Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactive Rendering of Materials and Biological Structures on Atomic and Nanoscopic Scale

The properties of both inorganic and organic materials and the function of biological structures can often only be understood by analyzing them simultaneously on atomic and nanoscopic, if not mesoscopic, scale. Here, the problem arises to render millions to billions of atoms. We propose a method by which it is possible to interactively visualize atomic data, bridging five orders of magnitude in length scale. For this, we propose a simple yet efficient GPU rendering method that enables interactive visualization of biological structures consisting of up to several billions of atoms. To be able to load all atomic data onto the GPU, we exploit the fact that biological structures often consist of recurring molecular substructures. We also exploit that these objects typically are rendered opaquely, so that only a fraction of the atoms is visible. The method is demonstrated on both biological structures as well as atom probe tomography data of an inorganic specimen. We conclude with a discussion about when ‐during ascension from atomic to mesoscopic scale – level‐of‐detail representations become necessary.
Integrating traditional medical practice with primary healthcare system in Eritrea

Abstract Background: The purpose of this paper was to assess the perceptions and attitudes of modern medical practitioners (MMPs) and traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) about traditional medical practice and to analyze the utilization of traditional medicine in Eritrea. Methods: The data for this study were collected in a 10-month period from January to October 2004. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three sub-zones of Eritrea: Dekemhare, Ghinda, and Maekel. A total of 500 (250 each) MMPs and TMPs, and 1657 households were included in the study. Data were collected both by questionnaire and an interview (with key informants). Results: Our study reveals that there is a significant difference in perception and attitude between MMPs and TMPs about traditional medical practice in Eritrea. Their differences lie not only in their way of thinking but also in their perceptions of man and health. Our study further shows that in most rural communities in Eritrea, the use of traditional medicine and self-care is extensive. This is the case even in the presence of the supposedly free/subsidized health care available in government health centers. Conclusions: Higher confidence in traditional medicine for the treatment of serious illnesses, irrespective of availability of western medical service in many parts of Eritrea, indicates the need for selective integration of traditional medical practice with the primary healthcare system of the country.
Reasoning About Security Models

A method for evaluating security models is developed and applied to the model of Bell and LaPadula. The method shows the inadequacy of the Bell and LaPadula model, in particular, and the impossibility of any adequate definition of a secure system based solely on the notion of a secure state. The implications for the fruitfulness of seeking a global definition of a secure system and for the state of foundational research in computer security, in general, is discussed.
Endocrinopathies in adolescents with thalassaemia major receiving oral iron chelation therapy

Background: Endocrinopathies are common in patients with thalassaemia major (TM) despite parenteral iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine. There are only a few studies on the efficacy of oral deferiprone in preventing endocrine dysfunction. Aim: To determine the growth and endocrine complications in children with TM receiving oral iron chelation with deferiprone. Methods: All adolescents with TM receiving regular blood transfusion and deferiprone were evaluated prospectively for growth and pubertal status over a 1-year period. Tests for endocrine function included oral glucose tolerance test, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone and thyroid profile and, in those with delayed/arrested puberty, sex steroids and gonadotropins. Clonidine-stimulated growth hormone (GH) was measured in patients with height ≤−3 SD. Results: 89 patients [51 males, 38 females, mean (SD) age 13·6 (2·5) years] were evaluated. Mean (SD) pre-transfusion haemoglobin was 9·2 (1·1) g/dl and the mean (SD) age of starting deferiprone was 5·1 (2·4) years. Mean (SD) ferritin was 9159 (3312) pmol/L (normal <2247). 49 (55%) subjects were of short stature and 25 (27%) had a height Z-score ≤ −3. GH testing was performed in 19 patients, of whom 17 had peak GH values <10 μg/L. Delayed puberty and/or hypogonadism was present in 54·1% patients at or beyond the age of normal puberty. Impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism and primary hypothyroidism (subclinical) were present in 13·0%, 10·1% and 8·9%, respectively. Overall, 44 (49·4%) adolescents had at least one endocrinopathy. Conclusion: Adolescents with TM on oral iron chelation therapy with deferiprone experienced a high prevalence of growth faltering and endocrinopathies which was comparable to that previously reported with deferoxamine. A combination of deferoxamine and deferiprone may be necessary to prevent growth and endocrine problems.
Effect of bioreduced graphene oxide on anaerobic biotransformation of nitrobenzene in an anaerobic reactor

