Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do “Optimal” Conditions Improve Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Test Performance?

Objectives: To determine whether an “optimal” distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) protocol that (1) used optimal stimulus levels and primary-frequency ratios for each f2, (2) simultaneously measured 2f2 − f1 and 2f1 − f2 distortion products, (3) controlled source contribution, (4) implemented improved calibration techniques, (5) accounted for the influence of middle ear reflectance, and (6) applied multivariate analyses to DPOAE data results in improved accuracy in differentiating between normal-hearing and hearing-impaired ears, compared with a standard clinical protocol. Design: Data were collected for f2 frequencies ranging from 0.75 to 8 kHz in 28 normal-hearing and 78 hearing-impaired subjects. The protocol included a control condition incorporating standard stimulus levels and primary-frequency ratios calibrated with a standard SPL method and three experimental conditions using optimized stimuli calibrated with an alternative forward pressure level method. The experimental conditions differed with respect to the level of the reflection-source suppressor tone and included conditions referred to as the null suppressor (i.e., no suppressor tone presented), low-level suppressor (i.e., suppressor tone presented at 58 dB SPL), and high-level suppressor (i.e., suppressor tone presented at 68 dB SPL) conditions. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AROC) curves and sensitivities for fixed specificities (and vice versa) were estimated to evaluate test performance in each condition. Results: AROC analyses indicated (1) improved test performance in all conditions using multivariate analyses, (2) improved performance in the null suppressor and low suppressor experimental conditions compared with the control condition, and (3) poorer performance below 4 kHz with the high-level suppressor. As expected from AROC, sensitivities for fixed specificities and specificities for fixed sensitivities were highest for the null suppressor and low suppressor conditions and lowest for standard clinical procedures. The influence of 2f2 − f1 and reflectance on test performance were negligible. Conclusions: Predictions of auditory status based on DPOAE measurements in clinical protocols may be improved by the inclusion of (1) optimized stimuli, (2) alternative calibration techniques, (3) low-level suppressors, and (4) multivariate analyses.
Microstructural influence of OsRu thin films on dispenser cathodes

Osmium-Ruthenium films were subjected to 1000 hours of close-spaced diode (CSD) testing and the film microstructures were evaluated in light of the CSD test results in order to generate improved film architectures for further CSD testing. Low knee temperatures correlated with a {10-10}/{10-11} film texture of annealed films.
Targeting survivin in cancer: patent review

Importance of the field: Survivin is a prominent anti-apoptotic molecule expressed widely in the majority of cancers. Overexpression of survivin leads to uncontrolled cancer cell growth and drug resistance. Efficient downregulation of survivin expression and its functions can sensitise the tumour cells to various therapeutic interventions such as chemotherapeutic agents leading to cell apoptosis. Areas covered in this review: The article thoroughly analyses up-to-date information on the knowledge generated from the survivin patents. Various key areas of research in terms of understanding survivin biology and its targeting are discussed in detail. What the reader will gain: The article clearly gives an insight on the recent developments undertaken to understand the roles of survivin in cancer and in validating various treatment paradigms that suppress survivin expression in cancer cells. Take home message: Most recent developments are helpful for effectively downregulating survivin expression by using various therapeutic platforms such as chemotherapeutic drugs, immunotechnology, antisense, dominant negative survivin mutant, RNA interference and peptide-based methods. However, selective and specific targeting of survivin in cancer cells still poses a major challenge. Nanotechnology-based platforms are currently under development to enable site-specific targeting of survivin in tumour cells.
Travelling Business Models: On adapting business models to new contexts

How business models are configured can provide one solution to bringing forward sustainable innovations and transforming businesses and industries so that they become more sustainable. Creating a shift in the energy sector’s use of renewable sources is of particular importance since the energy sector is the source of one-fourth of all global greenhouse gas emissions. In California, the dominant business model for solar energy is the so-called third-party-ownership business model (TPO). It can be described as a “Cleantech-as-a-service business model” based on product usage rather than the traditional direct ownership model. The research in this thesis started with the observation that actors in European markets were adopting the TPO business model. However, despite being portrayed in various media and reports as a successful archetype to copy, the TPO was in fact adapted to fit its new market contexts. The research in this thesis focuses on the phenomenon of the “travelling TPO” to empirically explore how a BM “circulating out there” as a model to follow is brought into a new context and adapted to fit it. The findings show that business models are highly context dependent and that both external market conditions and internal organizational factors influence business models that are brought into new contexts. The thesis presents business model translation as an emergent and actor-oriented view on how organizations recognize, adopt and adapt business models as models to follow. In line with a translation perspective, the research reveals that the tacit and ambiguous nature of business models allow actors involved in bringing and adapting business models into new settings to shape them according to their experiences and interests. Through interpretations and adaptations, actors continuously create preliminary translations of a business model that iteratively resonate with the new context. This eventually allows the business model to be contextualized in its new setting. (Less)
Improved Simulation of Ion Track Structures Using New Geant4 Models—Impact on the Modeling of Advanced Technologies Response

