Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The validity of a questionnaire‐based epidemiological study of occupational dermatosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a questionnaire and medical anamnesis to identify persons with dermatitis in an occupational setting. The design was a clinical epidemiological cross‐sectional study. The study was performed between the second and fourth week of January 2001. A questionnaire was followed a week later by a medical occupational interview and a clinical dermatological examination, including a comprehensive patch test with potential workplace chemicals. The anamnesis and the clinical examination were made independently by occupational and dermatological physicians, and the skin examination was performed blinded to anamnestic data. The setting was the mother plants of a Danish‐based international company producing wind turbine systems. The study population was a workplace cohort, highly exposed to epoxy resin systems and other chemicals, and totalled 724 production workers at 4 facilities. The rate of participation was 84.7%. Using enquete questions of current skin rash against the clinical presence of dermatitis, we found a sensitivity of 22% and a specificity of 89%, compared to 45% and 87%, respectively, when the anamnestic work history, taken by an occupational physician, was the screening parameter. Using ‘workplace periodic prevalence’ of dermatitis, we found sensitivities in the range of 63–76% by a questionnaire and 70–83% by medical anamnesis. Questionnaire screening by skin symptoms gave the highest values for redness, a sensitivity of 33% and a specificity of 76%, and decreasing validity parameters as more symptoms were added to the list of screening questions. We found that the use of a questionnaire and medical anamnesis were problematic, when the purpose was screening for contact dermatitis and allergy, in this industrial cohort manufacturing reinforced plastic products. But these instruments might be useful for epidemiological surveillance, when the questionnaire has been validated in the given occupational setting.
Lighting up the Senses: FM1-43 Loading of Sensory Cells through Nonselective Ion Channels

We describe a novel mechanism for vital fluorescent dye entry into sensory cells and neurons: permeation through ion channels. In addition to the slow conventional uptake of styryl dyes by endocytosis, small styryl dyes such as FM1-43 rapidly and specifically label hair cells in the inner ear by entering through open mechanotransduction channels. This labeling can be blocked by pharmacological or mechanical closing of the channels. This phenomenon is not limited to hair cell transduction channels, because human embryonic kidney 293T cells expressing the vanilloid receptor (TRPV1) or a purinergic receptor (P2X2) rapidly take up FM1-43 when those receptor channels are opened and not when they are pharmacologically blocked. This channel permeation mechanism can also be used to label many sensory cell types in vivo. A single subcutaneous injection of FM1-43 (3 mg/kg body weight) in mice brightly labels hair cells, Merkel cells, muscle spindles, taste buds, enteric neurons, and primary sensory neurons within the cranial and dorsal root ganglia, persisting for several weeks. The pattern of labeling is specific; nonsensory cells and neurons remain unlabeled. The labeling of the sensory neurons requires dye entry through the sensory terminal, consistent with permeation through the sensory channels. This suggests that organic cationic dyes are able to pass through a number of different sensory channels. The bright and specific labeling with styryl dyes provides a novel way to study sensory cells and neurons in vivo and in vitro, and it offers new opportunities for visually assaying sensory channel function.
Discrete H/sub /spl infin// filter design with application to speech enhancement

Discrete H/sub /spl infin// filter design with a linear quadratic (LQ) game approach is presented. The exogenous inputs composed of the "hostile" noise signals and system initial condition are assumed to be finite energy signals with unknown statistics. The design criterion is to minimize the worst possible amplification of the estimation error signal, which is different from the classical minimum variance estimation error criterion for the modified Wiener or Kalman filter design. The approach can show how far the estimation error can be reduced under an existence condition on the solution to a corresponding Riccati equation. The application of the discrete H/sub /spl infin// filter to enhance speech contaminated by additive noise is then investigated. In the H/sub /spl infin// estimation, the noise sources can be arbitrary signals with only the requirement of bounded energy, this estimation is more appropriate in practical speech enhancement.
EVALUATION OF COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION FOR FIBER REINFORCED METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE SYSTEM USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Abstract This paper presents the results of numerical investigations carried out to evaluate the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) for fiber reinforced Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). Two approaches have been used in the evaluation of CTEs – Two dimensional Finite Element Method modeling technique and Axisymmetric Finite Element Method modeling approach. The front-end commercial software ANSYS 6.1 is adopted in the current investigation. The CTE values were obtained for varying volume fractions. The results obtained show a good agreement with closed form solutions. Keywords: Ti64/SiC f MMC system, Volume fraction, Finite Element Method, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Nomenclature E 1 , E 2 : Young’s moduli of the composite respectivelysystem along the longitudinal and transverse directions respectively E f , E m : Young’s moduli of fiber and matrix respectively V f ,  : Fiber volume fraction V m : Matrix volume fraction 
Physical Properties of Pigeon Pea Grains at Different Moisture Content

