Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study the Effect of Variable Viscosity and Thermal Conductivity of Micropolar Fluid in a Porous Channel

To study the effect of thermal radiation on unsteady boundary layer flow with variable viscosity and thermal conductivity due to stretching sheet in porous channel in presence of magnetic field, a numerical model has been developed. The Rosseland diffusion approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. The governing equations reduced to similarity boundary layer equations using suitable transformations and then solved using shooting method. A parametric study illustrating the influence of the radiation R, variable viscosityε , Darcy number Da, porous media inertia coefficient γ , thermal conductivity κ , unsteady A parameters on skin friction and Nusselt number and Magnetic field parameter M.
UMPTEEN: Named and Anonymous Learner Model Access for Instructors and Peers

Recently, opening the learner model to the learner it represents has become more common in adaptive learning environments. There have also been systems that allow instructors access to the learner models of their students, and a few examples of systems which open the learner model to the student's peers. However, little investigation has taken place into students' attitudes to viewing the learner models of others, and their likelihood of making their own models available for inspection by others. The UMPTEEN approach was developed in order to investigate students' views about releasing their learner model more widely, and to observe how they use their own and peer models. This paper presents the first results from a lab-based study of an open learner model that can be optionally opened to others, in named and/or anonymous form. Results suggest that there are sufficient students interested in viewing peer models, and sufficient students willing to open their learner models to instructors and peers, to make further studies worthwhile.
Platelet activation during preparation of platelet concentrates: a comparison of the platelet‐rich plasma and the buffy coat methods

The activation of platelets during the preparation of platelet concentrates (PCs) by two methods was compared. To eliminate interdonor differences, 2 units of whole blood were pooled and subsequently divided into two batches. From one batch, the platelets were harvested as pelleted platelets from platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) and from the other as nonpelleted platelets from the buffy coat (BC). The activation of platelets in these PCs was studied immediately after preparation and during storage for up to 9 days at 22°C with gentle agitation. The binding of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against the GP IIb/IIIa complex and against activation‐dependent antigens (GMP 140 from the alpha granules and a 53‐kDa glycoprotein from the lysosomal granules) was measured. β‐thromboglobulin (β‐TG) release was also determined. Disc‐to‐sphere transformation was quantitated by measuring on an aggregometer the difference in light transmission during stirring at different rates and also by light microscopy. Immediately after preparation, platelets derived from PRP had a more spheric morphology (p < 0.01), had a higher β‐TG release (p < 0.01), bound more MoAbs against GP IIb/IIIa (p < 0.01), and expressed more GMP 140 and 53‐kDa glycoprotein (p < 0.01) than did BC‐ derived platelets. However, these differences had disappeared after 2 days of storage. It was concluded that, immediately after preparation, PRP‐derived platelets are more activated than BC‐derived platelets. This is most likely a result of the pelleting that follows the second high‐speed centrifugation of the PRP.
Differentiation in the medulloblastoma. A histological and immunohistochemical study.

The histological and immunohistological features of medulloblastomas were investigated in patients participating in an ongoing cooperative study of the Societé International d'Oncologie Pédiatrique (SIOP). Of 51 neoplasms, four were the classic desmoplastic variant. In regard to the histological features used to grade neoplasms, considerable inter- and intratumoral variation was observed. The neoplasms with the most pleomorphic and coarsely structured nuclei tended to be neuroblastic, whereas the most delicate and uniform nuclei were found in the desmoplastic neoplasms. Twenty-one of the cases exhibited neuroblastic differentiation in the form of neuroblastic rosettes. Of these, three also contained neoplastic ganglion cells. Of the five medulloblastomas that were calcified, four contained neuroblastic rosettes in accord with the tendency for calcification in neuroblastic neoplasms. In many of the neuroblastic neoplasms, islands of markedly neuron-specific enolase (NSE)-positive cells were seen. Although the limited specificity of this marker enzyme is recognized, we believe that this focal intense staining could indicate neuronal differentiation somewhat more advanced than in small NSE-positive islands of reduced cellularity, many of which were strongly positive. The nuclei in these island were usually larger and more vesicular than those in the surrounding densely cellular areas. These features and the frequent association with Homer-Wright rosettes suggest that these foci represent a form of neuronal differentiation. Astrocytic differentiation was more difficult to define and required the use of staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Six neoplasms contained GFAP-positive cells that were clearly neoplastic. Many others contained scattered reactive astrocytes and dispersed cells whose neoplastic versus reactive nature could not be defined. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identification of the ortho-Benzoquinone Intermediate of 5-O-Caffeoylquinic Acid In Vitro and In Vivo: Comparison of Bioactivation under Normal and Pathological Situations

