Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Industrial Reference Fluid for Moderately High Viscosity

In industrial practice, there is a demand for a reference standard for viscosity that is established for a readily available fluid to simplify the calibration of industrial viscometers for moderately high viscosities [(50 to 125) mPa·s]. Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) has been suggested as that reference fluid, and a number of studies of its properties have been carried out in several laboratories throughout the world, within the auspices of a project coordinated by the International Association for Transport Properties. That project has now progressed to the point where it is possible to collate the results of studies of the viscosity of the fluid by a number of different techniques, so as to lead to a proposed standard reference value which will be included in the paper. To support this recommended value, the various measurements conducted have been critically reviewed, and the sample purity and other factors affecting the viscosity have been studied. Density and surface tension measurements have also been.
Students' voice regarding important characteristics of online and face-to-face higher education

The proportion of Higher Education students studying online has increased exponentially in the last decade, however not much is known about this cohort and what they want from their university experience. Furthermore, most universities are attempting to enhance the online resources provided to their on-campus students; however, there is a lack of clarity regarding what aspects of online study on-campus students may value. Do on-campus students value the same aspects of learning as their online counterparts, or do universities need to develop different resources for the various cohorts? In the current study, 525 first year psychology students studying across three study modes (on-campus, online via Open Universities Australia and online via a private provider affiliated with a university) responded to an online questionnaire assessing characteristics associated with both online and face-to-face teaching, and asking what students value in teaching academics. The results are discussed in terms of how universities can best improve their online offerings and how they may incorporate desired ‘offline’ experiences into an online environment.
Evaluation of the Desired Sensation Level [Input/Output] Algorithm for Adults with Hearing Loss: The Acceptable Range for Amplified Conversational Speech

Objectives: This study had two related purposes: first, to define the range of optimal ear canal levels of aided speech in both high frequency and low frequency regions for adults, using both subjective and objective definitions of optimal; and second, to determine whether a prescribed frequency response, such as that given by Desired Sensation Level [Input/Output], falls within the adult listener's optimal range. Design: Twenty-three adult listeners with mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss were selected from a pool of research volunteers. They were fitted in the laboratory with the Siemens Signia hearing instrument and tested with 20 nominally different frequency responses. All advanced processing options of the hearing instrument were disabled. Subjective ratings of loudness and quality and objective measures of consonant identification were obtained for every frequency response. Results: These adult listeners had, on average, a 10 dB range of measured responses in both the low and the high frequencies that resulted in optimal performance on all the measurements. The range did not vary with degree or configuration of hearing loss, or previous hearing aid experience. Desired-Sensation-Level Input/Output targets were within the optimal range for the low frequencies, and 3 dB above the optimal range for the high frequencies. Conclusions: A range of aided ear canal frequency responses was determined within which adults with mild to moderately severe hearing loss performed optimally on both objective and subjective outcomes. Clinical implications of this finding include the following: prescriptive methods providing different targets may all result in optimal fittings; and a range of targets may be more appropriate than a single target when setting the frequency-gain characteristics of the hearing instrument.
Phospholipid localization implies microglial morphology and function via Cdc42 in vitro

Under a quiescent state, microglia exhibit a ramified shape, rather than the amoeboid‐like morphology following injury or inflammation. The manipulation of microglial morphology in vitro has not been very successful, which has impeded the progress of microglial studies. We demonstrate that lysophosphatidylserine (LysoPS), a kind of lysophospholipids, rapidly and substantially alters the morphology of primary cultured microglia to an in vivo‐like ramified shape in a receptor independent manner. This mechanism is mediated by Cdc42 activity. LysoPS is incorporated into the plasma membrane and converted to phosphatidylserine (PS) via the Lands' cycle. The accumulated PS on the membrane recruits Cdc42. Both Cdc42 and PS colocalize predominantly in primary and secondary processes, but not in peripheral branches or tips of microglia. Along with the morphological changes LysoPS suppresses inflammatory cytokine production and NF‐kB activity. The present study provides a tool to manipulate a microglial phenotype from an amoeboid to a fully ramified in vitro, which certainly contributes to studies exploring microglial physiology and pathology.
Earthworm coelomocytes in vitro: cellular features and "granuloma" formation during cytotoxic activity against the mammalian tumor cell target K562.

