Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inspiratory Muscle Training In Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The effects of 6 months of muscle training with an inspiratory pressure load equal to 30% of the maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) was compared with sham training with a light inspiratory pressure load. In this double-blind randomly assigned study, 67 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were followed for 6 months. Both groups demonstrated improvements in performance of PImax, respiratory muscle endurance time for breathing against an inspiratory pressure load equal to 66% of PImax, 12-minute distance walk, and dyspnea. The treatment group did not demonstrate significant effects beyond those observed in the control group. Improvements in performance were related to improved coordination of the inspiratory muscles and desensitization to dyspnea.
Total internal inflection fluorescent microscopy.

This review discusses applications of fluorescence microscopy using totally internally reflected excitation light. When totally internally reflected in a transparent solid at its interface liquid, the excitation light beam penetrates only a short distance into the liquid. This surface electromagnetic field, called the 'evanescent wave', can selectively excite fluorescent molecules in the liquid near the interface. Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) has been used to examine the cell/substrate contact regions of primary cultured rat myotubes with acetylcholine receptors labelled by fluorescent alpha-bungarotoxin and human skin fibroblasts labelled with a membrane-incorporated fluorescent lipid. TIRF examination of cell/surface contacts dramatically reduces background from cell autofluorescence and debris. TIRF has also been combined with fluorescence photobleaching recovery and correlation spectroscopy to measure the chemical kinetic binding rates and surface diffusion constant of fluorescent labelled serum protein binding (at equilibrium) to a surface.
Intramedullary pressure and bone marrow fat intravasation in unreamed femoral nailing.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether intramedullary pressure and bone marrow fat embolization are different in unreamed compared with conventional reamed femoral nailing. The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between the two techniques. DESIGN A prospective consecutive nonrandomized clinical trial. METHODS Intramedullary pressure was measured in the distal femoral fracture fragment at the supracondylar region. Bone marrow fat intravasation was measured by means of the modified Gurd-test. Monitoring was carried out in 31 unreamed and eight reamed intramedullary femoral nailing procedures. RESULTS Intramedullary pressure increased in the unreamed group to 82 +/- 11 mm Hg during the insertion of 9-mm and 10-mm nails and in the reamed group to 396 +/- 85 mm Hg during reaming of the medullary cavity. Insertion of nails after reaming led to an increase in intramedullary pressure of 79 +/- 13 mm Hg. A positive correlation between fat intravasation and intramedullary pressure was found in each group (rs = 0.73), resulting in less liberation of bone marrow fat in the unreamed group than in the reamed group. CONCLUSIONS Intramedullary pressure increased significantly in the reamed more than in the unreamed group. Bone marrow fat intravasation depended on the rise in intramedullary pressure, and occurred less frequently in unreamed than in reamed intramedullary femoral fracture stabilization.
The evolution of a Web-based course : what we did and what we learnt

Web-based learning has become one of the emerging directions in higher education all over the world. The Web offers a vast number of resources and enormous opportunities for more effective learning. Yet, Web-based learning is in its infancy in many parts of the world including Hong Kong and many courses are still using a mixture of face-to-face and Web-based instruction. In September 2001, the Web-based course “ESCE 500 Introductory Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology” was introduced into the curriculum of the MSc Environmental Science and Engineering Program (ESCE Program) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). This course serves to bridge the knowledge gap for those MSc students who did not have sufficient background in chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology. “ESCE 500” has been a collaboration with the University’s Center for Enhanced Learning & Teaching (CELT) and implemented as a password-protected course through the WebCT learning platform. Initially, all the course content was delivered online while the final examination was still in a written format. With our previous experiences and the students’ feedback collected from the course evaluations, we have developed “ESCE 500” and now it is the first completely Web-based course in HKUST. The Secure Online Assessment System (SOAS) designed by CELT was employed for the final examination. Our experiences echoed the advantages of Web-based learning such as relieving the students from temporal and physical constraints (the course content can be accessed anytime and anywhere), the effectiveness of interactive learning (such as the use of self-assessed quizzes, pop-ups, and video clips), and the potential of the Web that provided extensive information on related topics. We also addressed the importance of
Attachment and capitalizing on positive events

Although previous work has examined how individual differences in attachment security affect support processes for negative events, little work has looked at how attachment security affects support for positive events (capitalization). In a 10-day diary study of romantic couples, we examined the association between individual differences in attachment security and perceptions of capitalization support. We also examined how attachment security moderated the relationship between capitalization support and daily emotions, relationship satisfaction, and life satisfaction. The results showed that stronger avoidance orientations were associated with reduced perceptions of partner responsiveness. Anxiety moderated the association between responsive support and daily outcomes; for those high (versus low) on anxiety, daily relationship and life satisfaction were more strongly tied to partners’ capitalization responses, and more negative emotions were experienced regarding those responses. Overall, insecure attachment was associated with mixed reactions to receiving responsive capitalization support.
Human Cytomegalovirus UL84 Is a Phosphoprotein That Exhibits UTPase Activity and Is a Putative Member of the DExD/H Box Family of Proteins*