Physical properties of grains plays play important role in the design of seed hopper, conveyers and seed metering device. The physical properties of pigeon pea grains at different range of moisture content from 10.3 to 20.3 d.b. were investigated. The pigeon pea grains dimensions such as length, width thickness and diameter increase linearly with increase moisture content. An increase in bulk density and true density was observed at different moisture content 10.3, 13.6, 16.8 and 20.3 % d.b.
Graded Motor Imagery and the Impact on Pain Processing in a Case of CRPS

Objective:Graded motor imagery (GMI) shows promising results for patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Methods:In a case with chronic unilateral CRPS type I, we applied GMI for 6 weeks and recorded clinical parameters and cerebral activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; pre-GMI, after each GMI block, and after 6 mo). Changes in fMRI activity were mapped during movement execution in areas associated with pain processing. A healthy participant served as a control for habituation effects. Results:Pain intensity decreased over the course of GMI, and relief was maintained at follow-up. fMRI during movement execution revealed marked changes in S1 and S2 (areas of discriminative pain processing), which seemed to be associated with pain reduction, but none in the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (areas of affective pain processing). After mental rotation training, the activation intensity of the posterior parietal cortex was reduced to one third. Discussion:Our case report develops a design capable of differentiating cerebral changes associated with behavioral therapy of CRPS type I study.
Intervention Effects of Atorvastatin Combined with Panax notoginseng Saponins on Rats with Atherosclerosis Complicated with Hepatic Injury

Background: Statins cannot be used for some active liver diseases, which limits its application to some extent. The combined use of statins with other drugs may be one of the ways to solve this dilemma. Objective: This research aims to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin combined with Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on rats with atherosclerosis (AS) complicated with hepatic injury. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly categorized into control group (without any intervention, Group A) and AS model groups, which were divided into hepatic injury (Groups B–E) and nonhepatic injury (Groups F–I) groups. Hepatic and nonhepatic injury groups were intragastrically treated with 5.5 mg/kg·d atorvastatin (Group B, F), 200 mg/kg·d PNS (Group C, G), 5.5 mg/kg·d atorvastatin + 200 mg/kg·d PNS (Group D, H), and normal saline (Group E, I). After 8 weeks, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and serum calcium were analyzed to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and r-glutamyltransferase levels were measured to assess liver function. The thoracic aortas were used for hematoxylin–eosin staining. Results: In both hepatic injury and nonhepatic injury groups, TC, TG and LDL-C levels significantly decreased in Groups B, D, F, and H. ALT and AST levels significantly increased in Group B, but significantly decreased in Groups C and D. The aortic intima thickness was significantly lower in Groups B, D, F, and H than that in the normal saline group. Conclusion: The combination of atorvastatin and PNS treatment showed a significant hypolipidemic effect and hepatic enzyme stability function. Abbreviations used: PNS: Panax notoginseng saponins; AS: Atherosclerosis; TC: Total cholesterol; TG: Triglyceride; HDL-C: High density lipoprotein-cholesterol; LDL-C: Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; T-BIL: Total bilirubin; r-GT: R-glutamyltransferase; HE: Hematoxylin–eosin.
Genetic and protein markers related to laryngeal epithelial precursor lesions and their neoplastic progression

Abstract Conclusion: Various biomarkers might ultimately prove to have prognostic value and could be clinically relevant. It is mandatory confirm the prognostic power of these markers in large, well-designed, and prospective studies. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of specific genes and proteins in laryngeal tumorigenesis. Methods: Genetic analysis by multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification and analysis of protein expression by immunohistochemistry were carried out in a series of 50 tissue samples. Results: In the smoker normal mucosa group TP53 loss was predominant, whereas in the epithelial precursor lesions (EPLs) CDKN2A loss and BCL2L1 gain were most frequent. EPL with progression presented CTNNB1 loss. Positivity at cytoplasm for β-catenin, cyclin D1 and p53 was detected in all EPL cases with progression to invasive carcinoma. Multivariate analysis showed that expression of β-catenin and loss of CTTNB1 were associated with laryngeal cancer risk.
Consensus of Multi-Agent Systems in Directed Networks With Nonuniform Time-Varying Delays

In this note, we study consensus problems for continuous-time multi-agent systems in directed networks with dynamically changing topologies and nonuniform time-varying delays. We have analyzed consensus problems in the following three cases: 1) directed networks with dynamically changing topologies and nonuniform time-varying delays; 2) directed networks with intermittent communication and data packet dropout; and 3) finite-time consensus in directed networks with dynamically changing topologies and nonuniform time-varying delays. We propose a new approach based on a tree-type transformation to investigate consensus problems in all three cases. Some necessary and/ or sufficient conditions are established. Simulation results are also given to demonstrate the theoretical results.
Using surveyor SRV-1 robots to motivate CS1 students

