Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the structure and dynamics of sheared and rotating turbulence: Anisotropy properties and geometrical scale-dependent statistics

This study is based on a series of nine direct numerical simulations of homogeneous turbulence, in which the rotation ratio f / S of Coriolis parameter to shear rate is varied. The presence of rotation stabilizes the flow, except for a narrow range of rotation ratios 0 f / S1. The main mechanism for the flow’s destabilization is an increased turbulence production due to increased anisotropy. Reynolds stress and the dissipation rate anisotropy tensors have been evaluated and provide a reference for newly defined anisotropy measures. Wavelet-based directional energies capture the properties of velocity gradients. The intermittency of the flow in different directions is quantified with scale-dependent directional flatness. Scale-dependent helicity probability distribution functions allow one to statistically characterize the geometry of the motion at different scales. Small scales are found locally to be predominantly helical, while large scales are not since they tend to two-dimensionalization for cases with growing turbulent kinetic energy. Joint probability distribution functions show that the signs of velocity helicity and vorticity helicity are strongly correlated. This indicates that vorticity helicity tends to diminish velocity helicity. © 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3457167
Temporal and spatial regulation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling in late lung development

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play important roles in early lung development. No study to date has addressed a role for BMP signaling in late lung development. We describe changes in the expression and localization of BMP receptors (Bmpr1a, Bmpr1b, and Bmpr2) and Smad (Smad1, Smad4, Smad5, and Smad8) intracellular signaling proteins during the saccular and alveolarization stages of late lung development. BMP signaling, assessed by Smad1/5 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and induction of id1, id2, and id3 gene expression, was evident throughout late lung development. Our data indicate that BMP signaling is active during late lung development, and points to roles for the BMP system in septal and vascular development, and in the homeostasis of the epithelial layer of large conducting airways in the mature lung. Developmental Dynamics 236:2825–2835, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Current Concepts Review: Diabetic Foot Ulcers

In 2007, an estimated 23.6 million Americans had diabetes mellitus (DM), representing a 30% increase in the prevalence of this disease over the preceding 5 years. The economic burden of DM in the United States is staggering and was estimated to be 174 billion dollars in 2007. A recent estimate of the annual cost of care for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), including subsequent amputation in the United States was more than 10 billion dollars. Nearly 25% of the total annual cost of treatment for DM is attributable to the management of DFU and its complications (infections and amputations). Diabetic foot ulcers can be associated with severe morbidity. The goals of treatment are to heal the ulcer, prevent secondary infection, prevent recurrence, and avoid amputation. This current concepts review will discuss the pathophysiology, work-up, and management of diabetic foot ulcers. Evidence-based recommendations for available treatment options will also be presented.
Immediate Spica Casting of Pediatric Femoral Fractures in the Operating Room Versus the Emergency Department: Comparison of Reduction, Complications, and Hospital Charges

Background Immediate spica casting for pediatric femur fractures is well described as a standard treatment in the literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of a spica cast in the emergency department (ED) versus the operating room (OR) with regard to quality of reduction, complications, and hospital charges at an academic institution. Methods An institutional review board-approved retrospective review identified 100 children aged 6 months to 5 years between January 2003 and October 2008 with an isolated femur fracture treated with a hip spica cast. Patients were compared based on the setting of spica cast application. Results There were 79 patients in the ED cohort and 21 patients in the OR cohort. There were no significant differences in age, weight, sex, fracture pattern, prereduction shortening, injury mechanism, duration of spica treatment, time to heal, or length of follow-up between cohorts. There were no significant differences in the rate of loss of reduction requiring revision casting or operative treatment (6.3% vs. 4.8%), the need for cast wedging (8.9% vs. 14.3%), or minor skin breakdown (12.7% vs. 14.3%). There were no sedation or anesthetic complications in either group. There were no significant differences in the quality of reduction or the rate of complications between the 2 groups. Spica casting in the OR delayed the time from presentation to cast placement as compared with the ED cohort (11.5 h vs. 3.8 h, P<0.0001) and lengthened the hospital stay (30.5 h vs. 16.9 h, P=0.0002). The average hospital charges of spica cast application in the OR was 3 times higher than the cost of casting in the ED ($15,983 vs. $5150, P<0.0001). Conclusions Immediate spica casting in the ED and OR provide similar results in terms of reduction and complications. With the significantly higher hospital charges for spica casting in the OR, alternative settings should be considered. Level of Evidence III—Retrospective comparative study.
Surfactant Protein-D Is Essential for Immunity to Helminth Infection