5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) is one of the major bioactive ingredients in some Chinese herbal injections. Occasional anaphylaxis has been reported for these injections during their clinical use, possibly caused by reactive metabolites of 5-CQA. This study aimed at characterizing the bioactivation pathway(s) of 5-CQA and the metabolic enzyme(s) involved. After incubating 5-CQA with GSH and NADPH-supplemented human liver microsomes, two types of GSH conjugates were characterized: one was M1-1 from the 1,4-addition of GSH to ortho-benzoquinone intermediate; the other was M2-1 and M2-2 from the 1,4-addition of GSH directly to the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group of the parent. The formation of M1-1 was cytochrome P450 (P450)-mediated, with 3A4 and 2E1 as the principal catalyzing enzymes, whereas the formation of M2-1 and M2-2 was independent of NADPH and could be accelerated by cytosolic glutathione transferase. In the presence of cumene hydroperoxide, M1-1 formation increased 6-fold, indicating that 5-CQA can also be bioactivated by P450 peroxidase under oxidizing conditions. Furthermore, M1-1 could be formed by myeloperoxidase in activated human leukocytes, implying that 5-CQA bioactivation is more likely to occur under inflammatory conditions. This finding was supported by experiments on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory rats, where a greater amount of M1-1 was detected. In S-adenosyl methionine- and GSH-supplemented human S9 incubations, M1-1 formation decreased by 80% but increased after tolcapone-inhibited catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity. In summary, the high reactivities of the ortho-benzoquinone metabolite and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group of 5-CQA to nucleophiles have been demonstrated. Different pathological situations and COMT activities in patients may alter the bioactivation extent of 5-CQA.
A Cautious Note on Auxiliary Variables That Can Increase Bias in Missing Data Problems

The treatment of missing data in the social sciences has changed tremendously during the last decade. Modern missing data techniques such as multiple imputation and full-information maximum likelihood are used much more frequently. These methods assume that data are missing at random. One very common approach to increase the likelihood that missing at random is achieved consists of including many covariates as so-called auxiliary variables. These variables are either included based on data considerations or in an inclusive fashion; that is, taking all available auxiliary variables. In this article, we point out that there are some instances in which auxiliary variables exhibit the surprising property of increasing bias in missing data problems. In a series of focused simulation studies, we highlight some situations in which this type of biasing behavior can occur. We briefly discuss possible ways how one can avoid selecting bias-inducing covariates as auxiliary variables.
Exact multisensor dynamic bias estimation with local tracks

An exact solution is provided for the multiple sensor bias estimation problem based on local tracks. It is shown that the sensor bias estimates can be obtained dynamically using the outputs of the local (biased) state estimators. This is accomplished by manipulating the local state estimates such that they yield pseudomeasurements of the sensor biases with additive noises that are zero-mean, white, and with easily calculated covariances. These results allow evaluation of the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) on the covariance of the sensor bias estimates, i.e., a quantification of the available information about the sensor biases in any scenario. Monte Carlo simulations show that this method has significant improvement in performance with reduced rms errors of 70% compared with commonly used decoupled Kalman filter. Furthermore, the new method is shown to be statistically efficient, i.e., it meets the CRLB. The extension of the new technique for dynamically varying sensor biases is also presented.
MMSE-DFE equalizer design for OFDM systems with insufficient cyclic prefix

In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, the transmitter inserts a cyclic prefix (CP) at the head of each symbol, in order to avoid inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-channel interference. However, since the CP does not carry useful data, this approach causes a loss in the OFDM system efficiency. To solve this problem, one can use a CP of insufficient length and decrease ISI- and ICI power by a decision feedback equalizer (DFE), presented in (J Zhu et al, Proc. Int. Conf. on Comm., p.948-952, 1992). In this paper, we introduce new techniques to improve the performance of this equalizer. Feedback error elimination by forward error correction and designing the equalizer with a minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion are proposed here.
Dominant-negative mutants of human MxA protein: domains in the carboxy-terminal moiety are important for oligomerization and antiviral activity

