Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Process-oriented diagnosis of tropical cyclones in high-resolution GCMs

AbstractThis study proposes a set of process-oriented diagnostics with the aim of understanding how model physics and numerics control the representation of tropical cyclones (TCs), especially their intensity distribution, in GCMs. Three simulations are made using two 50-km GCMs developed at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. The two models are forced with fixed sea surface temperature (AM2.5 and HiRAM), and in the third simulation the AM2.5 model is coupled to an ocean GCM (FLOR). The frequency distributions of maximum surface wind near TC centers show that HiRAM tends to develop stronger TCs than the other models do. Large-scale environmental parameters, such as potential intensity, do not explain the differences between HiRAM and the other models. It is found that HiRAM produces a greater amount of precipitation near the TC center, suggesting that associated greater diabatic heating enables TCs to become stronger in HiRAM. HiRAM also shows a greater contrast in relative humidity and surface l.
Demodicosis in Renal Transplant Recipients

Solid organ transplant recipients have an increased incidence of skin infections resulting from immunosuppression. Common pathogens include herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, Gram‐positive bacteria and dermatophytes; however, the contribution of multicellular parasitic organisms to dermatologic disease in this population remains less studied. Demodex folliculorum and brevis are commensal mites that reside on human skin. Proliferation of Demodex mites, or demodicosis, is associated with rosacea and rosacea‐like disorders, particularly in immunocompromised populations, although their ability to cause disease is still the subject of debate. We present a case series of four renal transplant recipients with the singular chief complaint of acne rosacea who we diagnosed with demodicosis. Although one of the four patients showed complete resolution following initial antiparasitic therapy, the other three required subsequent antibacterial treatment to fully resolve their lesions. We suggest that demodicosis may be more prevalent than once thought in solid organ transplant recipients and showed that Demodex‐associated acne rosacea can be effectively treated in this population.
Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke A Statement for Healthcare Professionals

In 1991, about 500 000 Americans had a stroke (400 000 had an ischemic stroke) and more than 143 000 died. More than 3 000 000 people in the . Ignited States have survived a stroke. In 1994 the annual economic costs of stroke due to health care expenses and lost productivity are estimated to be nearly $20 billion. In spite of these human and financial costs, stroke unfortunately has not received a great deal of attention, and its management has been marred by an element of nihilism. Caplan concludes that past failures to establish effective therapies for stroke are due to problems in clinical trial design, lack of interest in care of stroke, and lack of available technologies to evaluate patients. However, with advances in diagnosis and treatment, stroke can now be managed as the life-threatening emergency that it is. In 1993 the American Heart Association included emergent stroke care as part of its special resuscitation situations for basic and advanced life support. This report builds on that statement. The goal of this special report is to provide information about the current management of acute ischemic stroke. It also provides recommendations for initial care (within 24 hours of stroke) based on currently available data from clinical trials. In the future, many therapies for stroke will be linked to very early (within 6 hours) intervention. No recommendations about rehabilitation or chronic medical or surgical measures to prevent recurrent stroke are made. To prepare this report, the members of the Stroke Council used the rules of evidence for specific treatments that have been used by other panels (Table I). These rules give greater credence to the results of well-designed clinical trials than to anecdotal case reports or case series. The current recommendations will eventually be altered
Delay-Adaptive Predictor Feedback for Systems With Unknown Long Actuator Delay  $ $

Stabilization of an unstable system with an unknown actuator delay of substantial length is an important problem that has never been attempted. We present a Lyapunov-based adaptive control design, prove its stability and regulation properties for the plant and actuator states, and present a simulation example inspired by the problem of control of pitch and flight path rates in the unstable X-29 aircraft.
Perceived autonomy and self-esteem in Dutch dialysis patients: The importance of illness and treatment perceptions

Compared to healthy people, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients participate less in paid jobs and social activities. This study explored the perceived autonomy, state self-esteem and labour participation in ESRD patients on dialysis, and the role illness and treatment perceptions play in these concepts. Patients completed questionnaires at home or in the dialysis centre (N = 166). Data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Labour participation among dialysis patients was low, the average autonomy levels were only moderate, and the average self-esteem level was rather high. On the whole, positive illness and treatment perceptions were associated with higher autonomy and self-esteem, but not with labour participation. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that illness and treatment perceptions explained 18 to 27% of the variance in autonomy and self-esteem. Perceptions of personal control, less impact of the illness and treatment, and less concern were important predictors. Our results indicate that dialysis patients’ beliefs about their illness and treatment play an important role in their perceived autonomy and self-esteem. Stimulating positive (realistic) beliefs and altering maladaptive beliefs might contribute to a greater sense of autonomy and self-esteem, and to social participation in general. Interventions focusing on these beliefs may assist patients to adjust to ESRD.
CMOS Imager With 1024 SPADs and TDCs for Single-Photon Timing and 3-D Time-of-Flight