Earthworms possess specific, adaptive, cellular immunodefense as well as non-specific responses found in other complex metazoans. Here we characterized coelomocytes from the earthworm Eisenia foetida by electron microscopy and cytofluorimetric analyses, and investigated structural changes that occur when effector coelomocytes and target K562 erythromyeloid human tumor cells interact during cytotoxic activity. In in vitro cultures 1) the two earthworm cell types (i.e. small and large coelomocytes) retained their morphological features; 2) their DNA content was significantly less than that of human lymphocytes and the erythromyeloid human tumor cell line K562; 3) significant percentages of coelomocytes were found to be in S or G2/M phases of the cell cycle. When cultivated alone for up to 3 h, coelomocytes formed no aggregates. However, when mixed with K562, coelomocytes spontaneously killed tumor cells, and cytotoxic reactivity was accompanied by the formation of multiple aggregates similar to granulomas. These results are the first to describe this type of earthworm non-specific "inflammatory" response in vitro against tumor cells.
Determination of bank erodibility for natural and anthropogenic bank materials using a model of lateral migration and observed erosion along the Willamette River, Oregon, USA

Many large rivers flow through a variety of geologic materials. Within the span of several kilometres, bends may alternately flow against recently reworked sediments, older, more indurated sediments or highly resistant materials. As sediment size, cementation, and other properties strongly influence the erodibility of river banks, erosion rates and channel planform are likely to vary significantly along the length of large rivers. In order to assess the role of bank materials on bank erosion rates, we develop a method for detecting relative differences in erodibility between bank materials along large floodplains. By coupling historic patterns of channel change with a simple model of bank erodibility we are able to track relative changes in bank erodibility among time intervals and bank materials. We apply our analysis to the upper Willamette River, in northwestern Oregon for three time periods: 1850–1895, 1895–1932 and 1972–1995 and compute relative differences in bank erodibility for Holocene alluvium, partially cemented Pleistocene gravels, and revetments constructed in the 20th century. Although the Willamette is fundamentally an anastomosing river, we apply the model to single‐thread portions of the channel that evolved through lateral migration. Our simple model of bank erodibility reveals that for all three‐time periods, banks composed of Holocene alluvium are at least 2–5 times more erodible than banks composed of Pleistocene gravels. Revetment installed in the 20th century is highly resistant to erosion and is at least 10 times less erodible than Pleistocene gravels. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microdissection or Microspot CO2 Laser for Limited Vocal Fold Benign Lesions: A Prospective Randomized Trial

CO2 lasers have become an important technological advance and an integral tool for the laryngeal surgeon since the 1960s. Surgeons have used lasers for a variety of benign and malignant lesions in the larynx with good success. With better understanding of the microarchitecture of the vocal folds and the recognition of heat distribution into surrounding tissues that occurs with the use of standard CO2 lasers, questions and concerns have been raised regarding the use of the CO2 laser for benign lesions of the vocal folds. With the advent of the microspot CO2 laser with a spot size of less than 250 μm, the potential heat distribution to the deeper layers of the lamina propria has been reduced. The microspot CO2 laser has been suggested to be an appropriate tool for the excision of superficial benign lesions of the vocal fold and may be considered as an appropriate treatment alternative to microdissection. Only a limited number of studies have compared the efficacy of microdissection versus microspot CO2 laser surgery in the larynx, and no prospective, randomized trials have been performed.
A Current-Sensorless Online ESR and C Identification Method for Output Capacitor of Buck Converter