Bioreduced graphene oxide (BRGO) has been proven to be capable of accelerating nitrobenzene (NB) biotransformation by anaerobic sludge (AS). To realize its application, in the present study, two continuous anaerobic reactors (R1 with BRGO/AS composite; R2 with AS) were employed to treat NB-containing wastewater during a long-term run. Compared with R2, the start-up time of R1 was shortened from 70 to 45 d and R1 exhibited better removal efficiency (87% of R1 and 74% of R2 with an influent NB concentration of 200 mg L−1 at hydraulic retention time = 24 h, NaCl = 3%). Moreover, R1 exhibited better stability with over 81% NB removal efficiency within 90 d. Further study demonstrated that the presence of BRGO facilitated microorganisms to secrete extracellular polymeric substances, resulting in the higher electrochemical and dehydrogenase activities of R1 compared with those of R2. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Need and Non-Need Factors Associated with Addiction Treatment Utilization in a Cohort of Homeless and Housed Urban Poor

Background:Research on addiction treatment utilization in indigent samples mainly has been retrospective, without measures of addictive consequences, social network influences, and motivation. Prospective assessment of factors influencing utilization could inform policy and clinical care. Objective:We sought to identify factors associated with utilization of addiction treatment and mutual help groups among substance-dependent persons with high rates of homelessness. Research and Methods:This was a prospective cohort of patients detoxified from alcohol or drugs at baseline who were followed for 2 years in a randomized clinical trial of linkage to primary care (n = 274). Outcomes included utilization of Inpatient/Residential, Outpatient, Any Treatment, and Mutual Help Groups. Predictor variables in longitudinal regression analyses came from the literature and clinical experience, organized according to theoretical categories of Need, and non-Need (eg, Predisposing and Enabling). Results:Many subjects used Inpatient/Residential (72%), Outpatient (62%), Any Treatment (88%) or Mutual Help Groups (93%) at least once. In multivariable analyses, addictive consequences (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–1.71), motivation (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09–1.60), and female gender (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.13–2.86) were associated with most treatment types (ORs are for Any Treatment). Homelessness was associated with Residential/Inpatient (for Chronically Homeless vs. Housed, OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.04–2.94). Living with one's children (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31–0.84) and substance-abusing social environment (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43–0.98) were negatively associated with Any Treatment. Conclusions:In this cohort of substance-dependent persons, addictive consequences, social network variables, and motivation were associated with treatment utilization. Non-need factors, including living with one's children and gender, also were significant.
Translating Advanced Integrity Checking Technology to SQL

INTRODUCTION The main goal of this chapter is to arrive at a coherent technology for deriving efficient SQL triggers from declarative specifications of arbitrary integrity constraints. The user may specify integrity constraints declaratively as closed queries in predicate calculus syntax (i.e., sentences in the language of first-order logic, abbr. FOL), as datalog denials, as query conditions in SQL WHERE clauses, or in some other, possibly more user-friendly manner (e.g., via a dialog-driven graphical or natural language interface which internally translates to equivalent WHERE clause conditions). As we are going to see, the triggers derived from such specifications behave such that whenever some update event would vi late any of the integrity constraints, one or several of the triggers derived from that constraint are activated in order to enforce the constraint. That is, the violation is either prevented by rolling back the update or repaired instantly by subsequent further updates. In this chapter, we describe how to implement advanced datalog technology for integrity checking in the framework of SQL. That is, we show how to represent and evaluate arbitrarily complex constraints in SQL without incurring major disadvantages usually associated to integrity checking in knowledge-rich applications. Error-prone procedural specification and laborious maintenance of integrity constraints is avoided by the declarativity of datalog. The cost of evaluation is considerably reduced by an automated
Statewide Sentinel Surveillance for Antibiotic Nonsusceptibility among Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates in South Carolina, 2003–2004

