Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of single phase induction motor with aluminium versus copper stator winding

This paper presents the topic of manufacturing the stator winding for small induction motors of aluminium instead of copper. The aspect of replacing the material is presented from the perspective of the producer. It is important to obtain a new motor with the same characteristics and the same energy efficiency while decreasing conductor material price and thus the price per motor unit. For these purpose we analysed two motors, one with copper winding and one with aluminium winding. The study focuses on the mechanical characteristics, in order to compare the rated and starting torque values for the shaft during speed function. Another important parameter is also the motor temperature in continuous function. The mechanical characteristics are analysed together with the heating of motors and the level of noise produced by these two motors in experimental study.
Understanding patients' behavioral intentions: evidence from Iran's private hospitals industry.

PURPOSE In the ever-increasing competitive market of private hospital industry, creating a strong relationship with the customers that shapes patients' loyalty has been considered a key factor in obtaining market share. The purpose of this paper is to test a model of customer loyalty among patients of private hospitals in Iran. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH This cross-sectional study was carried out in Tehran, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2010. The study samples composed of 969 patients who were consecutively selected from eight private hospitals. The survey instrument was designed based on a review of the related literature and included 36 items. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. FINDINGS For the service quality construct, three dimensions extracted: Process, interaction, and environment. Both process and interaction quality had significant effects on perceived value. Perceived value along with the process and interaction quality were the most important antecedents of patient overall satisfaction. The direct effect of the process and interaction quality on behavioral intentions was insignificant. Perceived value and patient overall satisfaction were the direct antecedents of patient behavioral intentions and the mediators between service quality and behavioral intentions. Environment quality of service delivery had no significant effect on perceived value, overall satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. ORIGINALITY/VALUE Contrary to previous similar studies, the role of service quality was investigated not in a general sense, but in the form of three types of qualities including quality of environment, quality of process, and quality of interaction.
IFN-gamma alters the human sperm membrane permeability to Ca2+

Abstract Inflammation in the male genitourinary tract has been associated with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and elevated reactive oxygen species, which affects spermatozoa capacitation, motility, and the acrosome reaction, along with functions regulated by the concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyto). Though Ca2+ signaling is of particular significance in sperm, the effect of IFN-γ intracellular calcium on these cells is still unknown. The present study evaluated the effect of IFN-γ on the [Ca2+]cyto and Ca2+ permeability on human sperm. A cell suspension loaded with fura-2 was incubated with or without IFN-γ (from 0 to 2000 pg/ml) for 0, 30, 60, and 120 minutes, and the [Ca2+]cyto was measured. The permeability to Ca2+ was evaluated by the change of the intracellular concentration following an extracellular Ca2+ pulse. IFN-γ at low concentrations (≤500 pg/ml) did not affect the [Ca2+]cyto and Ca2+ permeability of sperm. At a high concentration (2000 pg/ml), IFN-γ did not alter the [Ca2+]cyto, but significantly decreased the magnitude and velocity of Ca2+ entry into the cell. This effect was dependent on incubation time and IFN-γ concentration. This alteration induced by IFN-γ was prevented by the simultaneous incubation of sperm with the antioxidant butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). In conclusion, in vitro, IFN-γ modifies Ca2+ sperm membrane permeability, probably via lipid peroxidation. IFN-γ in high concentration, as observed in inflammation/infection, can affect [Ca2+]cyto regulation and alter sperm fertilizing capacity.
The powerful placebo in cough studies?

Placebo treatment has been reported to improve subjective and objective measures of disease in up to 30-40% of patients with a wide range of clinical conditions. A review of 8 clinical trials on the effects of antitussive medicines on cough associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection shows that 85% of the reduction in cough is related to treatment with placebo, and only 15% attributable to the active ingredient Treatment with a cough medicine can be viewed as consisting of three components: pharmacological, physiological (demulcent) and placebo. The placebo effect is related to belief in the effectiveness of the treatment and this idea must in some way influence the central control of cough. Studies on the placebo effect of analgesics indicate that the placebo effect may be mediated by endogenous opioid neurotransmitters and this may explain the analgesic potency of opioid medicines such as morphine. In the present paper a model is proposed to explain the antitussive effects of placebo treatment on the basis of endogenous opioid neurotransmitters. With active pharmacological ingredients contributing only 15% to the effects of cough treatment it seems reasonable to conduct more research on the other components of treatment such as placebo.
A Novel Hybrid Approach for Numerical Modeling of the Nucleating Flow in Laval Nozzle and Transonic Steam Turbine Blades