As electrolytic capacitor is apt to fail in power circuits, it is very important to identify its electrical parameters, mainly the equivalent series resistance (ESR) and capacitance (C). A noninvasive online identification method of capacitor's ESR and C for continuous-conduction-mode (CCM) buck converter is proposed in this paper. Based on the ac component of capacitor voltage, the calculation model is founded. By sampling the pulse width modulation signal and output voltage, the method needs no current sensor and is effective for the CCM buck converter operating at different conditions. Implementation of the identification system is presented. The tests are carried out for different aged capacitors and ambient temperatures. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the method.
Survival from early, intermediate, and late stages of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE To estimate expected survival time among homosexual men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by (1) the calendar period before (1985-1988) and after (1989-1993) the widespread availability of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatments with antiretroviral and prophylactic interventions, and (2) stage of HIV disease. DESIGN A prospective cohort study. A group of HIV-1-infected homosexual men were followed from July 1985 through June 1993 and evaluated every 6 months for the presence of clinical symptoms and measurement of the CD4 cell count. To measure the effectiveness of AIDS therapies in this nonrandomized study, we used 2 calendar periods as proxy measures of relative intensity of exposure to antiretroviral therapy. Stage of infection was defined by CD4 cell count and presence of HIV-related clinical symptoms or AIDS. SETTING AND STUDY PARTICIPANTS Homosexual men infected with HIV-1 from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Survival time based on stage of HIV infection. RESULTS The percentage of HIV-1-infected individuals free of AIDS and clinical symptoms at baseline who survived 2.5 years according to baseline CD4 cell counts of 0 to 0.100, 0.101 to 0.200, and 0.201 to 0.350 x 10(9)/L was 22%, 53%, and 83%, respectively, for the 1985-1988 calendar period, compared with 54%, 71%, and 91%, respectively, for men in the 1989-1993 calendar period. Among men free of AIDS with CD4 cell counts of greater than 0.350 x 10(9)/L, the relative hazard of mortality was 1.6 to 2.3 times higher for those with clinical symptoms compared with those free of clinical symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Survival of AIDS-free HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4 cell counts of less than 0.350 x 10(9)/L has improved since antiretroviral and HIV prophylactic treatments have become available, but the long-term prognosis remains poor.
A review of the use of latanoprost for glaucoma since its launch

Introduction: Prostaglandins are increasingly used as first choice treatment for glaucoma because they are highly effective, lack relevant systemic side effects and require just once-daily administration. Latanoprost is an ester prodrug analog of prostaglandin F2α, which reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) by increasing uveoscleral outflow. Latanoprost 0.005% has received European and US approval as the first-line drug for reducing IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Following the recent patent expiry for Xalatan®, a number of latanoprost generics have entered the glaucoma market. Areas covered: This review, achieved through PubMed and Medline research methods, describes the composition, pharmacokinetics, mode of action, efficacy, side effects and safety profile of latanoprost. Expert opinion: Latanoprost was the first prostaglandin analog introduced in glaucoma management and it dramatically changed the market of the disease thanks to its efficacy and safety. Conjunctival hyperemia, which is commonly found after latanoprost use, is associated with a minor efficacy and duration of trabeculectomy; yet, from the ophthalmologist's perspective, this side effect seems largely counterbalanced by the high efficacy and safety of this compound. It is always advisable to consider the pro-inflammatory mode of action of latanoprost because this may have negative effects in particular patients (i.e., those with uveitis and cystoid macular edema) for whom caution and close follow-up is necessary.
Changes in cranial base and craniocervical junction during growth in healthy individuals and in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta

4 Contents 6 List of original publications 8 Abbreviations 9 1. Introduction 11 2. Review of the literature 12 2.1. Bone metabolism and growth 12 2.2. Neurocranium and craniocervical junction 15 2.2.1. Anatomy 15 2.2.2. Prenatal development 16 2.2.3. Postnatal development 20 2.3. Osteogenesis imperfecta 23 2.3. 1. Molecular basis 23 2.3. 2. Clinical features 26 2.3. 3. Treatment 31 2.4. Basilar pathology 32 2.4.1. Pathology of craniocervical junction 34 2.4.2. Platybasia 36 2.4.3. Basilar pathology in OI 37 2.4.4. Basilar pathology in other disorders 39 2.4.5. Treatment 41 3. Aims of the study 42 4. Materials and methods 43 4.1. Diagnostic images 43 7 4.1. 1. Normal population cohorts 43 4.1. 2. OI patient cohorts 45 4.2. Radiographic measurements 46 4.2.1. Intraand interexaminer error 49 4.3. Other measurements 49 4.4. Statistical methods 49 4.5. Ethical considerations 50 5. Results 51 5.1. Validation of methods 51 5.2. Basilar structures in normal population 52 5.3. Basilar structures in OI 54 5.3. 1. Cross-sectional analysis 54 5.3. 2. Longitudinal analysis 56 6. Discussion 63 6.1. Reliability of observations 63 6.2. Radiographic evaluation of cranial base dimensions 64 6.3. Natural course of basilar pathology 65 7. Conclusions 70 8. Clinical recommendations and future considerations 72 9. Acknowledgements 73 10. References 75 11. Original publications 95 List of original publications This thesis is based on the following publications, referred to in the text by their roman numerals. This thesis also contains some unpublished data. I Arponen H, Elf H, Evälahti M, Waltimo-Sirén J 2008 Reliability of cranial base measurements on lateral skull radiographs. Orthod Craniofac Res 4:201-210. II Arponen H, Evälahti M, Waltimo-Sirén J 2010 Dimensions of the craniocervical junction in longitudinal analysis of normal growth. Child’s Nervous System 26:763-769. III Cheung M, Arponen H, Roughley P, Azouz M, Glorieux FH, Waltimo-Sirén J, Rauch F 2011 Cranial Base Abnormalities in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Phenotypic and Genotypic Determinants. J Bone Min Res 26:405-413. IV Arponen H, Mäkitie O, Haukka J, Ranta H, Ekholm M, Mäyränpää MK, Kaitila I, Waltimo-Sirén J 2012 Prevalence and natural course of craniocervical junction anomalies during growth in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta. J Bone Min Res 27: 1142–1149. Original publications are reprinted with the permission of the publisher. The final publication of study II is available at www.springerlink. com. Studies III and IV, are reproduced from J Bone Miner Res with permission of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Homoclinic Solutions for a Second-Order Nonperiodic Asymptotically Linear Hamiltonian Systems

We establish a new existence result on homoclinic solutions for a second-order nonperiodic Hamiltonian systems. This homoclinic solution is obtained as a limit of solutions of a certain sequence of nil-boundary value problems which are obtained by the minimax methods. Some recent results in the literature are generalized and extended.
Factors Affecting Consumer Choice and Willingness to Pay for Milk Attributes

This study used weekly scanner data to determine within the milk market the factors that affect consumer choice of non-rBST and organic products and the implications for the development of niche markets. This was accomplished by first understanding what product attributes affected demand for milk and then determining how much consumers were willing to pay for these attributes. The former was done within the multinomial logit framework while the latter used the hedonic price model to infer WTP. Results showed the price effect for rBST-free was the largest while the price effect for organic was the smallest and that consumers were willing to pay more for both rBST-free and organic milk compared to conventionally produced milk.
Effect of Dosimetric and Physiological Factors on the Lethal Photosensitization of Porphyromonas gingivalis in vitro