Background: In 2003, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control established the Carolina Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS), an active sentinel surveillance system for antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods: CARSS includes twelve hospitals. Each hospital was assigned a weighted sample size. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined using the E-test method. Results: A total of 452 isolates were collected. The prevalence of penicillin nonsusceptibility in the study was 44.9%. Penicillin intermediate resistance (PCN-I) was 33.2%, and penicillin high-level resistance (PCN-R) was 11.7%. One hundred six (23.5%) isolates were nonsusceptible to one antibiotic. One hundred twenty-four (27.4%) isolates were nonsusceptible to three or more antibiotics. Conclusions: CARSS confirmed the prevalences of antibiotic nonsusceptibility previously reported for South Carolina. However, CARSS suggests resistance is shifting from PCN-R to PCN-I in South Carolina. There is a high prevalence of multidrug nonsusceptibility in South Carolina. CARSS will continue to monitor these trends.
La segregación escolar público-privada en América Latina

En este trabajo se documenta y analiza la segregacion escolar entre alumnos de distintos estratos socioeconomicos que asisten a escuelas publicas y privadas en America Latina. El trabajo contribuye con evidencia empirica a la medicion de este fenomeno desde principios de los noventa hasta la actualidad. Los resultados sugieren que en promedio el grado de segregacion escolar publico-privado en America Latina habria aumentado en las ultimas dos decadas.
Contribution of Target Gene Mutations and Efflux to Decreased Susceptibility of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium to Fluoroquinolones and Other Antimicrobials

ABSTRACT The mechanisms involved in fluoroquinolone resistance in Salmonella enterica include target alterations and overexpression of efflux pumps. The present study evaluated the role of known and putative multidrug resistance efflux pumps and mutations in topoisomerase genes among laboratory-selected and naturally occurring fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains. Strains with ciprofloxacin MICs of 0.25, 4, 32, and 256 μg/ml were derived in vitro using serovar Typhimurium S21. These mutants also showed decreased susceptibility or resistance to many nonfluoroquinolone antimicrobials, including tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and several β-lactams. The expression of efflux pump genes acrA, acrB, acrE, acrF, emrB, emrD, and mdlB were substantially increased (≥2-fold) among the fluoroquinolone-resistant mutants. Increased expression was also observed, but to a lesser extent, with three other putative efflux pumps: mdtB (yegN), mdtC (yegO), and emrA among mutants with ciprofloxacin MICs of ≥32 μg/ml. Deletion of acrAB or tolC in S21 and its fluoroquinolone-resistant mutants resulted in increased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and other tested antimicrobials. In naturally occurring fluoroquinolone-resistant serovar Typhimurium strains, deletion of acrAB or tolC increased fluoroquinolone susceptibility 4-fold, whereas replacement of gyrA double mutations (S83F D87N) with wild-type gyrA increased susceptibility >500-fold. These results indicate that a combination of topoisomerase gene mutations, as well as enhanced antimicrobial efflux, plays a critical role in the development of fluoroquinolone resistance in both laboratory-derived and naturally occurring quinolone-resistant serovar Typhimurium strains.
G Proteins G12 and G13 Control the Dynamic Turnover of Growth Factor-induced Dorsal Ruffles*

Growth factors induce massive actin cytoskeletal remodeling in cells. These reorganization events underlie various cellular responses such as cell migration and morphological changes. One major form of actin reorganization is the formation and disassembly of dorsal ruffles (also named waves, dorsal rings, or circular ruffles). Dorsal ruffles are involved in physiological functions including cell migration, invasion, macropinocytosis, plasma membrane recycling, and others. Growth factors initiate rapid formation (within 5 min) of circular membrane ruffles, and these ruffles move along the dorsal side of the cells, constrict, close, and eventually disassemble (∼20 min). Considerable attention has been devoted to the mechanism by which growth factors induce the formation of dorsal ruffles. However, little is known of the mechanism by which these ruffles are disassembled. Here we have shown that G proteins G12 and G13 control the rate of disassembly of dorsal ruffles. In Gα12-/-Gα13-/- fibroblast cells, dorsal ruffles induced by growth factor treatment remain visible substantially longer (∼60 min) than in wild-type cells, whereas the rate of formation of these ruffles was the same with or without Gα12 and Gα13. Thus, Gα12/Gα13 critically regulate dorsal ruffle turnover.
FACTORES QUE AFECTAN EL CRECIMIENTO PREDESTETE DE CORDEROS PELIBUEY EN EL TRÓPICO HÚMEDO DE MÉXICO

