Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-time Interactive Ocean Wave Simulation using Multithread

(cid:1) Abstract — This research simulates one of the natural phenomena, the ocean wave. Our goal is to be able to simulate the ocean wave at real-time rate with the water surface interacting with objects. The wave in this research is calm and smooth caused by the force of the wind above the ocean surface. In order to make the simulation of the wave real-time, the implementation of the GPU and the multithreading techniques are used here. Based on the fact that the new generation CPUs, for personal computers, have multi cores, they are useful for the multithread. This technique utilizes more than one core at a time. This simulation is programmed by C language with OpenGL. To make the simulation of the wave look more realistic, we applied an OpenGL technique called cube mapping (environmental mapping) to make water surface reflective and more realistic.
Validity and reliability of physical employment standards 1

In this paper the role of validity and reliability in the development of physical employment standards (PESs) and the consideration of these factors in determining the final pass/fail criteria for a PES and ultimately the legal defensibility of a PES is examined. Particular attention is paid to the use of subject-matter experts, the levels of evidence used in the establishment of the minimum acceptable pace/intensity for the completion of critical tasks, and the considerations needed in physical test
The prevalence and correlates of hearing loss in drivers in isfahan, iran.

BACKGROUND There are no data on the prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss in drivers using standard audiometric testing. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of occupational noise-induced hearing loss in drivers. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on a random sample of 4300 long-distance drivers age > or =20 years taken out of a total of 10,000 estimated professionals in the city of Isfahan, Iran, from February 2006 through March 2007. The drivers were interviewed and underwent clinical and laboratory examinations including measurement of blood pressure, anthropometric data, and pure-tone audiometry in a sound-treated booths. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 40.8 (11.0) years with a mean (SD) duration of professional driving of 14.7 (9.6) years. RESULTS The prevalence of bilateral noise-induced hearing loss was 18.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.0~19.3]. The prevalence rates were higher in the left ear only 6.5% (95% CI: 5.8~7.3) than the right ear only 3.0 percent; (95% CI: 2.5~3.9). Using a stepwise binary logistic regression model for the right and left ear only and for both ears separately, age was a significant independent predictor of bilateral noise-induced hearing loss and for the left or right ear only. When bilateral noise-induced hearing loss was entered in the model, fasting blood glucose was a significant predictor of noise-induced hearing loss. Blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride, body mass index, and marital status had no significant independent association with noise-induced hearing loss when other covariates were considered. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that noise-induced hearing loss among the long-distance drivers appears to be similar to the world's population endures noise-induced hearing loss caused by occupational exposure to noise, with higher prevalence in the left ear only.
Evaluation of the adverse reactions of antiretroviral drug regimens in a tertiary care hospital

Objectives: Antiretroviral toxicity is an increasingly important issue in the management of HIV-infected patients. The objective of our study was to evaluate the toxicity profile of currently used antiretroviral regimens and to compare these toxicities among males and females. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis with a one year follow-up was done at a tertiary care hospital by reviewing the record. Patients who were >18 years of age attending the hospital and were initiated an antiretroviral drug regimen were included in the analysis. Data regarding demographic details, medical history, details of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection including most recent CD4 count, details of antiretroviral therapy (ART) collected from patient's records. Adverse drug reactions were recorded by reviewing patient records. Result: A total of 99 patients were included in study. Among them, 71 (71.7%) were males and 28(28.3%) were females. Common adverse effects observed included anemia (58.6%), pruritus(23.2%), skin rash(18.2%), hypertriglyceridemia(15.2%), and hepatitis (60.6%), peripheral neuropathy (14.1%). Prevalence of skin rash was more in females than males, the difference being statistically significant. Pruritus was also commonly seen in females than males though the difference observed in our study is statistically insignificant. Hypertriglyceridemia was more in males compared to females, the difference is statistically significant. Conclusion: The most common adverse effects associated with currently used ART regimens are anemia, hepatic toxicity, itching, skin rash, elevated triglycerides, and peripheral neuropathy. Gender differences were seen mainly with skin rash, which was significantly more in females.
Altered B Cell Homeostasis Is Associated with Type I Diabetes and Carriers of the PTPN22 Allelic Variant