The aims of this study were to (1) determine the effect of dosimetric and physiological factors on the lethal photosensitization of Porphyromonas gingivalis using tolui‐dine blue O (TBO) and light from a helium/neon (HeNe) laser; (2) determine the influence of sensitizer concentration, preirradiation time, serum and growth phase on sensitizer uptake by P. gingivalis. The dosimetric factors studied were concentration of TBO, light dose and preirradiation time. The physiological factors were presence of serum, pH and bacterial growth phase. Sensitizer uptake by P. gingivalis under various conditions was determined using tritiated TBO (3H‐TBO). In the presence of TBO, a light dose‐dependent increase in kill was attained (100% kill at 4.4 J). There was no significant effect on the numbers killed when TBO was increased from 12.5 to 50 µg/mL. An increase in preirradiation time gave slightly increased kills. High kills were achieved at all three pH (6.8–8.0). Although kills were substantial in the presence of serum, they were significantly less than those obtained in the presence of saline. Cells in all three growth phases were susceptible to lethal photosensitization, although stationary phase cells were slightly less susceptible. Maximum uptake of TBO occurred within 60 s and uptake in serum was less than in saline. The uptake by the log phase cells was greater at lower concentrations of sensitizer (50 µg/mL), compared to the other two phases.
Directional dependence of the minimum phase property of antenna transfer functions

It has been shown that a number of directional antennas exhibit minimum phase transfer functions on their principal axes. Here we quantify the dependence of this property on direction for a particular broadband antenna. We present measured data for the transfer function of a broadband double-ridged horn on axis and off-axis in the E- and H-planes. It is seen that the transfer function is clearly minimum phase on axis, but degenerates gradually and systematically as the observation direction is moved off the principal axis. The degradation is much smaller and much more gradual for off-axis directions in the E-plane than in the H-plane. It is postulated that one source of this degradation is interference between the primary radiation from the horn and fields diffracted by the front edges of the sides of the horn.
Speech enhancement using Discriminative Random Fields

Speech enhancement in stationary noise is addressed using the ideal channel selection framework. In order to estimate the binary mask, we propose to classify each time-frequency (T-F) bin of the noisy signal as speech or noise using Discriminative Random Fields (DRF). The DRF function contains two terms - an enhancement function and a smoothing term. On each T-F bin, we propose to use an enhancement function based on likelihood ratio test for speech presence, while Ising model is used as smoothing function for spectro-temporal continuity in the estimated binary mask. The effect of the smoothing function over successive iterations is found to reduce musical noise as opposed to using only enhancement function. The binary mask is inferred from the noisy signal using Iterated Conditional Modes (ICM) algorithm. Sentences from NOIZEUS corpus are evaluated from 0 dB to 15 dB Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) in 4 kinds of additive noise settings: additive white Gaussian noise, car noise, street noise and pink noise. The reconstructed speech using the proposed technique is evaluated in terms of average segmental SNR, Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality (PESQ) and Mean opinion Score (MOS).
Characterization of the fast and slow reversible components of non-photochemical quenching in isolated pea thylakoids by picosecond time-resolved chlorophyll fluorescence analysis.

The fast and slow reversible components of non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching commonly assigned to the qE and the qI mechanism have been studied in isolated pea thylakoids which were prepared from leaves after a moderate photoinhibitory treatment. Chlorophyll fluorescence decays were measured at picosecond resolution and analyzed on the basis of the heterogeneous exciton/radical pair equilibrium model. Our results show that the fast reversible non-photochemical quenching is completely assigned to the PS II antenna and is related to zeaxanthin. The slow reversible qI type quenching is located at the PS II reaction center and involves enhanced nonradiative decay of the primary charge separated state to its ground state and/or triplet excited state. Apart from its independence from the proton gradient, the qI quenching shows striking similarities to a particular form of qE quenching which is also located at the PS II reaction center and has resently been resolved in isolated thylakoids from dark-adapted leaves [Wagner, B. , et al. (1996) J. Photochem. Photobiol. , B 36, 339-350]. Our data suggest that during exposure to the supersaturating light the reaction center qE component was replaced by qI quenching. This qE to qI transition is supposed to be part of the mechanism of the long-term downregulation of PS II during photoinhibition. It is also evident that under the conditions used in our study zeaxanthin-dependent antenna quenching is not involved in the slow reversible downregulation of PS II but that it retains its dependence on the proton gradient during exposure to strong light.