Pulmonary epithelial cell responses can enhance type 2 immunity and contribute to control of nematode infections. An important epithelial product is the collectin Surfactant Protein D (SP-D). We found that SP-D concentrations increased in the lung following Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection; this increase was dependent on key components of the type 2 immune response. We carried out loss and gain of function studies of SP-D to establish if SP-D was required for optimal immunity to the parasite. N. brasiliensis infection of SP-D-/- mice resulted in profound impairment of host innate immunity and ability to resolve infection. Raising pulmonary SP-D levels prior to infection enhanced parasite expulsion and type 2 immune responses, including increased numbers of IL-13 producing type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), elevated expression of markers of alternative activation by alveolar macrophages (alvM) and increased production of the type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. Adoptive transfer of alvM from SP-D-treated parasite infected mice into naïve recipients enhanced immunity to N. brasiliensis. Protection was associated with selective binding by the SP-D carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) to L4 parasites to enhance their killing by alvM. These findings are the first demonstration that the collectin SP-D is an essential component of host innate immunity to helminths.
Adiponectin gene polymorphisms are associated with long-chain ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum phospholipids in nondiabetic Koreans.

CONTEXT Hypoadiponectinemia is caused by interactions between genetic and environmental factors, including the quality of dietary fats. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) with dietary fat intake or fatty acid (FA) composition in serum phospholipids, plasma adiponectin, and insulin resistance. METHODS Nondiabetic subjects (n = 1194) were genotyped for three ADIPOQ SNPs (-11377C>G; 45T>G; 276G>T) after screening of eight sites. Dietary fat intake, FA composition in serum phospholipids, adiponectin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also measured. RESULTS The 276G carriers (n = 1082) showed lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.024) and adiponectin (P < 0.001) but higher glucose (P = 0.015) and HOMA-IR (P = 0.005) than 276T/T subjects (n = 112). No associations were found in other SNPs. After adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and the proportion of 18:2ω6 and 18:3ω3 (biomarkers of long term essential FA intake), the 276G carriers showed lower proportions of total ω3FA (P = 0.026), 20:5ω3 (P = 0.021), and 22:5ω3 (P = 0.024) in serum phospholipids. Among FAs in serum phospholipids, 18:2ω6 highly correlated with ω3-polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) intake (r = 0.260, P < 0.001) and adiponectin (r = 0.150, P < 0.001). The 276G carriers with a higher proportion of 18:2ω6 (≥12.5%) exhibited more pronounced characteristics, i.e. lower adiponectin (P < 0.001), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.004), higher HOMA-IR (P = 0.013), and lower long-chain ω3PUFAs (20:5ω3, 22:5ω3, and 22:6ω3, P < 0.001). Additionally, the effect of 276G>T on the relationship between adiponectin and HOMA-IR was modified by 18:2ω6 proportion. CONCLUSION ADIPOQ 276G is associated with reduced proportion of long-chain ω3PUFAs in serum phospholipids in nondiabetic Koreans.
Tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy and lymphoma development: twenty-six cases reported to the Food and Drug Administration.

OBJECTIVE Etanercept and infliximab are tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists that have been recently approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Crohn's disease (CD). This study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of lymphoproliferative disorders in patients treated with these agents. METHODS Relevant data in the MedWatch postmarket adverse event surveillance system run by the US Food and Drug Administration were reviewed. RESULTS We identified 26 cases of lymphoproliferative disorders following treatment with etanercept (18 cases) or infliximab (8 cases). The majority of cases (81%) were non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The interval between initiation of therapy with etanercept or infliximab and the development of lymphoma was very short (median 8 weeks). In 2 instances (1 infliximab, 1 etanercept), lymphoma regression was observed following discontinuation of anti-TNF treatment, in the absence of specific cytotoxic therapy directed toward the lymphoma. CONCLUSION Although data from a case series such as this cannot establish a clear causal relationship between exposure to these medications and the risk of lymphoproliferative disease, the known predisposition of patients with RA and CD to lymphoma, the known excess of lymphoma in other immunosuppressed populations, and the known immunosuppressive effects of the anti-TNF drugs provide a biologic basis for concern and justification for the initiation of additional epidemiologic studies to formally evaluate this possible association.
Long-Term Sickness Absence Due to Mental Disorders Is Associated with Individual Features and Psychosocial Work Conditions