In the present research, considering the importance of desirable steam turbine design, improvement of numerical modeling of steam two-phase flows in convergent and divergent channels and the blades of transonic steam turbines has been targeted. The first novelty of this research is the innovative use of combined Convective Upstream Pressure Splitting (CUSP) and scalar methods to update the flow properties at each calculation point. In other words, each property (density, temperature, pressure and velocity) at each calculation point can be computed from either the CUSP or scalar method, depending on the least deviation criterion. For this reason this innovative method is named “hybrid method”. The next novelty of this research is the use of an inverse method alongside the proposed hybrid method to find the amount of the important parameter z in the CUSP method, which is herein referred to as “CUSP’s convergence parameter”. Using a relatively simple computational grid, firstly, five cases with similar conditions to those of the main cases under study in this research with available experimental data were used to obtain the value of z by the Levenberg-Marquardt inverse method. With this innovation, first, an optimum value of z = 2.667 was obtained using the inverse method and then directly used for the main cases considered in the research. Given that the aim is to investigate the two-dimensional, steady state, inviscid and adiabatic modeling of steam nucleating flows in three different nozzle and turbine blade geometries, flow simulation was performed using a relatively simple mesh and the innovative proposed hybrid method (scalar + CUSP, with the desired value of z = 2.667 ). A comparison between the results of the hybrid modeling of the three main cases with experimental data showed a very good agreement, even within shock zones, including the condensation shock region, revealing the efficiency of this numerical modeling method innovation. The main factor in improving the aforementioned results was found to be a reduction of the numerical errors by up to 70% in comparison to conventional methods (scalar, Jameson original), so that the mass flow rate is well conserved, thereby proving better satisfaction of the conservation laws. It should be noted that by using this innovative hybrid method, one can take advantages of both central difference scheme and upstream scheme (scalar and CUSP, respectively) at the same time in simulating complex flows in any other finite volume scheme.
Host Switching in Lyssavirus History from the Chiroptera to the Carnivora Orders

ABSTRACT Lyssaviruses are unsegmented RNA viruses causing rabies. Their vectors belong to the Carnivora and Chiroptera orders. We studied 36 carnivoran and 17 chiropteran lyssaviruses representing the main genotypes and variants. We compared their genes encoding the surface glycoprotein, which is responsible for receptor recognition and membrane fusion. The glycoprotein is the main protecting antigen and bears virulence determinants. Point mutation is the main force in lyssavirus evolution, as Sawyer's test and phylogenetic analysis showed no evidence of recombination. Tests of neutrality indicated a neutral model of evolution, also supported by globally high ratios of synonymous substitutions (dS ) to nonsynonymous substitutions (dN ) (>7). Relative-rate tests suggested similar rates of evolution for all lyssavirus lineages. Therefore, the absence of recombination and similar evolutionary rates make phylogeny-based conclusions reliable. Phylogenetic reconstruction strongly supported the hypothesis that host switching occurred in the history of lyssaviruses. Indeed, lyssaviruses evolved in chiropters long before the emergence of carnivoran rabies, very likely following spillovers from bats. Using dated isolates, the average rate of evolution was estimated to be roughly 4.3 × 10−4 dS /site/year. Consequently, the emergence of carnivoran rabies from chiropteran lyssaviruses was determined to have occurred 888 to 1,459 years ago. Glycoprotein segments accumulating more dN than dS were distinctly detected in carnivoran and chiropteran lyssaviruses. They may have contributed to the adaptation of the virus to the two distinct mammal orders. In carnivoran lyssaviruses they overlapped the main antigenic sites, II and III, whereas in chiropteran lyssaviruses they were located in regions of unknown functions.
PSEUDOMESOTHELIOMATOUS CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG WITH HISTOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