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los efectos de epoca y tipo de nacimiento, sexo y padre de las crias sobre el peso al nacimiento (PN; n = 394), ganancia diaria de peso predestete (GDP; n = 218) y peso al destete (PD; n = 218) en un rebano de ovinos Pelibuey ubicado en el tropico humedo de Mexico. Para PN, PD y GDP se emplearon modelos lineales de efectos fijos que incluyeron la epoca de nacimiento (En): (seca, lluvias y nortes), tipo de nacimiento (Tn) (unicos y multiples), sexo (Sx) de la cria (hembra y macho), padre (Pc) de la cria (nueve carneros Pelibuey canelo en PN y siete en GDP y PD). El modelo para PD incluyo ademas el efecto de PN como covariable. La En afecto (p 0.05) y el padre del cordero afecto la variacion en GDP y PD (p < 0.01). El PN como covariable afecto el PD (p < 0.01). Se concluye que la epoca y tipo de nacimiento de los corderos tienen un efecto importante sobre las caracteristicas de crecimiento predestete. Los corderos que nacieron en la epoca climatica de lluvias muestran un menor peso al destete con respecto a los nacidos en seca y nortes.
A Wideband ΔΣ Digital-RF Modulator for High Data Rate Transmitters

A wideband software-defined digital-RF modulator targeting Gb/s data rates is presented. The modulator consists of a 2.625-GS/s digital DeltaSigma modulator, a 5.25-GHz direct digital-RF converter, and a fourth-order auto-tuned passive LC RF bandpass filter. The architecture removes high dynamic range analog circuits from the baseband signal path, replacing them with high-speed digital circuits to take advantage of digital CMOS scaling. The integration of the digital-RF converter with an RF bandpass reconstruction filter eliminates spurious signals and noise associated with direct digital-RF conversion. An efficient passgate adder circuit lowers the power consumption of the high-speed digital processing and a quadrature digital-IF approach is employed to reduce LO feedthrough and image spurs. The digital-RF modulator is software programmable to support variable bandwidths, adaptive modulation schemes, and multi-channel operation within a frequency band. A prototype IC built in 0.13-mum CMOS demonstrates a data rate of 1.2 Gb/s using OFDM modulation in a bandwidth of 200 MHz centered at 5.25 GHz. In-band LO and image spurs are less than -59 dBc without requiring calibration. The modulator consumes 187 mW and occupies a die area of 0.72 mm2.
REAPPRAISAL OF G1‐PHASE ARREST AND SYNCHRONIZATION BY LOVASTATIN

It has been proposed that lovastatin arrests cells in the G1‐phase of the division cycle, and that release from lovastatin inhibition produces a synchronized culture. A new method of methocel time‐lapse‐videography has been used to analyse cell division patterns following lovastatin treatment. Release of L1210 cells from lovastatin inhibition failed to produce synchronized divisions. Moreover, contrary to earlier proposals, lovastatin did not arrest cells with a G1‐phase amount of DNA. Analysis of previous reports of ‘synchronization’ and growth‐arrest support these findings. It is concluded that lovastatin neither synchronizes cells, nor arrests cells in the G1‐phase of the division cycle.
Anthropometric Measures of Obesity and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism: The Tromsø Study