Aims Sickness absence is a socioeconomic global burden. In Brazil, mental disorders are the third leading cause of social security benefits payments. The aim of the present study was to compare factors associated with long-term sickness absence between workers who claimed social benefits due to mental disorders or by other causes. We investigated individual features and occupational characteristics. In addition, we evaluated psychosocial factors at work assessed by the Demand-Control-Support (DCS) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models, and whether they were associated with long-term sickness absence due to mental disorders (LTSA-MD). Methods The present case-control study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. The sample (n = 385) included workers on sick leave for more than 15 days. Cases were the participants with disabling psychiatric illnesses, and controls were the ones with other disabling diseases. Interviews were conducted to assess individual features (sociodemographic data, health habits/lifestyle, health conditions) and occupational characteristics. The participants' perception of exposure to dimensions of the DCS and ERI models was also recorded. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the association between independent variables and LTSA-MD. Results All the regression analyses showed that LTSA-MD was associated with female sex, self-reported white skin color, higher education level, high tobacco consumption, high alcohol intake, two or more comorbidities, exposure to violence at work, high job strain and low social support at work, effort-reward imbalance and high overcommitment to work. LTSA-MD was associated with separate and combined DCS and ERI stress models. Conclusions Individual features and work conditions were associated with LTSA-MD. Combined analysis of stress models showed that psychosocial factors at work were significantly associated with LTSA-MD. Resourceful use of this information may contribute to the implementation of preventive actions and strategies to facilitate return to work targeting the populations most susceptible to mental disorders.
Intellectual and Memory Impairment in Dementia: Computerized Axial Tomography Volume Correlations

Ventricular volume estimates and an index of cerebral atrophy were obtained from computerized axial tomography scans of patients with presenile or senile dementia of probable Alzheimer's type. These measures were used to examine the correlation between morphological brain change and performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS). Despite ventricular volumes in excess of 60% larger than normal, no significant correlations were found between ventricular size and WAIS or WMS performance. The index of pericerebral atrophy did correlate negatively with various WAIS measures, particularly Performance IQ, and some aspects of WMS. performance. Results suggest that in Alzheimer's disease, pericerebral atrophy measures, but not ventricular dilation, correlate with intellectual decline and certain aspects of memory impairment.
Multifidelity design optimization of low-boom supersonic jets

The practical use of high-fidelity multidisciplinary optimization techniques in low-boom supersonic business-jet designs has been limited because of the high computational cost associated with computational fluid dynamics-based evaluations of both the performance and the loudness of the ground boom of the aircraft. This is particularly true of designs that involve the sonic boom loudness as either a cost function or a constraint because gradient-free optimization techniques may become necessary, leading to even larger numbers of function evaluations. If, in addition, the objective of the design method is to account for the performance of the aircraft throughout its full-flight mission while including important multidisciplinary tradeoffs between the relevant disciplines the situation only complicates. To overcome these limitations, we propose a hierarchical multifidelity design approach where high-fidelity models are only used where and when they are needed to correct the shortcomings of the low-fidelity models. Our design approach consists of two basic components: a multidisciplinary aircraft synthesis tool (PASS) that uses highly tuned low-fidelity models of all of the relevant disciplines and computes the complete mission profile of the aircraft, and a hierarchical, multifidelity environment for the creation of response surfaces for aerodynamic performance and sonic boom loudness (BOOM-UA) that attempts to achieve the accuracy of an Euler-based design strategy. This procedure is used to create three design alternatives for a Mach 1.6, 6-8 passenger supersonic business-jet configuration with a range of 4500 n mile and with a takeoff field length that is shorter than 6000 ft. Optimized results are obtained with much lower computational cost than the direct, high-fidelity design alternative. The validation of these design results using the high-fidelity model shows very good agreement for the aircraft performance and highlights the need for improved response surface fitting techniques for the boom loudness approximations.
A full English sentence database for off-line handwriting recognition

We present a new database for off-line handwriting recognition, together with a few preprocessing and text segmentation procedures. The database is based on the Lancaster-Oslo/Bergen(LOB) corpus. This corpus is a collection of tests that were used to generate forms, which subsequently were filled out by persons in their own handwriting. As of December 1998 the database includes 556 forms produced by approximately 250 different writers. The database consists of full English sentences. It could serve as a basis for a variety of handwriting recognition tasks. The main focus, however is on recognition techniques that use linguistic knowledge beyond the lexicon level. This knowledge can be automatically derived from the corpus or it can be supplied from external sources.
Effect of Ca2+ on In Vitro Astrocyte Injury