New “MuElec” models and processes are developed and implemented in Geant4 for the generation of low energy electrons in silicon by incident electrons, protons and heavy ions. They allow a more accurate modeling of proton and ion tracks; differences are clearly seen as compared to the tracks previously obtained with the already available Geant4 low energy ionization models, mainly located in the first 10 nm of the track core. The effect of these new tracks on the response of electronic devices is studied by means of TCAD simulations. Significant differences in collected charge-up to 25%-are observed for FinFET structures with one dimension smaller than 10 nm.
Does a stretched DNA structure dictate the helical geometry of RecA-like filaments?

Proteins in the RecA/Rad51/RadA/UvsX family form helical filaments on DNA in which the DNA is stretched and untwisted. A comparison of the average helical parameters of these filaments from five different proteins, obtained from archaea, eubacteria and eukaryotes, suggests that an intrinsic state of DNA may be responsible for the conservation of these particular filament forms across evolution. In this view, these proteins stabilize this existing state of DNA, rather than induce a novel conformation.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Pegylated Interferon-α Plus Ribavirin Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C: Case Report and Literature Review

Combined pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)+ribavirin (RBV) therapy has been used as a primary treatment for chronic hepatitis C. However, IFN-induced autoimmune disease, including type 1 diabetes mellitus, has been highlighted as one of the problems with this therapy. Here we report the case of a patient who developed type 1 diabetes mellitus during combined PEG-IFN+RBV therapy for hepatitis C but who showed no exacerbation of diabetes despite continued use of IFN. A 63-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C and a nonresponder to previous IFNα treatments, was admitted to our hospital because of excessive thirst, polydipsia, and polyuria 24 weeks after the start of PEG-IFNα+RBV therapy. High levels of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin and low levels of C-peptide and immunoreactive insulin were observed. The serum antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibody titer was 27,700 U/mL. We diagnosed IFN-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus; however PEG-IFNα+RBV therapy was continued for 48 weeks. Serum HCV remains negative five years after this treatment. Intensive insulin therapy was started immediately after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Although the patient initially required 22 U/day of insulin, the dosage could be gradually reduced after completion of PEG-IFNα+RBV therapy and blood glucose remained well controlled. Prediction of onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus on the basis of baseline measurement of pancreas-associated autoantibodies is difficult. Therefore, it would be advisable to consider the possibility of onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in all patients receiving IFN+RBV therapy.
Report on the annual survey of departments offering CSAC/CSAB-accredited computer science degree programs

This paper presents results of a survey of departments offering accredited Computer Science degree programs. It discusses demographic information related to curricula, faculty, and students for all such programs, and identifies various trends based on this data. These results are of interest and use to all accredited and non-accredited departments alike, since it provides the information necessary to monitor and compare individual degree programs to other programs in the nation in terms of faculty composition, student enrollment and graduation rates, faculty salaries, and curriculum issues.
Capturing Bottom-Up Information Technology Use Processes: A Complex Adaptive Systems Model

Although information systems researchers have long recognized the possibility for collective- level information technology use patterns and outcomes to emerge from individual-level IT use behaviors, few have explored the key properties and mechanisms involved in this bottom-up IT use process. This paper seeks to build a theoretical framework drawing on the concepts and the analytical tool of complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory. The paper presents a CAS model of IT use that encodes a bottom-up IT use process into three interrelated elements: agents that consist of the basic entities of actions in an IT use process, interactions that refer to the mutually adaptive behaviors of agents, and an environment that represents the social organizational contexts of IT use. Agent-based modeling is introduced as the analytical tool for computationally representing and examining the CAS model of IT use. The operationability of the CAS model and the analytical tool are demonstrated through a theory-building exercise translating an interpretive case study of IT use to a specific version of the CAS model. While Orlikowski (1996) raised questions regarding the impacts of employee learning, IT flexibility, and workplace rigidity on IT-based organization transformation, the CAS model indicates that these factors in individual-level actions do not have a direct causal linkage with organizational- level IT use patterns and outcomes. This theory-building exercise manifests the intriguing nature of the bottom-up IT use process: collective-level IT use patterns and outcomes are the logical and yet often unintended or unforeseeable consequences of individual-level behaviors. The CAS model of IT use offers opportunities for expanding the theoretical and methodological scope of the IT use literature.
The impact of film and film-based activities on the attitudes of English-speaking secondary-school students towards L2 Chinese / Qi Zhang