This paper focuses on the development of new software and agent-centric curriculum for teaching introductory computer science (CS1) students, using Surveyor’s SRV-1 robot, with the intention of creating an engaging, interactive learning environment. The SRV-1 platform is an interesting contrast to the older and more well-known LEGO Mindstorms RCX. We present our work with the SRV-1 and contrast our experiences with previous work using the RCX.
Seeing into Darkness: Scotopic Visual Recognition

Images are formed by counting how many photons traveling from a given set of directions hit an image sensor during a given time interval. When photons are few and far in between, the concept of image breaks down and it is best to consider directly the flow of photons. Computer vision in this regime, which we call scotopic, is radically different from the classical image-based paradigm in that visual computations (classification, control, search) have to take place while the stream of photons is captured and decisions may be taken as soon as enough information is available. The scotopic regime is important for biomedical imaging, security, astronomy and many other fields. Here we develop a framework that allows a machine to classify objects with as few photons as possible, while maintaining the error rate below an acceptable threshold. A dynamic and asymptotically optimal speed-accuracy tradeoff is a key feature of this framework. We propose and study an algorithm to optimize the tradeoff of a convolutional network directly from lowlight images and evaluate on simulated images from standard datasets. Surprisingly, scotopic systems can achieve comparable classification performance as traditional vision systems while using less than 0.1% of the photons in a conventional image. In addition, we demonstrate that our algorithms work even when the illuminance of the environment is unknown and varying. Last, we outline a spiking neural network coupled with photon-counting sensors as a power-efficient hardware realization of scotopic algorithms.
Extracellular Cl− regulates electrical slow waves and setting of smooth muscle membrane potential by interstitial cells of Cajal in mouse jejunum

What is the central question of this study? The aim was to investigate the roles of extracellular chloride in electrical slow waves and resting membrane potential of mouse jejunal smooth muscle by replacing chloride with the impermeant anions gluconate and isethionate. What is the main finding and its importance? The main finding was that in smooth muscle cells, the resting Cl− conductance is low, whereas transmembrane Cl− movement in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) is a major contributor to the shape of electrical slow waves. Furthermore, the data confirm that ICCs set the smooth muscle membrane potential and that altering Cl− homeostasis in ICCs can alter the smooth muscle membrane potential.
Prognostic value of high sensitivity C-reaction protein in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE High sensitivity C-reaction protein (hsCRP) has been used as a significant predictive factor of cardiovascular events in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, existing reports in regards to the significance of hsCRP in predicting the progression of hepatic complications in NIDDM patients are too sparse to deliver clear results. This study is aimed at investigating the prognostic value of hsCRP in NIDDM patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS 1128 NIDDM patients with a definite diagnosis of NAFLD were enrolled and followed for one year. The baseline body mass index (BMI), waist-hip circumference ratio (WHR), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), presence of hypertension, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum hsCRP, total cholesterol (Tch), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerine (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were recorded to analyze the significance of hsCRP in predicting the short-term progression from NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). RESULTS One year after baseline, 32% of the NAFLD patients suffered progression to NASH and the percentages of NASH were respectively 8.2%, 12.5%, 33.8% and 72.6% in 4 groups with quartered baseline serum level of hsCRP; there was significant difference among the 4 groups in percentage of NASH (P<0.001). With sex, age, WHR, BMI, hypertension, TG, TCH, HDL-C, LDL-C, FBG and HBsAg included, the calibrated regression model gave the OR values of 1.000, 1.669, 6.635 and 32.131 in in 4 quartered baseline serum levels of hsCRP. CONCLUSION High serum level of hsCRP is an independent risk factor of short-term progression to NASH in patients with NIDDM and NAFLD. Those NIDDM patients with NAFLD that present with high serum level of hsCRP should be subjected to regular monitoring, lifestyle intervention and medication.
mda-7 (IL-24) mediates selective apoptosis in human melanoma cells by inducing the coordinated overexpression of the GADD family of genes by means of p38 MAPK

