Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Supervisory Control of Concurrent Systems: A Petri Net Structural Approach (M.V. Iordache and P.J. Antsaklis; 2008) [Book reviews]

This book provides a nice presentation of supervisory control of discrete event systems using a Petri net model. It covers a wide range of topics on supervisory control in the framework of Petri nets. Some of the topics covered include: an introduction to Petri net models; specifications using linear constraints; specifications using generalized linear constraints; language specifications; supervisory controls for different specifications; deadlock and liveness in supervisory control of Petri nets; and hybrid systems. The key feature of the book is that it presents the recent research in supervisory control of Petri nets in a comprehensive manner. The book is well written and self-contained. It would be very useful to researchers in the field of supervisory control.
Human Papillomavirus Genotype-Specific Prevalence across the Continuum of Cervical Neoplasia and Cancer

Background: The New Mexico HPV Pap Registry was established to measure the impact of cervical cancer prevention strategies in the United States. Before widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine implementation, we established the baseline prevalence for a broad spectrum of HPV genotypes across the continuum of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer. Methods: A population-based sample of 6,272 tissue specimens was tested for 37 HPV genotypes. The number of specimens tested within each diagnostic category was: 541 negative, 1,411 CIN grade 1 (CIN1), 2,226 CIN grade 2 (CIN2), and 2,094 CIN grade 3 (CIN3) or greater. Age-specific HPV prevalence was estimated within categories for HPV genotypes targeted by HPV vaccines. Results: The combined prevalence of HPV genotypes included in the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines increased from 15.3% and 29.3% in CIN1 to 58.4% and 83.7% in CIN3, respectively. Prevalence of HPV types included in both vaccines tended to decrease with increasing age for CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), most notably for CIN3 and SCC. The six most common HPV types in descending order of prevalence were HPV-16, -31, -52, -58, -33, and -39 for CIN3 and HPV-16, -18, -31, -45, -52, and -33 for invasive cancers. Conclusions: Health economic modeling of HPV vaccine impact should consider age-specific differences in HPV prevalence. Impact: Population-based HPV prevalence in CIN is not well described, but is requisite for longitudinal assessment of vaccine impact and to understand the effectiveness and performance of various cervical screening strategies in vaccinated and unvaccinated women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(1); 230–40. ©2014 AACR.
Familial periventricular heterotopia: Missense and distal truncating mutations of the FLN1 gene

ObjectiveTo examine the clinical and MRI associations in bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia (BPNH) (MIM # 300049) in two families segregating a missense mutation and a C-terminal deletion of the filamin 1 (FLN1) gene. BackgroundClassical familial BPNH, an X-linked dominant disorder, has been associated with protein truncations or splicing mutations, which tend to cluster at the N-terminal of the FLN1 protein, causing severe predicted loss of the protein function. The clinical syndrome includes symmetrical contiguous nodular heterotopia lining the lateral ventricles, epilepsy, mild retardation to normal cognitive level in affected females, and prenatal lethality in hemizygous boys. MethodsClinical examination, cognitive testing, MRI, mutation analysis (direct sequencing, single-strand conformation polymorphism) in seven patients from two families with BPNH. ResultsIn Family 1, harboring an A > T change in exon 2 (E82V), heterotopic nodules were few, asymmetric, and noncontiguous. Five boys born from affected females had died unexpectedly early in life. In Family 2, harboring an 8 base pair deletion in exon 47 (7627_7634del TGTGCCCC), heterotopic nodules were thick and contiguous. Affected females in both families showed normal to borderline IQ and epilepsy. ConclusionMissense mutations and distal truncations consistent with partial loss of FLN1 function cause familial BPNH with the classical clinical phenotype including epilepsy and mild mental retardation, if any. However, missense mutations have milder anatomic consequences in affected females and are possibly compatible with live birth but short survival of boys.
Comparing the Effects of Simulation-Based and Traditional Teaching Methods on the Critical Thinking Abilities and Self-Confidence of Nursing Students