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL84 is required for lytic DNA replication and is proposed to be the key factor in initiation of viral DNA synthesis. We now show that UL84 has a high degree of homology to the DExD/H (where x can be any amino acid) box family of helicases, displays UTPase activity, and is phosphorylated at serine residues. Affinity column-purified UL84-FLAG fusion protein was used in an in vitro nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) assay to show that UL84 has NTPase activity, preferring UTP. This UTPase activity was linear with respect to enzyme concentration and slightly enhanced by the addition of nucleic acid substrates. UL84 UTPase was the highest at low salt concentrations, a pH of 7.5, and a temperature of 45 °C. The enzyme preferred Mg2+ as the divalent cation but was also able to catalyze the UTPase reaction in the presence of Mn2+, Ca2+, and Zn2+ albeit at lower levels. The evidence presented here suggests that the UL84 UTPase activity may be part of an energy-generating system for helicase activity associated with the initiation of HCMV DNA replication.
Comparison of Tryptic Peptides of Benzodiazepine Binding Proteins Photolabeled with [3H]Flunitrazepam or [3H]Ro 15–4513

Abstract: When rat brain membranes were incubated with the benzodiazepine agonist [3H]flunitrazepam or the partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist [3H]Ro 15–4513 in the presence of ultraviolet light one protein (P51) was specifically and irreversibly labeled in cerebellum and at least two proteins (P51 and P55) were labeled in hippocampus. After digestion of the membranes with trypsin, protein P51 was degraded into several peptides. When P51 was photolabeled with [3H]Ro 15–4513, four peptides with apparent molecular weights of 39,000, 29,000, 21,000, and 17,000 were observed. When P51 was labeled with [3H]flunitrazepam, only two peptides with apparent molecular weights of 39,000 and 25,000 were obtained. Protein P55 was only partially degraded by trypsin, and whether it was labeled with [3H]‐flunitrazepam or [3H]Ro 15–4513 it yielded the same two proteolytic peptides with apparent molecular weights of 42,000 and 45,000. These results support the existence of at least two different benzodiazepine receptor subtypes associated with proteins P51 and P55. The different receptors seem to be differentially protected against treatment with trypsin. In addition, these results indicate that in the benzodiazepine receptor subtype associated with P51 benzodiazepine agonists and partial inverse benzodiazepine agonists irreversibly bind to different parts of the molecule.
The management of malignant tracheal neoplasms

^MALIGNANT neoplasms of the trachea are uncommon, but not excessively rare. McCafferty et al. (1964) reviewed the literature relating to 381 cases, and described 11 new cases of their own. Salm (1964) found that about 40 new cases appeared in the literature each decade. Both these papers contribute an extensive review of the subject and give a clear picture of the natural history of this disease. The present article reviews 23 patients with primary carcinoma of the trachea, treated at the Middlesex Hospital in the period 1949-1969. The author was personally involved in the treatment of four of them. Although there was considerable co-operation between departments in treating these patients, nine were seen initially in an Otolaryngology Clinic either here or elsewhere, six in the Thoracic Surgical Department, five in the Radiotherapy Department and three by the Chest Physicians. Four patients had already attended other hospitals after the onset of symptoms without any abnormality being discovered. The clinical details of these twenty-three patients are presented in the form of tables. Table I indicates the way in which the patients presented, Table II gives the details of the tracheal lesions, Table III sets out the treatment given and Table IV the outcome in each case. In general this group of patients conforms with the pattern discerned by McCafferty et al., in their review of 392 patients. 56-5 per cent of the patients were men, and the peak incidence occurred in the sixth decade of life. Breathlessness was a presenting symptom in nearly all the patients, with stridor, cough and haemoptysis in half, while four or five patients noticed voice change, dysphagia and/or weight loss. The upper half of the trachea was affected slightly more often than the lower, but only four lesions were confined to the middle third. There were sixteen squamous cell carcinomas, five adenoid cystic carcinomas and two anaplastic carcinomas. Growth was detected outside the trachea at some stage in fourteen patients, and this agrees with Salm's assertion that in the majority of cases metastases are demonstrable. It is generally agreed that the prognosis in patients with malignant disease of the trachea is extremely bad. Salm states that the majority of patients died within 1 _vear, and McCafferty et al., found only fifty-one out of 392 surviving to 3 years, a rate of 13 per cent. Out of sixteen patients seen in the years 1943-1959 at the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, Manchester, only one patient survived 5 years (Dalby and Jones, 1961). In a recent
Schwann Cells Can Induce Collateral Sprouting from Intact Axons: Experimental Study of End‐To‐Side Neurorrhaphy using a Y‐Chamber Model