While foreign-language films can provide second language learners with authentic exposure to the target language in a relatively natural context, very few studies have been conducted on the use of film in the teaching of Chinese language and culture. This research project used two film sessions with a group of secondary-school students of Chinese in order to investigate the influence of Chinese film on students’ attitudes towards the study of language from three perspectives: the importance of language study, motivation, and cultural awareness. Comparing pre- with post-event evaluations, the correlation tests show that the integration of film in the classroom can indeed increase motivation to learn Chinese and improve students’ understanding of Chinese culture, but not their perceptions on the importance of language study. Gender was also considered as a factor, and interestingly, compared to their female counterparts, male participants consistently not only report lower motivation, but also demonstrate less cultural awareness after film sessions. The study shows that film may be used effectively in the Chinese language classroom to help learners understand Chinese culture and serve to contextualise the Chinese language, to which British students may have limited real- world access or holiday exposure. The cultural elements conveyed by foreign language films and the audience’s comprehension of these elements could be the starting point for establishing intercultural exchange.
Sequence types of Staphylococcus epidermidis associated with prosthetic joint infections are not present in the laminar airflow during prosthetic joint surgery

Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) has demonstrated a predominance of healthcare‐associated multi‐drug resistant sequence types (ST2 and ST215). How, and when, patients acquire these nosocomial STs is not known. The aim was to investigate if sequence types of S. epidermidis associated with PJIs are found in the air during prosthetic joint surgery. Air sampling was undertaken during 17 hip/knee arthroplasties performed in operating theaters equipped with mobile laminar airflow units in a 500‐bed hospital in central Sweden. Species identification was performed using MALDI‐TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Isolates identified as S. epidermidis were further characterized by MLST and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Seven hundred and thirty‐five isolates were available for species identification. Micrococcus spp. (n = 303) and coagulase‐negative staphylococci (n = 217) constituted the majority of the isolates. Thirty‐two isolates of S. epidermidis were found. S. epidermidis isolates demonstrated a high level of allelic diversity with 18 different sequence types, but neither ST2 nor ST215 was found. Commensals with low pathogenic potential dominated among the airborne microorganisms in the operating field during prosthetic joint surgery. Nosocomial sequence types of S. epidermidis associated with PJIs were not found, and other routes of inoculation are therefore of interest in future studies.
Coleção de germoplasma de espécies de Brachiaria no CIAT: Estudos básicos visando ao melhoramento genético.

Com o objetivo de capacitar tecnicos da equipe de fitomelhoramento do CIAT na selecao de progenitores para cruzamentos intra e interespecificos, foram realizados estudos basicos do modo de reproducao para todos os acessos que floresceram e foi feita uma introducao a caracterizacao morfologica e determinacao do numero cromossomico para alguns acessos do germoplasma disponivel na Estacao Experimental em Santander de Qulichao.
A Dominant Negative Isoform of the Long QT Syndrome 1 Gene Product*

Mutations in the KvLQT1 gene are the cause of the long QT syndrome 1. KvLQT1 gene product is associated with the regulator protein IsK to produce a component of the delayed rectifier K+ current in cardiac myocytes. We identified an N-terminal truncated isoform of the KvLQT1gene product, referred to as isoform 2. In RNase protection assays, isoform 2 represented 28.1 ± 0.6% of the totalKvLQT1 expression in the human adult ventricle. COS-7 cells injected intranuclearly with KvLQT1 isoform 1 cDNA exhibited a fast-activating K+ current, whereas those injected with a KvLQT1 isoform 1 plus IsK cDNA showed a slow-activating K+ current. Cells injected with KvLQT1 isoform 2 plasmid showed no detectable K+ current. Those injected with a 1/1 isoform 2/isoform 1 ratio showed no detectable K+ current. Those injected with 1/5 and 2/5 ratios showed a K+ current with markedly reduced amplitude. Coexpression of the IsK regulator consistently reduced the dominant negative effects of isoform 2. Our results indicate that KvLQT1 isoform 2 exerts a pronounced negative dominance on isoform 1 channels and that the cardiac KvLQT1 K+ channel complex is composed of at least three different proteins as follows: isoform 1, isoform 2, and IsK.
Chemical Stability of Suramin in Commonly used Infusion Fluids

The chemical stability of suramin in NaCl 0.9%, dextrose 5%, and lactated Ringer's injection was investigated. The admixtures were stored in glass infusion bottles at 4°C in the dark, and at room temperature (22°C) both protected from light and under normal room fluorescent light conditions in a day-night rhythm. The initial concentration of suramin was approximately 1 mg/mL. Samples withdrawn immediately after preparation and at four hours, one, two, three, five, and seven days were analyzed by HPLC with ultraviolet (UV) detection. Samples were also inspected for visual changes and tested for changes in pH. Accelerated stability studies in NaCl 0.9% injection were executed at 90°C. The drug appeared to be stable under the chosen storage conditions with no visual changes or changes in pH. The accelerated experiments revealed that suramin degrades in NaCl 0.9% at 90°C with a half-life of about 5.5 hours. It is concluded that suramin 1 mg/mL is stable in NaCl 0.9%, dextrose 5%, and lactated Ringer's injections when stored in glass infusion bottles at 4°C in the dark and at 22°C under normal room light conditions in a day-night rhythm or protected from light for at least seven days.
Diabetes: a driver for heart failure