Human MxA protein is an interferon-induced 76-kDa GTPase that exhibits antiviral activity against several RNA viruses. Wild-type MxA accumulates in the cytoplasm of cells. TMxA, a modified form of wild-type MxA carrying a foreign nuclear localization signal, accumulates in the cell nucleus. Here we show that MxA protein is translocated into the nucleus together with TMxA when both proteins are expressed simultaneously in the same cell, demonstrating that MxA molecules form tight complexes in living cells. To define domains important for MxA-MxA interaction and antiviral function in vivo, we expressed mutant forms of MxA together with wild-type MxA or TMxA in appropriate cells and analyzed subcellular localization and interfering effects. An MxA deletion mutant, MxA(359-572), formed heterooligomers with TMxA and was translocated to the nucleus, indicating that the region between amino acid positions 359 and 572 contains an interaction domain which is critical for oligomerization of MxA proteins. Mutant T103A with threonine at position 103 replaced by alanine had lost both GTPase and antiviral activities. T103A exhibited a dominant-interfering effect on the antiviral activity of wild-type MxA rendering MxA-expressing cells susceptible to infection with influenza A virus, Thogoto virus, and vesicular stomatitis virus. To determine which sequences are critical for the dominant-negative effect of T103A, we expressed truncated forms of T103A together with wild-type protein. A C-terminal deletion mutant lacking the last 90 amino acids had lost interfering capacity, indicating that an intact C terminus was required. Surprisingly, a truncated version of MxA representing only the C-terminal half of the molecule exerted also a dominant-negative effect on wild-type function, demonstrating that sequences in the C-terminal moiety of MxA are necessary and sufficient for interference. However, all MxA mutants formed hetero-oligomers with TMxA and were translocated to the nucleus, indicating that physical interaction alone is not sufficient for disturbing wild-type function. We propose that dominant-negative mutants directly influence wild-type activity within hetero-oligomers or else compete with wild-type MxA for a cellular or viral target.
Nomograma de riesgo de progreso de hipertensión ocular basado en el Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study

Introduccion: Se ha construido un nomograma practico para representar los resultados del Ocular Hipertension Study (Gordon et al. Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120: 714-720) que relacionan la presion intraocular y el espesor corneal con el riesgo de evolucionar de hipertension ocular a glaucoma en un plazo de 6 anos. Material y Metodos: Se ha aplicado una regresion logaritmica multiple a los 9 datos mostrados en la figura 1 del trabajo senalado anteriormente. Resultados: Un coeficiente de correlacion de 0,91 (p<0,001) permite definir la siguiente ecuacion: Probabilidad de evolucion (%) = 13539,5 x (1,1385PIO) x (0,9818ESPESOR CORPORAL) Esto significa que una variacion de 10 micras en el espesor corneal equivale a una variacion de 1,5 mmHg en el mismo sentido de la presion intraocular. Con estos datos se ha construido un nomograma que se incluye en el trabajo. Conclusiones: La PIO y la paquimetria permiten estimar el riesgo de evolucion de hipertension ocular a glaucoma de una manera grafica practica. Estimada de esta manera indirecta, la influencia del espesor corneal sobre la medida de la presion intraocular parece muy superior a la que se habia estimado hasta el momento.
Diversité et évaluation participative des cultivars du manioc ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) au Centre Bénin

