Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do Landfills Always Depress Nearby Property Values

All available hedonic pricing estimates of the impact of landfills on nearby property values are assembled, including original estimates for three landfills in Pennsylvania. A meta-analysis shows landfills that accept high volumes of waste (500 tons per day or more) decrease adjacent residential property values by 13.7%, on average. This impact diminishes with distance at a gradient of 5.9% per mile. Lower-volume landfills decrease adjacent property values by 2.7%, on average, with a gradient of 1.3% per mile. While essentially all high-volume landfills negatively impact nearby property values, 20-26% of low-volume landfills do not impact nearby property values.
Characteristic Performance Analysis of Squirrel Cage Induction Motor With Broken Bars

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the effects of broken squirrel-cage bars. In the investigation, a comprehensive time-stepping coupled finite element approach was fully used to compute stator current waveforms, torque, magnetic flux density waveform, the rotor bar currents, and end-ring currents for three cases: no broken bars, one broken bar, and two adjacent broken bars. The iron core loss distributions in the stator are computed, and the harmonic component of air gap flux density is analyzed. This paper also gives the computed rotor parameters and the vector diagram of the rotor current in cages with and without broken bars. From these data, the faulty signatures are extracted. Experimental results derived from a two-pole 1.1 kW induction motor confirm the validity of the proposed method. Furthermore, this method, which could help to develop diagnostics of broken bars and performance evaluation of induction motor, has great potential in future applications.
Quantified Csf Antibody Reactivity in Multiple Sclerosis: Specificity and Utility in Diagnosis

Xingwen Sun1,2*, Mostafa Bakhti1,2,9, Dirk Fitzner1,2, Mareike Schnaars1,2, Niels Kruse3, Ünal Coskun4,5,6, Christiane Kremser7, Klaus Willecke7, Ludwig Kappos8, Jens Kuhle8 and Mikael Simons1,2 1Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany 2Department of Neurology, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany 3Department of Neuropathology, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany 4Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry, Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany 5German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Germany 6Max Planck Institute of Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany 7Molecular Genetics, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Carl-Troll-Strasse 31, 53115 Bonn, Germany 8Departments of Neurology and Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland 9Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
Constant vs Variable Stimulus Intensity and Visual Simple Reaction Time

The effects of constant and variable stimulus intensity on simple RT were investigated with an effective intensity manipulation. Luminances were 40 and 90 dB re 10−10 lambert. RT was generally longer when intensity varied within a session than when it was constant. RT also was longer when a bright stimulus was presented on the preceding trial as opposed to a weak one. These effects were not found in earlier studies in which differences in luminance were small. However, the RT-difference between bright and dim stimuli was equal under the conditions of constant and variable intensity. Hence the present results replicate only in part the auditory findings of Grice and Hunter (1964) and Thrane (1961).
STUDIES ON ACUTE AND LATE STAGES OF EXPERIMENTAL CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION IN THE CYNOMOLGUS MONKEY

The slow (2–3/h) oscillations of the c‐wave amplitude and of the standing potential of the eye (SP) were studied in the Cynomolgus monkey during the acute and late stages after experimentally induced (laser photocoagulation) occlusion of the central retinal artery (OCRA). Whereas the healthy control eyes showed large cyclic variations in both the c‐wave amplitude and the SP, no oscillations in the c‐wave amplitude were observed in the OCRA eyes at any stage, and the SP oscillations were barely detectable in these eyes. OCRA causes morphological damage to the inner retina but not to the pigment epithelium — photoreceptor complex, which generates the positive component of the c‐wave, and where the SP is also believed to originate. The findings of the present study strongly indicate that the SP and c‐wave oscillations are related, and that they are either dependent on an intact inner retina or that the pigment epithelium — photoreceptor complex is functionally affected by OCRA. If not taken into consideration, the marked difference in oscillations between the OCRA eye and the healthy eye may be a major source of error when comparing c‐waves from the two eyes, and it seems that some of the conflicting results reported by others can be explained in this way.
Use of Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon to Assess Treatment Process Performance in Relation to Solids Retention Time

A biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) method has been developed and used to analyze secondary‐ and advanced‐treated wastewater effluents and to investigate correlations between residual organic content and the solids retention time (SRT). Conventional biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) bottles and a 28‐day incubation period were used. Secondary wastewater effluents from Hawaii were found to contain between 9.0 and 14.0 mg/L of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), of which 23 to 35% was biodegradable in the 28‐day BDOC test (from a survey of nine treatment plants). Bench‐scale, continuous‐flow activated‐sludge biological reactors treating synthetic wastewater were operated at SRTs between 2 and 15 days, and effluent BDOCs were determined. A good BDOC prediction equation was developed that incorporates the initial DOC, the DOC remaining after 5 days, and the SRT of the system from which the sample originated. This equation can be used to determine the BDOC value using data that can be obtained during a conventional 5‐day BOD test. The determined equation was found to be appropriate for some of the full‐scale wastewater effluent survey data.
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in sickle cell hemoglobinopathies.