We present a CMOS imager consisting of 32×32 smart pixels, each one able to detect single photons in the 300-900 nm wavelength range and to perform both photon-counting and photon-timing operations on very fast optical events with faint intensities. In photon-counting mode, the imager provides photon-number (i.e, intensity) resolved movies of the scene under observation, up to 100 000 frames/s. In photon-timing, the imager provides photon arrival times with 312 ps resolution. The result are videos with either time-resolved (e.g., fluorescence) maps of a sample, or 3-D depth-resolved maps of a target scene. The imager is fabricated in a cost-effective 0.35-μm CMOS technology, automotive certified. Each pixel consists of a single-photon avalanche diode with 30 μm photoactive diameter, coupled to an in-pixel 10-bit time-to-digital converter with 320-ns full-scale range, an INL of 10% LSB and a DNL of 2% LSB. The chip operates in global shutter mode, with full frame times down to 10 μs and just 1-ns conversion time. The reconfigurable imager design enables a broad set of applications, like time-resolved spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging, diffusive optical tomography, molecular imaging, time-of-flight 3-D ranging and atmospheric layer sensing through LIDAR.
Association Between Waiting Times for Kidney Transplantation and Rates of Live Donation

A deceased donor (DD) allocation system incorporating net life survival benefit has been proposed. In this system, many kidneys will be shifted to younger recipients, thereby decreasing their waiting times. The goal of this study was to determine the potential effects of altering waiting times on the likelihood of live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT). We analyzed 93727 waiting list candidates to determine the association of various patient factors with likelihood of LDKT. The proportion of patients receiving LDKT was compared by the median DD waiting time at that patient's transplant center for someone of that patient's age category and race. LDKT was consistently higher as waiting times became longer. After adjusting for all other factors associated with likelihood of LDKT, waiting time remained a significant, independent predictor. Patients with the longest DD waiting times had 2.3‐fold higher odds of LDKT (95% CI 2.11–2.58, p < 0.001). In planning the new DD allocation policy, we must account for resulting alterations in LDKT. It is possible that shifting DD kidneys to younger recipients may decrease LDKT or shift it to older recipients, net effects not consistent with the goal of net life survival benefit.
Prolonged maternal vitamin C deficiency overrides preferential fetal ascorbate transport but does not influence perinatal survival in guinea pigs

Human and guinea pig fetuses are completely dependent on an adequate maternal vitamin C (vitC) intake. Shortage of micronutrients can have negative implications for fetal health and pregnancy outcome; however, knowledge of maternal vitC deficiency's impact on fetal development is sparse and reports of pregnancy outcome have been divergent. The present study investigated whether maternal vitC deficiency affects pregnancy outcome and plasma vitC distribution between the mother and the offspring in a guinea pig model. A total of eighty pregnant Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were randomised into two weight-stratified groups receiving either a deficient (100 mg/kg DEF) or a control (923 mg/kg CTRL) diet. VitC levels were measured in plasma during pregnancy and postpartum, and in the plasma and brain of newborns. Pregnancy outcome was recorded with respect to birth weight and perinatal survival and were similar between groups. Plasma vitC in dams declined throughout gestation in both groups (P< 0·01). Compared with maternal plasma vitC, plasma vitC of newborn pups was found to be significantly lower in the DEF group (P< 0·001) and higher in the CTRL group (P< 0·001), respectively. Brain vitC levels were significantly reduced in DEF newborn pups (P< 0·001). The present results indicate that preferential transport of vitC from the mother to the fetus is overridden during sustained maternal vitC deficiency, maintaining maternal vitC concentration at the expense of the offspring. This contradicts the notion that a fetus is protected from vitC deficiency by the placental Na-dependent vitC co-transporter, SVCT2, thus fetal development may be susceptible to the negative effects of maternal vitC deficiency.
Causes and management of aggression and violence in a forensic mental health service: perspectives of nurses and patients.

Nurses' attitudes about the causes and management of aggression affects their choice of intervention. We aimed to compare the attitudes held by patients and staff in a forensic mental health service with the Management of Aggression and Violence Attitudes Scale, and examine the factor validity of the tool in this setting by conducting a prospective comparative questionnaire survey. Staff (n = 72) and patient (n = 98) attitudes differed to a limited extent. Confirmatory factor analysis refuted the previously reported structure of the tool. Exploratory factor analysis suggested three underlying factors related to modifiability of aggression, hands on management, and hands off management. Patients were more optimistic than nurses about the modifiability of aggressive behaviour. Male patients and those with diagnoses other than personality disorder were significantly more likely to agree about modifiability than controls. Forensic inpatients recognize the need for the use of a range of techniques to prevent and manage aggression and violence, but selected groups are most likely to believe that aggression is modifiable. Prevention and management of aggression training should emphasize the modifiability of aggressive behaviour. The development of measures of modifiability and management style would assist in the evaluation of training and would offer new avenues for research.
Demonstration of Bacterial Biofilms in Chronic Otitis Media