Le manioc est une plante alimentaire qui contribue fortement a la securite alimentaire au Benin. Pour evaluer sa diversite varietale, les performances agronomiques, technologiques et culinaires de ses cultivars dans la region centrale du Benin, 41 villages ont ete prospectes. Sous reserve de synonymie, 107 cultivars de manioc ont ete recenses dont 59 elites. L’indice de diversite de Shannon est de 3,78 et traduit une importante diversite varietale. Le nombre de cultivars recenses varie de 3 a 26 par village (10 en moyenne). Dans les villages ou une perte de diversite varietale est notee, son taux a varie de 6,25 a 80% avec un taux moyen de 42,22% par village. Les cultivars a produire sont choisis sur la base de 21 criteres dont les plus importants sont la forte productivite (16,37% de reponses), la qualite et le rendement en gari (15,52% de reponses) et la precocite (13,27% de reponses). Les contraintes de production (9 au total) percues par les producteurs peuvent etre levees par l’utilisation des cultivars performants. L’evaluation participative a revele l’existence de tres peu de cultivars performants par rapport aux parametres biotiques et abiotiques. La mise en place d’un programme d’amelioration et de creation varietale est fortement recommandee pour la relance de la production du manioc au Benin. Mots cles : Benin, critere de preference, cultivar elite, diversite varietale, evaluation participative, manioc.
An in vitro study of the effect of blood and saliva contamination on the bond strength of self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems to dentine

The increase in demand & use of esthetic restorations by patients and clinical practitioners in the present era has led to intensive research of adhesive materials. Contamination is one of the most common problems encountered during bonding restorative procedures, which can lead to mainly reduction in the bond strength of the composite especially when rubber dam isolation is not durable. Many carious lesions, which require the use of dentin bonding agents, are located on areas that are difficult to isolate especially when the site is near or at the gingival margin and, therefore, dentin contamination with saliva and blood is more likely to occur. In this context, the contamination of the operatory field is a recurrent reality that emphasizes the value of studies in this area. Contemporary adhesive systems can be classified into two groups: total-etching and self-etching systems.
Cerámica tardorromana de cocina de las Islas Baleares: estudio arqueométrico

EL ESTUDIO ARQUEOMETRICO DE LAS CERAMICAS DE LOS YACIMIENTOS DE SA MESQUIDA (MALLORCA), CAN SORA (IBIZA) Y ES CAP DES PORT (MENORCA), CENTRADAS ENTRE LOS SIGLOS V Y VI D.C., HA PERMITIDO CARACTERIZAR DIVERSAS FABRICAS. DESDE UN PUNTO DE VISTA ARQUEOLOGICO LAS CERAMICAS ESTUDIADAS PUEDE SER CONSIDERADAS EN SU MAYORIA DE COCINA Y MODELADAS A MANO O A TORNETA. LA CARACTERIZACION ARQUEOMETRICA SE HA REALIZADO A PARTIR DE FLOURESCENCIA DE RAYOS X COMO TECNICA QUIMICA, Y DIFRACCION DE RAYOS X Y PETROGRAFIA PARA CONOCER LA COMPOSICION MINERALOGICA Y PETROGRAFICA. SE HA UTILZIADO TAMBIEN LA MICROSCOPIA ELECTRONICA DE RASTREO (MER) PARA EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE LAS MICROESTRUCTURAS Y ASPECTOS PUNTUALES. DESDE UN PUNTO DE VISTA DE LA ARQUEOLOGIA MAS TRADICIONAL, LAS CERAMICAS ESTUDIADAS HABIAN SIDO SIEMPRE CONSIDERADAS COMO LOCALES DADA SU FACTURA "TOSCA". LOS RESULTADOS DE ESTE ESTUDIO DEMUESTRAN, PARA LA MAYORIA DE LAS FABRICAS DEFINIDAS, UNA INCOMPATIBILIDAD GEOLOGICA CON LOS YACIMIENTOS EN LOS QUE APARECEN Y, POR CONSIGUIENTE, SU CARACTER ALOCTONO.
Effect of a quality-improvement intervention on end-of-life care in the intensive care unit: a randomized trial.