Abstract Because of the impression obtained from our population with sickle cell anemia that there were no cases of diabetics, a study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in: 1) 186 cases of pregnant black patients with sickle cell disease (HbS-S, S-C, or S-Thal) or HgA-S with random and 2-h postprandial blood glucose (compared to 2263 matched control patients); 2) a study of the hemoglobin pattern in 280 consecutive cases of nonpregnant black patients with confirmed diabetes mellitus in our outpatient clinic; and 3) a review of the records of 711 patients with sickle cell disease in our Sickle Cell Center with performance of a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test on 5 patients with random plasma glucose greater than 120 mg/dl. These studies showed: 1) there were no diabetics in pregnant black patients as compared to a 4% incidence of abnormal glucose tolerance in a control, matched population; 2) there were no cases of sickle cell disease in the diabetic population; and 3) there.
The role of serial radiographs in the management of pediatric torus fractures.

OBJECTIVES To assess the utility of radiographs taken immediately after the application of a cast in the management of pediatric torus (or buckle) fractures and to determine the need for serial radiographs taken at follow-up visits. DESIGN Retrospective medical record review; survey questionnaire of a panel of experts. SETTING The pediatric emergency department (PED) and the pediatric orthopedic clinic at an urban, tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS All children with torus fractures referred to the pediatric orthopedic clinic for follow-up visits between February 1995 and February 1997. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The number of patients whose postcast studies was obtained in the PED; number of follow-up visits and studies conducted at the pediatric orthopedic clinic; usual regional practices as extracted from a panel of experts by survey questionnaire. RESULTS Of 70 patients, 46 (66%) were evaluated by a single, precast study in the PED, and 24 (34%) were evaluated by both precast and postcast studies in the PED. The time range of the first follow-up study was the first to fifth week after the patient's injury. The range of the number of follow-up studies for each patient was 0 to 5. Our cohort's total radiology charges for 70 patients were $27251. Regional directors of pediatric orthopedic surgery unanimously agreed that postcast studies in the PED are unnecessary. The range of the number of follow-up studies they obtained is 0 to 3 per patient. CONCLUSIONS Postcast studies of torus fractures are unnecessary. Multiple radiographs taken during follow-up visits, especially early in the healing process, do not change fracture management. Relying on the clinical examination, perhaps combined with a single follow-up study, is a more appropriate regimen for the management of pediatric torus fractures and translates into a cost savings of over $ 10000 for our 70 patients.
[Analysis of symptoms and quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate symptoms and quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis, and to evaluate the correlations among the skin prick tests results, symptoms and quality of life. METHOD Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the symptoms severity, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) was used to assess quality of life, the skin prick tests results were recorded, and statistics analysis was carried out among them. RESULT (1) There were significant differences among the five aspects of RQLQ (F = 32.03, P < 0.01), nasal symptoms aspect was the most affected aspect of quality of life, moreover, there were significant differences among all the items of RQLQ (F = 7.35, P < 0.01), the scores of nasal blockage, sneezing and rhinorrhea were the highest, there were no significant differences among them. (2) VAS was significantly correlated with RQLQ, moreover, the scores of unable to get to sleep and embarrassed by symptoms were significantly correlated with rhinorrhea VAS scores (r = 0.230, P < 0.05; r = 0.325, P < 0.01), the score of wake up during the night was significantly correlated with nasal itching and sneezing VAS scores (r = 0.385, P < 0.01; r = 0.231, P < 0.05), the score of can't concentrate was significantly correlated with the scores of unable to get to sleep and wake up during the night (r = 0.316, P < 0.01; r = 0.525, P < 0.01), the score of irritable was significantly correlated with the scores of unable to get to sleep (r = 0.243, P < 0.05). (3) The results of the skin prick tests were related with VAS and RQLQ. CONCLUSION Nasal symptoms severity may significantly correlated with the quality of life. Rhinorrhea, nasal itching and sneezing may be the main factors affecting the quality of sleep, while the quality of sleep may affect non-hay-fever symptoms and emotions, rhinorrhea may be the main factor affecting embarrassed by symptoms. The allergen level was related with the symptoms severity and quality of life.
Carbenicillin therapy for pseudomonas infections.