OBJECTIVE: To establish the presence of biofilms in surgical tissue specimens from patients with chronic otitis media. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 22 patients with chronic otitis media scheduled for tympanomastoid surgery were enrolled in this study between September 2007 and January 2008. Biopsies of the middle ear mucosa and cultures were taken at the time of surgery. Tissues were cultured using conventional methods for Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Bacteria identification was performed using the Becton Dickinson automatic identification system. Slime forming ability was tested on congo red agar for culture positive bacteria. The presence of icaA and icaD DNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction using forward and reverse primers for icaA and icaD for staphylococcus aureus. RESULTS: 6 of 22 patients’ tissue specimens were culture-positive(72.7%). 5 Staphylococcus aureus and 11 Pseudomonas aeruginosa were identified on 16 specimens. Bacterial biofilms were present on 9 of 16(56.2%) culture-positive specimens. 2 of 5(40%) Staphylococcus aureus and 7 of 11(63.6%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced bacterial biofilms. CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most commonly bacteria in chronic otitis media. Biofilm forming ability was higher in Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared with other bacteries. The presence of biofilms on the mucosa of patients with chronic otitis media offers a possible cause of antimicrobial therapy failure. Atatürk Training and Research Hospital ENT Clinic, (E. P›nar, S. Öncel, Ü. Karagöz, Ç. Çall›, B. Tatar); Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Microbiology Clinic,(G. fiener); ‹zmir
Evaluation of the Selectivity and Cysteine Dependence of Inhibitors across the Regulator of G Protein–Signaling Family

Since their discovery more than 20 years ago, regulators of G protein–signaling (RGS) proteins have received considerable attention as potential drug targets because of their ability to modulate Gα activity. Efforts to identify small molecules capable of inhibiting the protein-protein interactions between activated Gα subunits and RGS proteins have yielded a substantial number of inhibitors, especially toward the well studied RGS4. These efforts also determined that many of these small molecules inhibit the protein-protein interactions through covalent modification of cysteine residues within the RGS domain that are located distal to the Gα-binding interface. As some of these cysteine residues are highly conserved within the RGS family, many of these inhibitors display activity toward multiple RGS family members. In this work, we sought to determine the selectivity of these small-molecule inhibitors against 12 RGS proteins, as well as against the cysteine-null mutants for 10 of these proteins. Using both biochemical and cell-based methods to assess Gα-RGS complex formation and Gα enzymatic activity, we found that several previously identified RGS4 inhibitors were active against other RGS members, such as RGS14, with comparable or greater potency. Additionally, for every compound tested, activity was dependent on the presence of cysteine residues. This work defines the selectivity of commercially available RGS inhibitors and provides insight into the RGS family members for which drug discovery efforts may be most likely to succeed.
Rapid determination of antifungal activity by flow cytometry

We have developed a rapid assay of antifungal activity which utilizes flow cytometry to detect accumulation of a vital dye in drug-damaged fungal cells. Results of these studies suggest that flow cytometry may provide an improved, rapid method for determining and comparing the antifungal activities of compounds with differing modes of action.
Population Dynamics of Ascaris suum in Trickle-infected Pigs

Abstract The population dynamics of Ascaris suum was studied by long-term exposure of pigs to infective eggs. The pigs were experimentally inoculated with 25 A. suum eggs/kg/day, and 7, 8, and 8 pigs were necropsied at weeks 4, 8, and 14 postinoculation (PI), respectively. Despite the fact that the pigs were continuously reinfected, dramatic reductions in numbers of liver lesions (white spots) and migrating lung larvae were observed as a function of time. However, even at the end of the study, a few larvae were able to complete migration, but these larvae seemed unable to mature in the small intestine. Thus, the adult worm population seemed to consist of worms from the first part of the exposure period. The noticeable decrease in number of white spots suggests that the level of exposure is not reflected in the number of white spots in the late phase of a continuous infection. The serum levels of A. suum L3-specific IgG1 and IgA were significantly elevated by week 4 PI, after which the antibody levels declined. The population dynamics and parasite regulating mechanisms are discussed for A. suum in pigs as well as for the closely related species A. lumbricoides in humans.
Hyperhomocysteinaemia—a common finding in a psychogeriatric population