Background: Critical thinking and self-confidence are imperative to success in clinical practice. Educators should use teaching strategies that will help students enhance their critical thinking and self-confidence in complex content such as electrocardiogram interpretation. Therefore, teaching electrocardiogram interpretation to students is important for nurse educators. Purpose: This study compares the effect of simulation-based and traditional teaching methods on the critical thinking and self-confidence of students during electrocardiogram interpretation sessions. Methods: Thirty undergraduate nursing students volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were divided into intervention and control groups, which were taught respectively using the simulation-based and traditional teaching programs. All of the participants were asked to complete the study instrumentpretest and posttest to measure their critical thinking and self-confidence. Results: Improvement was observed in the control and experimental groups with respect to critical thinking and self-confidence, as evidenced by the results of the paired samples t test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p < .05). However, the independent t test and Mann–Whitney U test indicate that the difference between the two groups was not significant (p > .05). Conclusions/Implications for Practice: This study evaluated an innovative simulation-based teaching method for nurses. No significant differences in outcomes were identified between the simulator-based and traditional teaching methods, indicating that well-implemented educational programs that use either teaching method effectively promote critical thinking and self-confidence in nursing students. Nurse educators are encouraged to design educational plans with clear objectives to improve the critical thinking and self-confidence of their students. Future research should compare the effects of several teaching sessions using each method in a larger sample.
Distinct receptors and different transduction mechanisms for ATP and adenosine at the frog motor nerve endings

Corelease of ATP with ACh from motor endings suggests a physiological role for ATP in synaptic transmission. We previously showed that, on skeletal muscle, ATP directly inhibited ACh release via presynaptic P2 receptors. The receptor identification (P2X or P2Y) and its transduction mechanism remained, however, unknown. In the present study using the voltage‐clamp technique we analyzed the properties of presynaptic ATP receptors and subsequent effector mechanisms. ATP or adenosine presynaptically depressed multiquantal end‐plate currents, with longer latency for ATP action. ATPγS, agonist at P2X receptors, or Bz‐ATP, agonist at P2X7 receptors, were ineffective. The action of ATP was prevented by suramin and unchanged by PPADS or TNP‐ATP, antagonists of P2X receptors, or RB‐2, a blocker of certain P2Y receptors. The depressant action of ATP was reproduced by UTP, metabotropic P2Y receptor agonist. Pertussis toxin (PTX), antagonist of Gi/o‐proteins, and inhibitors of phosphatidylcholine specific PLC (D609) and PKC (staurosporine or chelerythrine) prevented the effect of ATP while blockers of PLA2 (OBAA) and COX (aspirin or indomethacin) attenuated it. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositide‐specific PLC (U73122), guanylylcyclase (ODQ), PKA (Rp‐cAMPS) or PLD (1‐butanol) did not affect the action of ATP. No inhibitor of second messengers (except PTX) changed the action of adenosine. Our data indicate, for motor nerve endings, the existence of inhibitory P2Y receptors coupled to multiple intracellular cascades including phosphatidylinositide‐specific PLC/PKC/PLA2/COX. This divergent presynaptic P2 signalling (unlike the single effector mechanism for P1 receptors) could provide feedback inhibition of transmitter release and perhaps be involved in presynaptic plasticity.
MR Imaging of Slow Axonal Transport in Vivo


