight into their location and mechanisms of formation, and highlighting future research directions. Erosional reef escarpments are restricted to shallow highly productive P. oceanica meadows from the Mediterranean Sea and P. australis meadows from the Indian Ocean, and sustain the existence of Corg-rich deposits in surrounding meadows. The thickness of the mat escarpments can reach up to 3 m and their length can vary from few to hundreds meters. Mechanisms of formation appear to differ among sites, from naturally-induced escarpments by wave action and/or tidal flow to human-induced escarpments by dredging activities. The inter-twined remains of seagrass shoots within the sediment matrix consolidate the sandy substrate and hold the exposed Posidonia mat escarpments together, maintaining a semi-rigid structure. This phenomenon is unusual but of exceptional importance in marine biogeochemical cycles, revealing the largest Corg sinks among seagrasses worldwide (ranging from 15-176 kg Corg m-2 in 2 m-thick mats accumulated at 2-249 g Corg m-2 yr-1 over 300 to 3000 yr).
Establishing Agreement between Parent-reported and Directly-measured Behaviours

THE QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF research findings relies on the use of appropriate and sensitive research methods. To date, few studies have directly compared quantitative measurement methods in the early childhood field and the extent to which parent-reported and directly-measured behaviours agree is unclear. Existing studies are hampered by small sample sizes and the use of statistical techniques which quantify the magnitude of association between measures (e.g. correlations), but not agreement. Here we review the limitations of existing method comparisons and suggest how alternative statistical approaches such as the Bland-Altman Method and ordinary least products regression can be readily applied in the early childhood context. Understanding agreement (and disagreement) between measurement methods has potential to reduce research costs and improve data quality, with important implications for researchers, clinicians and policy-makers.