Abstract. Plasma homocysteine concentration is a sensitive marker for cobalamin and folate deficiency. The previously reported high incidence of increased plasma homocysteine in psychogeriatric patients and the association between reduced concentrations of cobalamin, folate and neuropsychiatric symptoms led to the present study on 741 consecutive psychogeriatric patients. The concentrations of plasma homocysteine correlated significantly with blood folate, serum cobalamin and serum creatinine both in demented (n= 295) and in non‐demented patients with other psychiatric disorders (n= 215). Plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly increased in both the demented and the non‐demented patients, whereas only the demented patients had lower blood folate and serum creatinine concentrations than 163 control subjects. Almost all of the different diagnostic groups of demented and non‐demented patients exhibited significantly increased plasma homocysteine concentrations compared with control subjects. Significantly decreased blood folate concentrations were mainly found in the different diagnosis groups of demented patients. Plasma homocysteine concentrations in both demented and non‐demented patients with serum cobalamin and blood folate above the lower 20th percentile of these vitamins in the control subjects were also studied. Despite these vitamin concentrations, both groups of patients still exhibited significantly higher plasma homocysteine concentrations than the control subjects, which may indicate an increased frequency of impaired genetic capacity to metabolize homocysteine in these patients. Patients with either dementia of vascular cause or a history of other occlusive arterial disease had a significantly higher plasma homocysteine concentration than those without a history of vascular disease.
Synchronous Demodulator for Autonomous Sensors

In this paper, a novel differential synchronous demodulator is presented that uses the on-off switching characteristic of the power supply in autonomous systems as the control signal for demodulation. The proposed circuit, which uses only an op amp and a double-pole double-throw switch, can be useful in sensor nodes for sensor networks or distributed data-acquisition systems involving ac sensors or impedance measurements. Three prototype demodulators have been implemented using op amps with different power-bandwidth characteristics, and their common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR), nonlinearity, and initial transient were characterized. The working of the circuit when supplied by a piezoelectric energy converter is also verified.
High Upper Critical Field in Potassium Fluoride Doped LaOFeAs Superconductor

We report a new methodology for synthesizing oxypnictide superconductors with the commonly available potassium fluoride (KF) as a source of fluorine instead of expensive LaF3. This results in simultaneous doping of potassium at lanthanum sites and leads to a three-fold increase in the upper critical field. We report the Tc (onset) of 28.50 K by F-doping and highest upper critical field (~122 T) at ambient pressure in the family of La-based oxypnictides. To study the contribution from inter and intra-granular current density, we compare remanent magnetization measurements on La1.03O0. 9F0.2FeAs and La0.8K0. 2O0.8F0. 2FeAs superconductors that show only one major peak indicating substantial electromagnetic granularity. The Seebeck effect (S) with respect to temperature has negative sign and exhibits unconventional temperature dependence. Analysis of resistivity transition broadening under magnetic field reveals the signatures of Arrhenius behavior and the calculated activation energy follows power-law dependence with respect to magnetic field.
Value of Cover Crops in Suppressing Weeds and Protecting Cotton Yields and Likelihood of Residual Herbicide Carryover to Cover Crops

Weed-resistance management has become a topic of concern for modern agriculture. Cost related to herbicide usage has increased greatly due to evolution and proliferation of resistant weeds. Therefore, experiments were conducted to investigate the potential for using cover crops to suppress problematic weeds in cotton as well as chemical options for cover crop dessication, and sensitivity of cover crops to residual herbicides were evaluated. No differences were observed for cereal rye biomass production and consequently weed suppression between broadcast and drilled planting methods. Total amount of cover crop biomass was vital to effectively suppress weeds. Hence, of the cover crops evaluated, cereal rye proved to be superior to others for weed suppression due to its ability to produce large amounts of biomass. Cereal rye biomass production increased as the seeding rate increased, which led to greater weed suppression at a seeding rate of 112 kg ha and 168 kg ha compared to 56 kg ha. Control of cover crops prior to row crop planting can be difficult depending upon the cover crop species. Paraquat plus metribuzin and glufosinate adequately controlled the legume cover crops hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) and Austrian winterpea (Lathryrus hirsutus L). Cereal cover crops were completely controlled by glyphosate alone. Rapeseed was not effectively controlled by any of the termination options evaluated. Based on a herbicide carryover trial from corn, residual herbicides commonly applied in corn that will be rotated to a cover crop and eventually cotton have low risk to interfere with the cover crop establishment and development after corn harvest. Nomenclature: Austrian winterpea, Lathryrus hirsutus L; cereal rye, Secale cereale L. ; hairy vetch, Vicia villosa Roth; rapeseed, Brassica napus L; cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L.
Asymptotic Expansion of the Multi-Orientable Random Tensor Model

Three-dimensional random tensor models are a natural generalization of the celebrated matrix models. The associated tensor graphs, or 3D maps, can be classified with respect to a particular integer or half-integer, the degree of the respective graph. In this paper we analyze the general term of the asymptotic expansion in N, the size of the tensor, of a particular random tensor model, the multi-orientable tensor model. We perform their enumeration and we establish which are the dominant configurations of a given degree.