Three magnetopharmaceuticals based on a monocrystalline iron oxide nanocompound (MION) are evaluated as potential contrast agents for demonstrating axonal transport in vivo by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. One agent has a strong positive charge, one has a strong negative charge, and the third is covalently linked to wheat germ agglutinin, a plant lectin with a high affinity for axon terminals. All three agents were tagged with rhodamine, and fluorescence microscopy was used to determine their fate after administration and to validate the imaging results. Following injection into or near various neural structures in the motor and visual systems of rats, MR images were obtained at multiple times up to 11 days later, and the imaged tissues were processed for subsequent histological examination. Similar results were obtained with all three agents. Axonal transport was not seen by MR imaging or fluorescence microscopy when the agents were injected into the calf muscles, the vitreous of the eye, or the superior colliculus. However, bidirectional axonal transport was shown unequivocally by both methods after injection directly into the site of a focal crush injury to the sciatic nerve. The nerve, which otherwise is isointense with surrounding tissues on MR images, appeared as a uniformly hypointense structure having a length approximately in proportion to the time from injection to imaging. By 11 days, the course of the nerve was traceable from its component roots in the cauda equina to its bifurcation into the tibial and common peroneal nerves in the leg. A transport rate of about 5 mm/day was calculated, which is consistent with the mechanism of slow transport. MION-based magnetopharmaceuticals thus can be used to demonstrate slow axonal transport, and thereby visualize peripheral nerves, in vivo by MR imaging.
CD14+ monocyte levels in subgroups of acute coronary syndromes

ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate whether there were any differences in the percentages of CD14+ monocytes between subgroups of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). CD14 is a monocyte surface receptor that plays a role in the innate immune system. CD14+ monocytes are associated with complications of atherosclerosis. MethodsIn total we enrolled 115 patients with ACS: 24 with unstable angina (UA); 29 with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI); and 62 with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The levels of C-reactive protein and percentage of CD14+ monocyte were measured on admission. ResultsCD14+ monocyte percentages were observed to be different between groups by analysis of variance test. The percentages of CD14+ monocyte were 81.24±10.04% in the UA group; 89.40±5.84% in the NSTEMI group; and 87.22±11.75% in the STEMI group (P=0.013). The differences between the UA and the NSTEMI and between the UA and the STEMI groups with Bonferroni posthoc testing were significant (P=0.014 and P=0.049 respectively). Moreover, no significant difference was found between the NSTEMI and STEMI groups (P=1.000). The C-reactive protein levels in the UA group were detected to be significantly low with Bonferroni posthoc testing compared with both the NSTEMI and STEMI groups (for both comparisons, P<0.002). ConclusionsA significant difference in CD14+ monocyte percentages between subgroups of ACS was determined. CD14+ monocyte percentages can be a useful parameter in differentiating between the subgroups of ACS, especially between UA and myocardial infarction.
A Note on the Decline of Collective Bargaining Coverage: The Role of Structural Change

Abstract In the last 20 years there is a sharp decline in collective bargaining coverage in Germany. Research on the determinants of collective bargaining shows: subscribing to a sectoral bargaining system depends on several structural factors, like firm size, branch affiliation, owner-ship, firm age and work force composition. Parameter that – at least partly - were subject to considerable changes in the last two decades. With data of the IAB establishment panel we want to determine which part of the decline in collective bargaining coverage is due to structural change. We use a decomposition technique (Fairlie 2005) to break down the differences in coverage between 1998 and 2016. Further-more we take a look at distinct subgroups of establishments (along firm size). Our findings show that there is some influence of structural factors on the decline of collective bargaining coverage in the long run. And there are considerable differences between small and large firms with the decisions of the latter being more dependent on structural change.
Intestinal absorption rate in children after small intestinal transplantation.

BACKGROUND Small bowel transplantation has now become a recognized treatment of irreversible, permanent, and subtotal intestinal failure. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess intestinal absorption at the time of weaning from parenteral nutrition in a series of children after intestinal transplantation. DESIGN Twenty-four children (age range: 14-115 mo) received intestinal transplantation, together with the liver in 6 children and the colon in 16 children. Parenteral nutrition was slowly tapered while increasing enteral tube feeding. The absorption rate was measured from a 3-d stool balance analysis performed a few days after the child had weaned from parenteral nutrition to exclusive enteral tube feeding. Results were analyzed according to the resting energy expenditure (REE; Schofield formula). RESULTS All children were weaned from parenteral nutrition between 31 and 85 d posttransplantation. Median intakes were as follows: energy, 107 kcal · kg(-1) · d(-1) (range: 79-168 kcal · kg(-1) · d(-1)); lipids, 39 kcal · kg(-1) · d(-1) (range: 20-70 kcal · kg(-1) · d(-1)); and nitrogen, 17 kcal · kg(-1) · d(-1) (range: 11-27 kcal · kg(-1) · d(-1)). Median daily stool output was 998 mL/d (range: 220-2025 mL/d). Median absorption rates were 88% (range: 75-96%) for energy, 82% (range: 55-98%) for lipids, and 77% (range: 61-88%) for nitrogen. The ratios for ingested energy to REE and absorbed energy to REE were 2.2 (range: 1.6-3.6) and 1.8 (range: 1.3-3.3), respectively. CONCLUSION These data indicate a suboptimal intestinal graft absorption capacity with fat malabsorption, which necessitates energy intakes of at least twice the REE.
Chlamydia trachomatis Strains Show Specific Clustering for Men Who Have Sex with Men Compared to Heterosexual Populations in Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States