Diabetes and heart failure (HF) often co-exist, and since the number of people with either diabetes or HF is increasing worldwide, the number of diabetic HF patients is expected to grow exponentially. Patients with diabetes and HF have a poorer clinical outcome compared to diabetic patients without HF. Also, HF patients with diabetes have different characteristics compared to HF patients without diabetes. This observation suggests that diabetes might contribute to the onset and progression of HF. Several other findings support the concept that diabetes is a driver for HF. Diabetes might increase the risk of developing HF through the increased risk of atherosclerotic disease. In addition, diabetes directly influences function and structure of the heart—for example, through altered insulin signalling and mitochondrial dysfunction, increased (deposition of) advanced glycation end products (AGEs), oxidative stress, and lipid accumulation. Several treatment guidelines exist for diabetes and HF, but the specific treatment suggestions for diabetics with HF are sparse. Moreover, some treatment options for diabetes are not recommended for those with concomitant HF. This article provides an overview of the current knowledge and understanding regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of patients with HF and diabetes. ### Prevalence of HF in patients with diabetes In the general population the prevalence of patients with both HF and diabetes is estimated at 0.5% in men and 0.4% in women.1 In patients with diabetes the prevalence of HF is between 9–22%, which is much higher compared to the general population. In a hospital discharge database of the Kaiser Permanente Northwest Division the prevalence of HF was 11.8% in patients with diabetes compared to 4.5% in patients without diabetes (n=1566). w1 The prevalence is highest in women aged 70 years and older.w2 The prevalence of asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction in patients with diabetes is probably higher, and estimated to be between 52–60%. w3 w4 Not all …
Discounted Continuous-Time Markov Decision Processes with Constraints: Unbounded Transition and Loss Rates

This paper deals with denumerable continuous-time Markov decision processes (MDP) with constraints. The optimality criterion to be minimized is expected discounted loss, while several constraints of the same type are imposed. The transition rates may be unbounded, the loss rates are allowed to be unbounded as well (from above and from below), and the policies may be history-dependent and randomized. Based on Kolmogorov's forward equation and Dynkin's formula, we remind the reader about the Bellman equation, introduce and study occupation measures, reformulate the optimization problem as a (primary) linear program, provide the form of optimal policies for a constrained optimization problem here, and establish the duality between the convex analytic approach and dynamic programming. Finally, a series of examples is given to illustrate all of our results.
Robust facial representation for recognition

One of the main challenges in face recognition lies in robust representation of facial images in unconstrained real-world environment, where face appearances of a same person often vary significantly. This thesis investigates both holistic and local feature based representations, and develops several novel representation models in an effort to mitigate within-person variations and enhance discriminative power.The work first focuses on feature extraction of high-dimensional holistic representation based on intensities. Several linear and nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods are systematically compared. One of key findings is that linear PCA has comparable performances to the most recent nonlinear methods for extracting low-dimensional facial features. Extensive experiments are conducted and results are presented to support the findings, together with a quantitative measure of nonlinearity showing theoretical insights. Following these findings, a robust framework combining an automatic outlier detector and a nearest subspace classifier, is presented. The detector computes the corrupted regions of face images by measuring their reconstructive capabilities, while the classifier models face data by multiple linear subspaces.
Tetraspanins regulate ADAM10-mediated cleavage of TNF-alpha and epidermal growth factor.

Several cytokines and growth factors are released by proteolytic cleavage of a membrane-anchored precursor, through the action of ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) metalloproteases. The activity of these proteases is regulated through largely unknown mechanisms. In this study we show that Ab engagement of several tetraspanins (CD9, CD81, CD82) increases epidermal growth factor and/or TNF-alpha secretion through a mechanism dependent on ADAM10. The effect of anti-tetraspanin mAb on TNF-alpha release is rapid, not relayed by intercellular signaling, and depends on an intact MEK/Erk1/2 pathway. It is also associated with a concentration of ADAM10 in tetraspanin-containing patches. We also show that a large fraction of ADAM10 associates with several tetraspanins, indicating that ADAM10 is a component of the "tetraspanin web. " These data show that tetraspanins regulate the activity of ADAM10 toward several substrates, and illustrate how membrane compartmentalization by tetraspanins can control the function of cell surface proteins such as ectoproteases.