Subtraction hybridization identified melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7) as a gene induced during terminal differentiation in human melanoma cells. On the basis of structure, chromosomal localization and cytokine-like properties, mda-7 is classified as IL-24. Administration of mda-7/IL-24 by means of a replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad.mda-7) induces apoptosis selectively in diverse human cancer cells without inducing harmful effects in normal fibroblast or epithelial cells. The present studies investigated the mechanism underlying this differential apoptotic effect. Infection of melanoma cells, but not normal immortal melanocytes, with Ad.mda-7 induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in expression, mRNA and protein, of a family of growth arrest and DNA damage (GADD)-inducible genes, which correlated with induction of apoptosis. Among the members of the GADD family of genes, GADD153, GADD45α, and GADD34 displayed marked, and GADD45γ showed minimal induction. Treatment of melanoma cells with SB203580, a selective inhibitor of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, effectively inhibited Ad.mda-7-induced apoptosis. Additional support for an involvement of the p38 MAPK pathway in Ad.mda-7-mediated apoptosis was documented by using an adenovirus expressing a dominant negative mutant of p38 MAPK. Infection with Ad.mda-7 increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and heat shock protein 27 in melanoma cells but not in normal immortal melanocytes. In addition, SB203580 effectively inhibited Ad.mda-7-mediated induction of the GADD family of genes in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and it effectively blocked Ad.mda-7-mediated down-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein BCL-2. Inhibition of GADD genes by an antisense approach either alone or in combination also effectively blocked Ad.mda-7-induced apoptosis in melanoma cells. These results support the hypothesis that Ad.mda-7 mediates induction of the GADD family of genes by means of the p38 MAPK pathway, thereby resulting in the selective induction of apoptosis in human melanoma cells.
ATIACHMENT AND CORE RELATIONSHIP THEMES: WISHES FOR AUTONOMY AND CLOSENESS IN THE NARRATIVES OF SECURELY AND INSECURELY ATIACHED ADULTS

This study examines links between attachment states of mind and relationship schemas in a sample of 40 young adults, half of whom were hospitalized as adolescents for psychiatric treatment. Participants were interviewed about their closest relationships, and, using the Core Contlictual Relationship Theme method, their narratives about these relationships were analyzed for the relative frequency with which they expressed wishes for closeness and for autonomy in relation to others. Participants were also administered the Adult Attachment Interview and were classified with respect to security of attachment. Security of attachment was associated with the relative frequency with which participants expressed wishes for autonomy in their narratives about close relationships, even after accounting for current levels of psychological functioning and his· tory of serious psychopathology in adolescence. Security of attachment was not associated with the relative frequency with which participants expressed wishes for closeness. The study suggests that core relational wishes for autonomy are linked specifically with subtypes of insecure attachment. These findings extend what is known about connections between the representation of early attachment relationships and the wishes and needs expressed in current relationships with significant others.
Neisseria proteomics for antigen discovery and vaccine development

Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is a major causative organism of meningitis and sepsis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) is the causative organism of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. Infections caused by meningococci are vaccine-preventable, whereas gonococcal vaccine research and development has languished for decades and the correlates of protection are still largely unknown. In the past two decades, complementary ‘omic’ platforms have been developed to interrogate Neisseria genomes and gene products. Proteomic techniques applied to whole Neisseria bacteria, outer membranes and outer membrane vesicle vaccines have generated protein maps and also allowed the examination of environmental stresses on protein expression. In particular, immuno-proteomics has identified proteins whose expression is correlated with the development of human natural immunity to meningococcal infection and colonization and following vaccination. Neisseria proteomic techniques have produced a catalog of potential vaccine antigens and investigating the functional and biological properties of these proteins could finally provide ‘universal’ Neisseria vaccines.
Male–male competition and speciation: aggression bias towards differently coloured rivals varies between stages of speciation in a Lake Victoria cichlid species complex

Sympatric speciation driven by sexual selection by female mate choice on a male trait is a much debated topic. The process is problematic because of the lack of negative frequency‐dependent selection that can facilitate the invasion of a novel colour phenotype and stabilize trait polymorphism. It has recently been proposed that male–male competition for mating territories can generate frequency‐dependent selection on male colouration. Rare male cichlid fish would enjoy a fitness advantage if territorial defenders bias aggression towards male cichlid fish of their own colour. We used blue (ancestral type) and red phenotypes of the Lake Victoria cichlid species complex Pundamilia. We tested the aggression bias of wild‐caught territorial blue male cichlid fish from five separate populations for blue vs. red rival male cichlid fish using simulated intruder choice tests. The different populations vary in the frequency of red male cichlid fish, and in the degree of reproductive isolation between red and blue, reflecting different stages of speciation. Blue male cichlid fish from a population that lack red phenotypes biased aggression towards blue stimulus male cichlid fish. The same was found in two populations where blue and red are reproductively isolated sister species. This aggression bias may facilitate the invasion of a novel colour phenotype and species coexistence. Blue male cichlid fish from two populations where red and blue are hybridizing incipient species biased aggression towards red stimulus male cichlid fish. Thus, after a successful invasion of red, aggression bias alone is not likely to generate frequency dependence required to stabilize the coexistence of phenotypes. The findings show that aggression bias varies between stages of speciation, but is not enough to stabilize the process of speciation.