The PTPN22 genetic variant 1858T, encoding Lyp620W, is associated with multiple autoimmune disorders for which the production of autoantibodies is a common feature, suggesting a loss of B cell tolerance. Lyp620W results in blunted BCR signaling in memory B cells. Because BCR signal strength is tightly coupled to central and peripheral tolerance, we examined whether Lyp620W impacts peripheral B cell homeostasis in healthy individuals heterozygous for the PTPN221858T variant. We found that these subjects display alterations in the composition of the B cell pool that include specific expansion of the transitional and anergic IgD+IgM−CD27− B cell subsets. The PTPN22 1858T variant was further associated with significantly diminished BCR signaling and a resistance to apoptosis in both transitional and naive B cells. Strikingly, parallel changes in both BCR signaling and composition of B cell compartment were observed in type 1 diabetic subjects, irrespective of PTPN22 genotype, revealing a novel immune phenotype and likely shared mechanisms leading to a loss of B cell tolerance. Our combined findings suggest that Lyp620W-mediated effects, due in part to the altered BCR signaling threshold, contribute to breakdown of peripheral tolerance and the entry of autoreactive B cells into the naive B cell compartment.
Fluorogenic PCR-Based Quantitative Detection of a Murine Pathogen, Helicobacter hepaticus

ABSTRACT Helicobacter hepaticus infection in mice is being used as an animal model for elucidating the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal and biliary diseases in humans. H. hepaticus, which forms a spreading film on selective agar, is not amenable to routine quantitative counts of organisms in tissues using a CFU method. In this study, a fluorogenic PCR-based assay was developed to quantitatively detect H. hepaticus in mouse ceca and feces using the ABI Prism 7700 sequence detection system. A pair of primers and a probe for this assay were generated from theH. hepaticus cdtB gene (encoding subunit B of theH. hepaticus cytolethal distending toxin). Using this assay, the sensitivity for detection of H. hepaticuschromosomal DNA prepared from pure culture was 20 fg, which is equivalent to approximately 14 copies of the H. hepaticus genome based on an estimated genome size of ≈1.3 Mb determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. H. hepaticus present in feces and cecal samples from H. hepaticus-infected mice was readily quantified. The selected PCR primers and probe did not generate fluorescent signals from eight other helicobacters (H. canis, H. cineadi, H. felis, H. mustelae, H. nemestrinae, H. pullorum, H. pylori, and H. rodentium). A fluorescent signal was detected from 20 ng of H. bilis DNA but with much lower sensitivity (106-fold) than from H. hepaticus DNA. Therefore, this assay can be used with high sensitivity and specificity to quantify H. hepaticus in experimentally infected mouse models as well as in naturally infected mice.
The Effect of Children on the Level of Labor Market Involvement of Married Women: What is the Role of Education?

We analyze the way women's education influences the effect of children on their level of labor market involvement. We propose an econometric model that accounts for the endogeneity of labor market and fertility decisions, for the heterogeneity of the effects of children and their correlation with the fertility decisions, and for the correlation of sequential labor market decisions. We estimate the model using panel data from NLSY79. Our results show that women with higher education work more before the birth of the first child, but children have larger negative effects on their level of labor market involvement. Differences across education levels are more pronounced with respect to full time employment than with respect to participation. Other things equal, higher wages reduce the effect of children on labor supply. Controlling for wages, women with higher education face larger negative effects of children on labor supply, which suggest they are characterized by a combination of higher marginal product of time spent in the production of child quality and higher marginal product of time relative to the marginal product of other inputs into the production of child quality.
Association between pathways in regulatory networks