Abstract: Current literature suggests that a massive influx of Ca2+ into the cells of the CNS induces cell damage associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using an in vitro model for stretch‐induced cell injury developed by our laboratory, we have investigated the role of extracellular Ca2+ in astrocyte injury. The degree of injury was assessed by measurement of propidium iodide uptake and release of lactate dehydrogenase. Based on results of in vivo models of TBI developed by others, our initial hypothesis was that decreasing extracellular Ca2+ would result in a reduction in astrocyte injury. Quite unexpectedly, our results indicate that decreasing extracellular Ca2+ to levels observed after in vivo TBI increased astrocyte injury. Elevating the extracellular Ca2+ content to twofold above physiological levels (2 mM) produced a reduction in cell injury. The reduction in injury afforded by Ca2+ could not be mimicked with Ba2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, or Mg2+, suggesting that a Ca2+‐specific mechanism is involved. Using 45Ca2+, we demonstrate that injury induces a rapid influx of extracellular Ca2+ into the astrocyte, achieving an elevation in total cell‐associated Ca2+ content two‐ to threefold above basal levels. Pharmacological elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or thapsigargin before injury dramatically reduced astrocyte injury. Our data suggest that, contrary to popular assumptions, an elevation of total cell‐associated Ca2+ reduces astrocyte injury produced by a traumatic insult.
Dividend Variability and Stock Market Swings

This paper examines the extent to which swings in stock prices can be related to variations in the discounted value of expected future dividends when investors face uncertainty about their future behaviour. I develop an econometric model that accounts for the instability of U.S. dividend growth and discount rates during the past 120 years. Estimates of the model reveal that changing forecasts of future dividend growth account for more than 90% of the predictable variations in dividend-prices. The estimates also imply that instability in the dividend and discount rate processes contribute significantly to the predictability of long-horizon stock returns.
Talking with children: Professional conversations in a participation perspective

How to talk with children is of great concern in many fields of professional practice, though conversations have various statuses within different contexts. The discussion of children’s rights to participation emphasized by The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC; United Nations, 1989) raises a number of questions about the significance of professional talking practices. A rights-based rationale is just one of many for talking with children. In this article, the question of how to talk with children as well as the question of how to analyze talk with children are addressed. Three possible analytical perspectives on participation and professional conversations are discussed: conversations as means for participation, participation as a theme in conversations, and conversations as a form of participation. The last one is employed in the analyses. To identify and conceptualize challenges in professional talking practices, I argue that a broader participation concept then the one offered in the UNCRC is required. Methodological discussions from research with children are made relevant for the discussion of professional practice. Drawing from empirical examples of 55 audio-recorded and transcribed conversations between child welfare workers and children in the action research project “Talk with us”—Professional practices and children’s participation, selected aspects of professional conversations with children are discussed: negotiating contracts, normative inquiries, and exploring labels. Conversations are analyzed as intergenerational practices, while children and adult professionals are analyzed as differently positioned participants in joint meaning-producing activities. Finally, normativity and the relation between process and result in studies of professional conversations with children are discussed.
On Testing Business Models

ABSTRACT This study explores decisions related to formal empirical tests of business models and interpretations and uses of those tests. Business models describe managers' rationales as to how their organizations will achieve success. This study documents a test of one company's business model under seemingly favorable conditions for such a test—a successful single-product firm following a consistent strategy over a long period of time with stable management and publicly traded stock. Although the findings provide only weak support for the hypothesized business model, the confidence of the company's top managers in their business model remained high. Further analyses reveal that the managers' response to the test results is consistent with that expected of Bayesian-rational agents. Our analyses provide the basis for development of a framework for understanding the expected value of testing business models in various circumstances. This framework might explain apparent contradictions between previous studi.
Anomia as a factor predicting subjective well-being

Subjective well-being is recognized as one of the important indicators of health. The purpose of this research was to determine how dimensions of anomia are associated with subjective well-being and which dimensions of anomia best predict global life satisfaction and global sense of happiness. The secondary data from the third European Quality of Life Survey were used. 1009 respondents (residents of Latvia) aged between 18 and 92 years participated in the research (34.9% males, 65.1% females). 3 subscales of anomia (Trustworthiness to Government and Other Social Institutions, Social Isolation and Meaninglessness) were constructed. To assess subjective well-being ten questions of EQLS were used. It was found that three dimensions of anomia were negatively associated with global life satisfaction, domain satisfaction and global sense of happiness. Meaninglessness, social isolation and trustworthiness significantly predict global life satisfaction, F(3,797) = 174.55, p = . 000, R² = . 40%. Meaninglessness and social isolation significantly predict global sense of happiness, F(2,792) = 189.25, p = . 000, R² = . 32%. Dimensions of anomia could be useful in prediction of subjective well-being.