ABSTRACT High-resolution genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis improves the characterization of strains infecting different patient groups and sexual networks. In this study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and ompA sequence determination were used for an analysis of C. trachomatis strains from 203 men who have sex with men (MSM) from Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States. The results obtained were compared with data from 153 heterosexual women from Sweden and the Netherlands. The overlap in MLST/ompA profiles between MSM from Sweden and the Netherlands was 68%, while the overlap between heterosexual populations from these countries was only 18%. The distribution of genotypes in MSM from the United States was less similar to that in MSM from the European countries, with 45% and 46% overlaps for MSM in Sweden and the Netherlands, respectively. Minimum-spanning-tree analysis of MLST/ompA sequence types identified two large clusters that contained almost exclusively samples from MSM and comprised 74% of all MSM samples. Three other clusters were predominated by samples from women but also contained MSM specimens. Of 19 detected variants of the MLST target CT144, three variants were highly associated with MSM. Our study supports the hypotheses of both tissue tropism as well as epidemiological network structures as explanations for the linkage between specific genetic variants and sexual orientation.
Measuring tinnitus loudness using constrained psychophysical scaling.

PURPOSE We measured tinnitus loudness using a new method of psychophysical scaling with the aim of introducing a potentially useful new procedure to the literature. METHOD Fourteen adults reporting tinnitus were trained to use a standardized loudness scale, and then they used that response scale to assess loudness of nonstandard stimuli and of their tinnitus. We also measured tinnitus loudness and pitch using a computer-based matching procedure, and we measured the impact of tinnitus on daily living using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI; C. W. Newman, G. P. Jacobson, & J. B. Spitzer, 1996) for those 14 individuals and an additional 2 participants. Results and Conclusions Our 14 trained participants judged loudness similarly to normal hearing participants for pure tones at normal hearing, nontinnitus frequencies-implying that their judgments of tinnitus loudness were valid. Constrained scaling of tinnitus loudness yielded measurements that were substantially greater than the sensation level of sounds matched to tinnitus loudness. Our total of 16 participants fell into 2 groups on the basis of hearing loss, extent of abnormal loudness growth at the tinnitus frequency, and several aspects of tinnitus experience. Finally, as previously found, there was little correlation between tinnitus loudness, no matter how measured, and the impact of tinnitus on daily life as measured by the THI.
Dependence of the Endangered Black‐Capped Vireo on Sustained Cowbird Management

Conservation‐reliant species depend on active management, even after surpassing recovery goals, for protection from persistent threats. Required management may include control of another species, habitat maintenance, or artificial recruitment. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine whether sustained management is required. We used nonspatial stochastic population projection matrix simulation and a spatially explicit population model to estimate the effects of parasitism by a brood parasite, the Brown‐headed Cowbird (Moluthrus ater), on a population of endangered Black‐capped Vireos (Vireo atricapilla). We simulated parasitism as a percentage of breeding vireo pairs experiencing decreased fecundity due to cowbirds. We estimated maximum sustainable parasitism (i.e., highest percentage of parasitized vireo breeding pairs for which population growth is ≥1) with the nonspatial model under multiple scenarios designed to assess sensitivity to assumptions about population growth rate, demographic effects of parasitism, and spatial distribution of parasitism. We then used the spatially explicit model to estimate cumulative probabilities of the population falling below the population recovery target of 1000 breeding pairs for a range of parasitism rates under multiple scenarios. We constructed our models from data on vireos collected on the Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas (U.S.A.). Estimates of maximum sustainable parasitism rates ranged from 9–12% in scenarios with a low (6%) vireo population growth rate to 49–60% in scenarios with a high (24%) growth rate. Sustained parasitism above 45–85%, depending on the scenario, would likely result in the Fort Hood Vireo population dropping below its recovery goal within the next 25 years. These estimates suggest that vireos, although tolerant of low parasitism rates, are a conservation‐reliant species dependent on cowbird management.
Development of Macro-Level Safety Performance Functions in the City of Naples