Objectives—The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of various obesity measures on identification of subjects at risk and their respective risk estimates for VTE in a prospective population-based study. Methods and Results—Measures of body composition such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were registered in 6708 subjects aged 25 to 84 years, who participated in the Tromsø Study (1994–1995). Incident VTE-events were registered during follow-up until September 1, 2007. There were 222 VTE-events during a median of 12.3 years of follow-up. All measures of obesity exhibited significantly increased HR for VTE in multivariable models with highest risk estimates for WC in both genders. The risk of VTE increased across quartiles of BMI, WC, and HC in both genders, but not for WHR. WC identified more subjects at risk using established criteria for obesity. WC had the highest area under the curve in both genders in ROC analysis, and WC above ROC-derived cut-off values (WC ≥85 cm in women and ≥95 cm in men) were associated with HRs of 1.92 (95% CI: 1.05 to 3.48) in women and 2.78 (95% CI: 1.47 to 5.27) in men. Conclusions—Our findings indicate that WC is the preferable anthropometric measure of obesity to identify subjects at risk and to predict risk of VTE.
Douleur à l'injection : une comparaison en double aveugle entre l'injection de propofol après pré-traitement par lidocaïne et l'injection de propofol LCT/MCT

L'objectif de notre etude etait de comparer l'incidence de douleur induite par l'injection du propofol-®lipuro 1% a celle provoquee par l'administration du propofol standard avec injection prealable de lidocaine sous garrot veineux. 187 patientes ont ete reparties dans deux groupes. Le groupe "propofol" recevait 2ml de lidocaine 2%, injectes avec un garrot veineux, 1 minute avant 2mg/kg de propofol®1% Fresenius. Le groupe "lipuro" recevait 2ml de NaCl 0.9%, injectes avec un garrot veineux, 1 minute avant 2mg/kg de propofol-® lipuro 1%. Les manifestations de douleur a l'injection ont ete rapportees par un observateur neutre. Nos resultats montrent une difference significative d'incidence a la douleur a l'injection. La proportion de patientes exprimant une douleur lors de l'injection est significativement plus elevee dans le groupe "lipuro" que dans le groupe "propofol" (47% versus 24% respectivement ; p=0.0014, risque relatif 1.61 (95% CI 1.22-2.13).
Giving Debiasing Away: Can Psychological Research on Correcting Cognitive Errors Promote Human Welfare?

Despite Miller's (1969) now-famous clarion call to “give psychology away” to the general public, scientific psychology has done relatively little to combat festering problems of ideological extremism and both inter- and intragroup conflict. After proposing that ideological extremism is a significant contributor to world conflict and that confirmation bias and several related biases are significant contributors to ideological extremism, we raise a crucial scientific question: Can debiasing the general public against such biases promote human welfare by tempering ideological extremism? We review the knowns and unknowns of debiasing techniques against confirmation bias, examine potential barriers to their real-world efficacy, and delineate future directions for research on debiasing. We argue that research on combating extreme confirmation bias should be among psychological science's most pressing priorities.
Training to Mitigate Phishing Attacks Using Mindfulness Techniques

Abstract Phishing attacks are at a record high and are causing billions of dollars in losses. To mitigate phishing’s impact, organizations often use rule-based training to teach individuals to identify certain cues or apply a set of rules to avoid phishing attacks. The rule-based approach has improved organizational defenses against phishing; however, regular repetition of rule-based training may not yield increasing resistance to attacks. To expand the toolkit available to combat phishing attacks, we used mindfulness theory to develop a novel training approach that can be performed after individuals are familiar with rule-based training. The mindfulness approach teaches individuals to dynamically allocate attention during message evaluation, increase awareness of context, and forestall judgment of suspicious messages—techniques that are critical to detecting phishing attacks in organizational settings, but are unaddressed in rule-based instruction. To evaluate the efficacy of our approach, we compared rule-based and mindfulness training programs in a field study at a U.S. university that involved 355 students, faculty, and staff who were familiar with phishing attacks and received regular rule-based guidance. To evaluate the robustness of the training, we delivered each program in text-only or text-plus-graphics formats. Ten days later, we conducted a phishing attack on participants that used both generic and customized phishing messages. We found that participants who received mindfulness training were better able to avoid the phishing attack. In particular, improvement was observed for participants who were already confident in their detection ability and those who reported low e-mail mindfulness and low perceptions of Internet risk. This work introduces and provides evidence supporting a new approach that may be used to develop anti-phishing training.