Axonal regeneration across end-to-side neurorrhaphy has recently been reported; however, neither the mechanism by which collateral sprouting from intact axons is elicited, nor the origin of the regenerating axons are known. There has even been controversy over the presence of collateral axonal sprouting from intact axons altogether. This reported experimental study was designed to clarify these questions. A rat sciatic nerve model was used. To avoid any mechanical damage to the donor nerve during the procedure, a Y-shaped silicone chamber was employed instead of direct suture. Axonal regeneration from the intact tibial nerve across the gap into the peroneal nerve was assessed using a retrograde neurotracer and immunohistochemical staining. Axonal regeneration across the gap was observed in 66 percent of the animals. The neurotracer evaluation clearly showed that all regenerating axons were sensory axons from the dorsal root ganglia. The authors concluded that Schwann cells from the distal wallerian degeneration of nerve segments did elicit collateral axonal sprouting from intact sensory axons, but not from motor axons in end-to-side neurorrhaphy. Invasion of the Schwann cells into the epineurial layer was the crucial step for the initiation of collateral axonal sprouting from the intact axons.
Depth Discrimination from Optic Flow

A simple scheme for deriving relative depth (time-to-collision, or TTC) from optic flow is developed in which the total flow is first sensed by unconnected motion (imperfect filter) sensors and then the rotational component is subtracted to yield the translational component. Only the latter component yields depth information. This scheme is contrasted with one where the TTC sensors respond only to the translational component at the initial registration of the flow (perfect filter sensors or looming detectors). The simple scheme predicts the results of three experiments on discrimination of TTC: discrimination thresholds are elevated if the objects withdraw from rather than approach the observer, thresholds are elevated if a rotational component is added to the flow, and the amount of threshold elevation resulting from the addition of a rotational component is reduced by prior adaptation to a pure rotational flow. These results confirm the simple model and disconfirm predictions based on the looming detector scheme.
A Compact Tunable Directional Coupler with Continuously Tuned Differential Phase

A tunable directional coupler with outputs that have continuously tuned phase difference and constant magnitude is presented. The initial design is based on a 3-dB branch-line coupler with two arms having variable electrical lengths. To realize the variable-length lines, a novel concept of tunable phase shifting unit, which includes a pair of inductor-varactor loaded coupled lines, is proposed. By controlling the shifting phase of the two arms, the differential phase (i.e., the phase difference between the two output ports) can be tuned continuously. Explicit relation between the objective differential phase of the device and the required shifting phase of those units is analyzed and explained. To validate the design, a prototype is built, simulated, and tested. The experimental and predicted results agree well and show that the device can realize arbitrary and continuously tunable differential phase from 45° to 135°. The overall size of the design is only $0.18 \lambda _{g} \times 0.24 \lambda _{g}$ , which is extremely compact compared with using a cascaded coupler-phase shifters and is thus suitable for miniaturized wireless systems.
Whole blood, serum and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations after repeated heavy exercise of long duration.

The whole blood, serum and erythrocyte Mg concentrations were determined in 16 men before and for several days after two cross-country skiing competitions, 90 and 70 km, respectively, one week apart. Both races were accompanied by a transient fall in the serum Mg concentration, from 1.78 before to 1.58 mEq/l immediately after the 90-km race (P < 0.001), and from 1.81 to 1.66 mEq/l after the 70-km (P < 0.001), and increase in the erythrocyte Mg concentration from 4.47 to 4.74 mEq/l (P < 0.01), and from 4.58 to 4.78 mEq/l (P < 0.05), respectively, whereas the whole blood concentration remained unchanged. On the days after the races and throughout the rest of the observation period the serum, erythrocyte and whole blood Mg concentrations were the same as before the first race. In one case, however, there was a slight fall in the serum Mg concentration, whereas the erythrocyte and whole blood concentrations decreased continuously throughout the observation period. The urinary Mg excretion during the races was.
A Cross-National Examination of Differences in Classification of Lifetime Alcohol Use Disorder Between DSM-IV and DSM-5: Findings from the World Mental Health Survey.