This paper presents macro-level safety performance functions and aims to provide empirical tools for planners and engineers to conduct proactive analyses, promote more sustainable development patterns, and reduce road crashes. In the past decade, several studies have been conducted for crash modeling at a macro-level, yet in Italy, macro-level safety performance functions have neither been calibrated nor used, until now. Therefore, for Italy to be able to fully benefit from applying these models, it is necessary to calibrate the models to local conditions. Generalized linear modelling techniques were used to fit the models, and a negative binomial distribution error structure was assumed. The study used a sample of 15,254 crashes which occurred in the period of 2009–2011 in Naples, Italy. Four traffic analysis zones (TAZ) levels were used, as one of the aims of this paper is to check the extent to which these zoning levels help in addressing the issue. The models were developed by the stepwise forward procedure using explanatory Socio-Demographic (S-D), Transportation Demand Management (TDM), and Exposure variables. The most significant variables were: children and young people placed in re-education projects, population, population aged 65 and above, population aged 25 to 44, male population, total vehicle kilometers traveled, average congestion level, average speed, number of trips originating in the TAZ, number of trips ending in the TAZ, number of total trips and, number of bus stops served per hour. An important result of the study is that children and young people placed in re-education projects negatively affects the frequency of crashes, i.e., it has a positive safety effect. This demonstrates the effectiveness of education projects, especially on children from disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Up-regulation of microRNA-16 in Glioblastoma Inhibits the Function of Endothelial Cells and Tumor Angiogenesis by Targeting Bmi-1.

BACKGROUND Angiogenesis is an important process facilitating the growth of glioblastoma (GBM). It also has drawn great attention in the treatment of GBM. GBM angiogenesis is closely related to the function of endothelial cells. microRNAs can affect the activities of endothelial 10 cells directly, or indirectly through the interaction of tumor cells and endothelial cells. However, the mechanism underlying the interaction of GBM cells regulated by specific microRNA with endothelial cells and following angiogenesis requires further research. In published articles, microRNA-16 acted as a tumor suppressor in multiple types of cancers including glioma, but the role in glioma angiogenesis has not been well elucidated. METHODS The expression of microRNA-16 was detected in human GBM samples and normal brain tissues. microRNA-16 was transfected to GBM cell line U87 and A172 then the function of endothelial cells co-cultured with U87/A172 (miR-16 or control) were observed in vitro. Expression of VEGF family in vitro and the effect of microRNA-16 on GBM angiogenesis in vivo were also investigated. RESULTS microRNA-16 is down-regulated in human GBM samples in contrast to the normal brain tissues. Overexpression of microRNA- 16 in the A172 and U87 GBM cell lines inhibited the activities of co-cultured endothelial cells, including proliferation, migration, extension and tubule formation. Further experiments of dual luciferase assays verified microRNA-16 directly targeting Bmi-1. microRNA-16 down-regulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF-A and VEGF- C which were closely related to the angiogenesis of GBM. Moreover, less vascular formed in the section of neoplasm of the microRNA- transduced group than the control group in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these findings indicate that loss of microRNA-16 may favor glioma angiogenesis, on the contrary overexpression of microRNA-16 in GBM cells plays a critical role in repressing endothelial function and angiogenesis by targeting Bmi-1. microRNA-16 may be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of GBM.