An autopsy case of pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma of the right lung in a 56–year–old man occupationally exposed to stone dust is presented. From open biopsy specimens in which polyhedral epithelium–like cells appeared arranged in nests, sheets, and trabecula without apparent tubular pattern, a malignant pleural mesothelioma was suspected. At autopsy, the right pleural cavity was obliterated by the tumor mass which covered the collapsed pulmonary parenchyma and was clearly demarcated from it. The gross appearance of the tumor was similar to that of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Histologically, marked Interstitial fibrosis of the subpleural parenchyma of both lungs was observed, and the tumor tissue was interspersed in the parenchyma adjacent to the tumor mass. The tumor showed both intracytoplasmic and intercellular positive materials with colloidal iron, alcian blue (pH 2.5), and toluidine blue stains, which entirelly disappeared after streptomyces hyaluronidase digestion. A small amount of intracytoplasmic PAS–positive material resistent to diastase digestion was also observed. Immunohlstochemical staining for carcinoembryonic antigen, which is said to be negative in malignant pleural mesothelioma, was positive intracellularly. There were no histologic findings indicating asbestos exposure. From these findings, the authors made a diagnosis of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, which was characterized by the production of hyaluronic acid. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 33: 415–423, 1983.
Protein kinase C isoforms involved in regulation of cell shape and locomotion of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in the regulation of cell shape [switch between fibroblast‐like and crescent shape (CS)] and of locomotion of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells has been investigated. The PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced the transition of elongated fibroblast‐like cells into CS cells and stimulated locomotion. Both responses to PMA were inhibited by the PKC inhibitor Ro 31‐8220. Analysis of the time course showed that stimulation of shape changes (formation of CS cells) and locomotor activity (increase in the proportion and speed of locomoting cells) was maximal in the early phase of the response (up to 2.5 hr) and significantly decreased later (15 to 21 hr). CS formation and stimulated locomotion correlated closely with a marked redistribution from the cytosol to the membrane of PKC isoforms α, β1 and γ in the early phase (0.5 to 2 hr) following activation with PMA. The subsequent reduction of the proportion of CS cells and of cell locomotion correlated with down‐regulation of these isoforms in the second phase (16 to 21 hr). In contrast, the total amount and distribution of PKC β2 remained almost unchanged with 10–8 M PMA up to 21 hr. Furthermore, changes in shape and locomotion did not correlate with the responses of PKC δ to PMA. Inhibition of PMA‐stimulated locomotion by the more specific inhibitor Gö 6976 is consistent with a role of PKC α and β1 in this response. Ro 31‐8220 alone induced a moderate down‐regulation of PKC isoforms α and δ, but it also inhibited the more pronounced down‐regulation of these isoforms by PMA. Our results indicate that activation of PKC isoforms α, γ and β1, but not β2 or δ, stimulates locomotion and formation of CS cells in human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells. Int. J. Cancer 88:195–203, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk factors for hospital-acquired bacteremia due to carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Colombian hospital.

INTRODUCTION Bacteremia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to carbapenems is a public health problem due to the limitations it places on therapeutic options, as well as the increased time patients must spend in hospital, costs and the risk of mortality. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk factors for presentation of bacteremia due to carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa acquired in the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio between January 2008 and June 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a case control study in which the case patients presented bacteremia due to P. aeruginosa resistant to carbapenems and the control group included patients with P. aeruginosa susceptible to this group of antibiotics. Variables such as the previous use of meropenem and ertapenem, immunosuppression and neoplasia were measured. Mortality and duration of hospital were also described. RESULTS In all, 168 patients were evaluated, of which 42 were cases and 126 controls. Using a multivariate model, the risk factors related to bacteremia due to carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa acquired in hospital were the following: use of parenteral nutrition (OR=8.28; 95% CI: 2.56-26.79; p=0); use of meropenem (OR=1.15; 95% CI: 1.03-1.28; p=0.01); and use of ciprofloxacin (OR=81.99; 95% CI: 1.14-5884; p=0.043). CONCLUSION In order to prevent the emergence of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa, antimicrobial control programs should be strengthened by promoting the prudent administration of carbapenems and quinolones. The correct use of parenteral nutrition should also be monitored.
Effects of Ambient Pollen Concentrations on Frequency and Severity of Asthma Symptoms Among Asthmatic Children

Background: Previous studies on the associations between ambient pollen exposures and daily respiratory symptoms have produced inconsistent results. We investigated these relationships in a cohort of asthmatic children using pollen exposure models to estimate individual ambient exposures. Methods: Daily symptoms of wheeze, night symptoms, shortness of breath, chest tightness, persistent cough, and rescue medication use were recorded in a cohort of 430 children with asthma (age 4–12 years) in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. Daily ambient exposures to tree, grass, weed, and total pollen were estimated using mixed-effects models. We stratified analyses by use of asthma maintenance medication and sensitization to grass or weed pollens. Separate logistic regression analyses using generalized estimating equations were performed for each symptom outcome and pollen type. We adjusted analyses for maximum daily temperature, maximum 8-hour average ozone, fine particles (PM2.5), season, and antibiotic use. Results: Associations were observed among children sensitized to specific pollens; these associations varied by use of asthma maintenance medication. Exposures to even relatively low levels of weed pollen (6–9 grains/m3) were associated with increased shortness of breath, chest tightness, rescue medication use, wheeze, and persistent cough, compared with lower exposure among sensitized children on maintenance medication. Grass pollen exposures ≥2 grains/m3 were associated with wheeze, night symptoms, shortness of breath, and persistent cough compared with lower exposure among sensitized children who did not take maintenance medication. Conclusion: Even low-level pollen exposure was associated with daily asthmatic symptoms.
Multi-professional and multi-dimensional group education – a key to action in elderly persons