Carbenicillin disodium was effective in the treatment of 91% (54) of 59 infections caused by Pseudomonas organisms. However, 7% (4) of the infections responded only partially, and 10% (6) relapsed when therapy was discontinued. The response rate and relapse rate did not correlate very closely with the results of in vitro sensitivity testing. Only 7% (4) of the strains of pseudomonas became resistant during carbenicillin therapy, and there has been no major increases in carbenicillin-resistant isolates at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute since the widespread usage of this antibiotic was begun. The frequency of pseudomonas as a cause of fatal infection in adults with leukemia has decreased from 31% to 8% (8 deaths) since carbenicillin has been introduced. Superinfection occurred in 17% (10) of the patients receiving this drug. Toxic effects were minimal and consisted mainly of transient elevations in serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels.
Multi-watt mid-IR fiber-pumped OPO

We have demonstrated a multi-watt mid-IR ZGP OPO pumped by a pulsed Tm-doped fiber laser operating at 1.995 um. 2 W of total mid-IR output power has been generated in the 3.4-3.9 mum and 4.0-4.7 mum spectral regions simultaneously.
The effect of smoking on the ocular surface and the precorneal tear film.

BACKGROUND Smoking, both active and passive, creates a plethora of health-related problems, which primarily affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. There is very little evidence on the effects of tobacco smoke on the eye, especially regarding anterior ocular surface related pathology. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of smoking on the ocular surface and the tear film in smokers. METHODS A total of 51 (102 eyes) smokers and 50 (100 eyes) age-and gender-matched healthy non-smokers were included in this study. The ocular surface was evaluated by measuring tear film break-up time, surface staining with fluorescein, and corneal and conjunctival sensitivities, and by completing the Schirmer's II test. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.5. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The smoker group had significantly lower tear film break-up time, and corneal and conjunctival sensitivity than the nonsmoker group. Punctate staining was significantly higher in the smoker group than the non-smoker group. There was no statistically significant difference in Schirmer's II test results between the smoker and non-smoker group. CONCLUSION Smoking caused adverse effects on the precorneal tear film and there was strong association between smoking and tear film instability. Although a causative relationship could not be determined, there is a need for further longitudinal studies.
The counterbend phenomenon in flagellar axonemes and cross-linked filament bundles

Recent observations of flagellar counterbend in sea urchin sperm show that the mechanical induction of curvature in one part of a passive flagellum induces a compensatory countercurvature elsewhere. This apparent paradoxical effect cannot be explained using the standard elastic rod theory of Euler and Bernoulli, or even the more general Cosserat theory of rods. Here, we develop a geometrically exact mechanical model to describe the statics of microtubule bundles that is capable of predicting the curvature reversal events observed in eukaryotic flagella. This is achieved by allowing the interaction of deformations in different material directions, by accounting not only for structural bending, but also for the elastic forces originating from the internal cross-linking mechanics. Large-amplitude static configurations can be described analytically, and an excellent match between the model and the observed counterbend deformation was found. This allowed a simultaneous estimation of multiple sperm flagellum material parameters, namely the cross-linking sliding resistance, the bending stiffness, and the sperm head junction compliance ratio. We further show that small variations on the empirical conditions may induce discrepancies for the evaluation of the flagellar material quantities, so that caution is required when interpreting experiments. Finally, our analysis demonstrates that the counterbend emerges as a fundamental property of sliding resistance in cross-linked filamentous polymer bundles, which also suggests that cross-linking proteins may contribute to the regulation of the flagellar waveform in swimming sperm via counterbend mechanics.
, David Delivery Tissue Biocompatibility following Airway Antimicrobial Activity while Improving Lung Model Membrane Interactions , and Conformation , Maintains the Active Peptide Pegylation of Antimicrobial Peptides

Published Ahead of Print 19 March 2012. 10.1128/AAC.06335-11. 2012, 56(6):3298. DOI: Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Ulaeto, Graeme C. Clark and Mark Gumbleton Christopher J. Morris, Konrad Beck, Marc A. Fox, David Delivery Tissue Biocompatibility following Airway Antimicrobial Activity while Improving Lung Model Membrane Interactions, and Conformation, Maintains the Active Peptide Pegylation of Antimicrobial Peptides
Stress fractures: a review of 180 cases.