BACKGROUND The current study sought to examine the diagnostic overlap in DSM-IV and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder (AUD) and determine the clinical correlates of changing diagnostic status across the 2 classification systems. METHODS DSM-IV and DSM-5 definitions of AUD were compared using cross-national community survey data in 9 low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Participants were 31,367 respondents to surveys in the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey Initiative. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview, version 3.0, was used to derive DSM-IV and DSM-5 lifetime diagnoses of AUD. Clinical characteristics, also assessed in the surveys, included lifetime DSM-IV anxiety; mood and drug use disorders; lifetime suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt; general functional impairment; and psychological distress. RESULTS Compared with DSM-IV AUD (12.3%, SE = 0.3%), the DSM-5 definition yielded slightly lower prevalence estimates (10.8%, SE = 0.2%). Almost one-third (n = 802) of all DSM-IV abuse cases switched to subthreshold according to DSM-5 and one-quarter (n = 467) of all DSM-IV diagnostic orphans switched to mild AUD according to DSM-5. New cases of DSM-5 AUD were largely similar to those who maintained their AUD across both classifications. Similarly, new DSM-5 noncases were similar to those who were subthreshold across both classifications. The exception to this was with regard to the prevalence of any lifetime drug use disorder. CONCLUSIONS In this large cross-national community sample, the prevalence of DSM-5 lifetime AUD was only slightly lower than the prevalence of DSM-IV lifetime AUD. Nonetheless, there was considerable diagnostic switching, with a large number of people inconsistently identified across the 2 DSM classifications.
Deletion of the Alternative Sigma Factor ςB in Staphylococcus aureus Reveals Its Function as a Global Regulator of Virulence Genes

ABSTRACT A deletion of the sigB operon was constructed in three genetically distinct Staphylococcus aureus strains, and the phenotypes of the resulting mutants were analyzed. Compared to the corresponding wild-type strains, the ΔsigB mutants showed reduced pigmentation, accelerated sedimentation, and increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide during the stationary growth phase. A cytoplasmic protein missing in the ΔsigB mutants was identified as alkaline shock protein 23, and an extracellular protein excreted at higher levels in one of the ΔsigB mutants was identified as staphylococcal thermonuclease. Interestingly, mostsigB deletion phenotypes were only seen in S. aureus COL and Newman and not in 8325, which was found to contain an 11-bp deletion in the regulator gene rsbU. Taken together, our results show that ςB is a global regulator which modulates the expression of several virulence factors in S. aureus and that laboratory strain 8325 is a ςB-defective mutant.
Hybrid power system for residential load

The residential load is one of the largest components of the electrical load in the Iraqi power system. We can supply a part of the residential loads by utilizing the renewable energies. Recent research's show that the applications of a hybrid power system is preferable to achieve this goal. The paper studied the possibility of supplying part of the residential load in the city of Mosul - at north of Iraq by using a hybrid renewable energy system. The paper obtains the optimal hybrid system components for various cases. HOMER software was used to find the optimal solution of the system that feeds the residential loads.
The Nitric Oxide-Responsive Regulator NsrR Controls ResDE-Dependent Gene Expression

ABSTRACT The ResD-ResE signal transduction system is essential for aerobic and anaerobic respiration in Bacillus subtilis. ResDE-dependent gene expression is induced by oxygen limitation, but full induction under anaerobic conditions requires nitrite or nitric oxide (NO). Here we report that NsrR (formerly YhdE) is responsible for the NO-dependent up-regulation of the ResDE regulon. The null mutation of nsrR led to aerobic derepression of hmp (flavohemoglobin gene) partly in a ResDE-independent manner. In addition to its negative role in aerobic hmp expression, NsrR plays an important role under anaerobic conditions for regulation of ResDE-controlled genes, including hmp. ResDE-dependent gene expression was increased by the nsrR mutation in the absence of NO, but the expression was decreased by the mutation when NO was present. Consequently, B. subtilis cells lacking NsrR no longer sense and respond to NO (and nitrite) to up-regulate the ResDE regulon. Exposure to NO did not significantly change the cellular concentration of NsrR, suggesting that NO likely modulates the activity of NsrR. NsrR is similar to the recently described nitrite- or NO-sensitive transcription repressors present in various bacteria. NsrR likely has an Fe-S cluster, and interaction of NO with the Fe-S center is proposed to modulate NsrR activity.
Flexible Control Strategy for Grid-Connected Inverter Under Unbalanced Grid Faults Without PLL

Power oscillation and current quality are the important performance targets for the grid-connected inverter under unbalanced grid faults. First, the inherent reason for the current harmonic and power oscillation of the inverter is discussed with a quantitative analysis. Second, a new control strategy is proposed to achieve the coordinate control of power and current quality without the need for a phase-locked loop (PLL) or voltage/current positive/negative sequence extraction calculation. Finally, the experimental tests are conducted under unbalanced grid faults, and the results verify the effectiveness of the propose method.