Purpose: This study was intended to evaluate a multi-professional health-promoting and disease-preventive intervention organized as multi-professional senior group meetings, which addressed home-dwelling, independently living, cognitively intact elderly persons (80±), by exploring the participants’ experiences of the intervention. Method: The focus group methodology was used to interview a total of 20 participants. The informants had participated in four multi-professional senior group meetings at which information about the ageing process and preventive strategies for enhancing health were discussed. Results: The overall finding was that the elderly persons involved in the intervention lived in the present, but that the supportive environment together with learning a preventive approach contributed to the participants’ experiencing the senior meetings as a key to action. Conclusions: Elderly persons who are independent may have difficulty accepting information about preventing risks to health. However, group education with a multi-professional approach may be a successful model for achieving an exchange of knowledge, which may possibly empower the participants, give them role models, the opportunity to learn from each other and a sense of sharing problems with people in similar circumstances. Implications for Rehabilitation Since elderly persons these days are expected to live beyond their 80 s, there is still time for interventions aimed at health promotion and disease prevention to have an effect on functional status and the quality of life of their remaining years. Elderly persons who are independent may have difficulty accepting information about preventing risks to health. Multi-professional health promoting and disease-preventive senior meetings could motivate elderly persons to act on behalf of their own health. Multi-professional collaboration combined with the group model made the participants in our study experience the senior meeting as a key to action.
Scaling the structure--function relationship for clinical perimetry.

PURPOSE The full ranges of glaucomatous visual field defects and retinal ganglion cell losses extend over several orders of magnitude and therefore an interpretation of the structure-function relationship for clinical perimetry requires scaling of both variables. However, the most appropriate scale has not been determined. The present study was undertaken to compare linear and logarithmic transformations, which have been proposed for correlating the perimetric defects and neural losses of glaucoma. METHODS Perimetry, by behavioural testing, and retinal histology data were obtained from rhesus monkeys with significant visual field defects caused by experimental glaucoma. Ganglion cell densities were measured in histologic sections of retina that corresponded to specific perimetry test locations for the treated and control eyes. The linear (percentage) and logarithmic (decibel) relationships for sensitivity loss as a function of ganglion cell loss were analysed. RESULTS With decibel scaling, visual sensitivity losses and ganglion cell densities were linearly correlated with high coefficients of determination (r(2)), although the parameters of the functions varied with eccentricity. The structure-function relationships expressed as linear percentage-loss functions were less systematic in two respects. Firstly, the relationship exhibited considerable scatter in the data for small losses in visual sensitivity and, secondly, visual sensitivity losses became saturated with larger losses in ganglion cell density. The parameters of the percentage-loss functions also varied with eccentricity, but the variation was less than for the decibel-loss functions. CONCLUSIONS Linear scaling of perimetric defects and ganglion cell losses might potentially improve the structure-function relationship for visual defects associated with small amounts of cell loss, but the usefulness of the relationship is limited because of the high variability in that range. With log--log co-ordinates, the structure--function relationship for clinical perimetry is relatively more accurate and precise for cell losses greater than about 3 dB. The comparatively greater accuracy and precision of decibel loss functions are a likely consequence of the logarithmic scale of stimulus intensities for perimetry measurements and because the relationship between visual sensitivity and the number of neural detectors is a form of probability summation.
Efficient active appearance model for real-time head and facial feature tracking

We address the 3D tracking of pose and animation of the human face in monocular image sequences using active appearance models. The classical appearance-based tracking suffers from two disadvantages: (i) the estimated out-of-plane motions are not very accurate, and (ii) the convergence of the optimization process to desired minima is not guaranteed. We aim at designing an efficient active appearance model, which is able to cope with the above disadvantages by retaining the strengths of feature-based and featureless tracking methodologies. For each frame, the adaptation is split into two consecutive stages. In the first stage, the 3D head pose is recovered using robust statistics and a measure of consistency with a statistical model of a face texture. In the second stage, the local motion associated with some facial features is recovered using the concept of the active appearance model search. Tracking experiments and method comparison demonstrate the robustness and out-performance of the developed framework.