OBJECTIVE To review the cases of stress fracture seen over a 2-year period at a sports medicine clinic. DESIGN One hundred and eighty cases diagnosed as stress fractures on the basis of clinical picture and radiological evidence were reviewed. The following features of each stress fracture were noted: age, sex, site, sport/activity. SETTING A sports medicine centre in Melbourne, Australia. PATIENTS The average age was 21.8 years. Seventy eight of these stress fractures were seen in women, 102 in men. RESULTS The most common sites of stress fractures were the metatarsal bones (n = 42), tibia (n = 36), fibula (n = 30), tarsal navicular (n = 26) and pars interarticularis (n = 17). The most common sport was track (n = 54). Other common sports activities were jogging/distance running (n = 35), dance (n = 32) and Australian football (n = 14). The distribution of sites of stress fractures varied from sport to sport. Among the track athletes (n = 54), navicular (n = 19), tibia (n = 14) and metatarsal (n = 9) were the most common stress fracture sites. The distance runners (n = 35) predominantly sustained tibia (n = 15), and fibula (n = 8) stress fractures, while metatarsal stress fractures (n = 18) were the most common among dancers. The distribution of sports varied with the site of the stress fracture. In the metatarsal stress fractures (n = 42), dance was the most common activity. Distance running (n = 15) and track (n = 14) were the most common sports in the group to have sustained tibia stress fractures (n = 36). Track athletes (n = 14) were particularly prevalent in the navicular stress fracture group (n = 26). CONCLUSION The distribution of sites of stress fractures in this study shows some differences from previously published studies.
Mice immunized with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing dengue 4 virus structural proteins with or without nonstructural protein NS1 are protected against fatal dengue virus encephalitis

We have constructed vaccinia virus recombinants expressing dengue virus proteins from cloned DNA for use in experimental immunoprophylaxis. A recombinant virus containing a 4.0-kilobase DNA sequence that codes for three structural proteins, capsid (C), premembrane (pre-M), and envelope (E), and for nonstructural proteins NS1 and NS2a produced authentic pre-M, E, and NS1 in infected CV-1 cells. Mice immunized with this recombinant were protected against an intracerebral injection of 100 50% lethal doses of dengue 4 virus. A recombinant containing only genes C, pre-M, and E also induced solid resistance to challenge. Deletion of the putative C-terminal hydrophobic anchor of the E glycoprotein did not result in secretion of E from recombinant-virus-infected cells. Recombinants expressing only the E protein preceded by its own predicted N-terminal hydrophobic signal or by the signal of influenza A virus hemagglutinin or by the N-terminal 71 amino acids of the G glycoprotein of respiratory syncytial virus produced glycosylated E protein products of expected molecular sizes. These vaccinia virus recombinants also protected mice.
Role of a Stroke Data Bank in Evaluating Cerebral Infarction Subtypes: Patterns and Outcome of 1,776 Consecutive Patients from the Besançon Stroke Registry

The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of various risk factors, courses and outcome of infarct subtypes in a large hospital-based stroke registry. Methods: From 1987 to 1994, 1,776 stroke patients with a first-ever infarction were included in the Besançon Stroke Registry. All patients were evaluated by a standard protocol (risk factors, stroke onset, stroke courses, clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, Doppler ultrasonography and cardiac investigations). Outcome was evaluated at 30 days using the Rankin scale. Results: There were 1,012 men (mean age 67.2 ± 13.7 years) and 764 women (mean age 71.4 ± 15.6 years). At least two neuroimaging examinations were performed in 81.4% (n = 1,446) of the patients and an infarct was visible in 80.9% (n = 1,436). The second neuroimaging examination (CT or MRI) was performed after 8.2 ± 1.6 days. 85.4% of patients were admitted on the first day of the stroke: 28.3% within 3 h and 48.4% within 6 h. In addition, stroke severity was well correlated with the short time interval between stroke onset and admission. Past medical history of hypertension was the major risk factor occurring in 57.5% of all types of infarction. While diabetes was more frequently found in small deep infarct, atrial fibrillation and history of heart failure were found in anterior circulation infarcts. The distribution of clinical presentations was conventional. Hemorrhagic transformation was found in 14.9% of the patients, especially in MCA and PCA infarcts. In all patients, logistic regression analysis determined independent predictive factors for death: clinical deterioration at the 48th hour (OR 7.5, 95% CI 4.9–11.3), initial loss of consciousness (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1–4.9), age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.06), complete motor deficit (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7–3.8), history of heart failure (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–3.0), lacunar syndrome (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10–0.60) and regressive stroke onset (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.10–0.52). However, the outcome was clearly correlated with the infarct location. The in-hospital mortality rate was lowest in patients with small deep infarct (2.9%) or border zone infarcts (3.4%) and the highest in patients with total middle cerebral artery infarct (47.4%) or multiple infarcts (27.6%). Conclusion: Our registry appears to be a useful tool to understand the course and outcome of a large group of nonselected patients with subtypes of infarction. It can also help to analyze the influence of specific stroke management in the different categories of stroke types.