RATIONALE Because of high mortality, end-of-life care is an important component of intensive care. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the effectiveness of a quality-improvement intervention to improve intensive care unit (ICU) end-of-life care. METHODS We conducted a cluster-randomized trial randomizing 12 hospitals. The intervention targeted clinicians with five components: clinician education, local champions, academic detailing, clinician feedback of quality data, and system supports. Outcomes were assessed for patients dying in the ICU or within 30 hours of ICU discharge using surveys and medical record review. Families completed Quality of Dying and Death (QODD) and satisfaction surveys. Nurses completed the QODD. Data were collected during baseline and follow-up at each hospital (May 2004 to February 2008). We used robust regression models to test for intervention effects, controlling for site, patient, family, and nurse characteristics. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS All hospitals completed the trial with 2,318 eligible patients and target sample sizes obtained for family and nurse surveys. The primary outcome, family-QODD, showed no change with the intervention (P = 0.33). There was no change in family satisfaction (P = 0.66) or nurse-QODD (P = 0.81). There was a nonsignificant increase in ICU days before death after the intervention (hazard ratio = 0.9; P = 0.07). Among patients undergoing withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, there was no change in time from admission to withdrawal (hazard ratio = 1.0; P = 0.81). CONCLUSIONS We found this intervention was associated with no improvement in quality of dying and no change in ICU length of stay before death or time from ICU admission to withdrawal of life-sustaining measures. Improving ICU end-of-life care will require interventions with more direct contact with patients and families. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT00685893).
Chemical Weathering of Bone in Archaeological Soils

Weathering of hydroxyapatite, Ca5(PO4)3(OH) in bone probably is initiated by organic and carbonic acids formed by the microbial decomposition of collagen. This weathering, independent of soil properties, is caused by protons replacing Ca from hydroxyapatite. As collagen is depleted, proton production decreases and weathering may either continue if protons are available from the soil or be arrested if Ca from the soil displaces the protons previously added to the hydroxyapatite. The theoretical Ca/P weight ratio of unweathered bones is 2.15. Weathered bones that have been stabilized by Ca may have this ratio or a higher one if extra Ca has been added. A group of weathered bones from one site with a slightly acid soil had an average ratio of 1.67, which probably promotes further weathering, while bone at the same site with an average ratio of 4.09 was less weathered and apparently stabilized.
The Natural Approach: Language Acquisition in the Classroom

Allen, Virginia F. 1971. Teaching intonation, from theory to practice. TESOL Quarterly 4(1):73-81. Brown, Gillian. 1977. Listening to spoken English. London: Longman. Brown, Gillian, and George Yule. 1983. Discourse analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Gary, Judith 0. , and Norman Gary. 1981. Caution: talking may be dangerous to your linguistic health. International Review of Applied Linguistics 19(1):1-14. Kingdon, Roger. 1965. The groundwork of English stress. London: Longman. Krashen, Stephen D. 1980. The monitor model for adult second language performance. In Readings on English as a second language, Kenneth Croft (Ed.), 213-221. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Mulla, Mohammed Amin. 1979. Aptitude, attitude, motivation, anxiety, intolerance of ambiguity, and other biographical variables as predictors of achievement in EFL by high school science major seniors in Saudi Arabia. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan. Parish, Charles. 1980. A practical philosophy of pronunciation. In Readings on English as a second language, Kenneth Croft (Ed.), 258-264. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Pribam, Karl. 1980. The place of pragmatics in the syntactic and semantic organization of language. In Temporal variables in speech, H. Dechert and M. Raupach (Eds.), 13-20. The Hague: Mouton. Trager, Edith Crowell, and Sara Cook Henderson. 1956. The PD's: pronunciation drills for learners of English. Culver City, California: ELS Publications.
Suture anchor placement technique around the insertion of the ventral rectus muscle for the replacement of the prolapsed gland of the third eyelid in dogs: 100 dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a rapid and efficacious procedure to anchor the prolapsed gland of the third eyelid in dogs. METHODS This is a retrospective study of 100 affected dogs (122 eyes) with third eyelid gland prolapse that were surgically anchored with a nonabsorbable suture around the insertion of the ventral rectus muscle. RESULTS Hundred dogs (122 eyes) were included in this study. Twenty-three pure-bred and several mixed-breed dogs were represented with the right eye affected in 60 cases and the left eye in 62 cases. Thirty-four eyes (27.9%) were previously operated on at another facility prior to referral. The average age of the patients was 2.2 years (57 days to 11 years). No recurrences of gland prolapse were observed over the course of study. Minor intraoperative conjunctival perforations were observed and easily repaired at the time of the surgery in 21 cases (17.2%). Five cases demonstrated preexistent keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and all had improved Schirmer tear test following surgical correction and medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS The suture anchor placement technique provides a cosmetic, rapid, and successful replacement of the prolapsed gland of the third eyelid in dogs. No recurrences were noted. Complications were easily addressed.