During cell progression from one state to another, such as transformation from benign to malignant conditions, cells undergo changes in gene regulation. To reveal state-dependent circuitries in human regulatory networks, we employed drafts of normal and malignant cell networks. Using these condition specific networks, gene profiles and annotated pathways we studied: a) the capacity to separate samples or cell states based on the collective expression of all the genes in each pathway rather than individual genes, b) the degree of regulatory network connectivity within and between pathways. Distinct cell types reveal notable differences in transcriptional activity in numerous pathways. On the other hand, in datasets from breast cancer patients with variable outcome the capacity of single pathway expression signatures to predict disease outcome is very limited, though this can be somewhat improved by combining multiple pathways. Remarkable connectivity between pathways on the transcriptional regulatory level revealed a non-modular network structure. Overall, network blueprints enable us to quantify the degree of interaction between condition specific co-regulated pathways. This can contribute to understanding deregulated processes associated with cancer
Factors Affecting Lymphatic Absorption in Chinese Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

The pathways and physiology of lymph absorption (LA) from the peritoneal cavity are well documented; however, much uncertainty still exists as to the various clinical and demographic factors affecting LA. We studied LA measured by the albumin instillation method, in adult Chinese CAPD patients, and showed that it was independent of age, sex, body surface area, duration of dialysis, intrinsic renal disease, use of intraperitoneal drugs (heparin/antibiotics/deferroxamine) and frequency of past bacterial peritonitis. High lymph absorbers had a relatively highertranscapillary cumulative ultrafiltration than low lymph absorbers. An enhanced LA was associated with a high initial intraperitoneal volume. Assessment of diaphragmatic strength by the decrement in vital capacity on changing from an erect to a supine position failed to distinguish patients with high and low LA.
ATTACHMENT AND MEANING-MAKING IN PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT

The study examined the psychological impact of perinatal bereavement on 108 women, from a dual attachment and meaning-making perspective, both descriptively and predictively. The study hypothesized that grief acuity is a function of both attachment security (operationalized by A. Antonovsky's 1979 Sense of Coherence [SOC] scale), and the ongoing search for meaning. Controlling for time post-loss, psychological distress and intrusive thoughts; sense of coherence and search for meaning significantly predicted current grief acuity. The findings supported the conceptualization of grief as an interpretive phenomenon, elicited by the loss of a primary attachment figure, thereby shattering core life purposes, and implicating the need to reinstate meaning.
“Contending Throng” Scenes and the Comitatus Ideal in Old English Poetry, with special attention to The Battle of Maldon 122a

Old English poetry features a recurring scene which I call “The Contending Throng. ” In it, a crowd, typically of soldiers or servants, competes to serve, defend, or attack the person at the focus of the narrative, often their lord. Contending Throng scenes occur in Descent into Hell, Christ I, Andreas, and The Battle of Maldon. Its presence in The Battle of Maldon helps to resolve a long-standing crux in that poem, stemnetton (line 122a), which is shown to mean “they vied,” “they contended. ” The fact that Contending Throng scenes recur as late as the Middle English Cursor Mundi, and that some of its distinctive elements are mentioned already by Tacitus, testifies to the enduring power of the comitatus ideal as a literary trope.
Construction of a ferritin‐deficient mutant of Campylobacter jejuni: contribution of ferritin to iron storage and protection against oxidative stress

The ferritin‐encoding gene (cft) of Campylobacter jejuni was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of cft had a 501 bp open reading frame for a protein with 167 amino acids and a predicted molecular mass of 19180 Da, and showed a high similarity to that of Helicobacter pylori and Escherichia coli ferritin genes. To determine the biological function of ferritin in C. jejuni, a ferritin‐deficient mutant was constructed. The growth of ferritin‐deficient strain SNA1 was clearly inhibited under iron deprivation. The ferritin‐deficient mutant was more sensitive to killing by H2O2 and paraquat than the isogenic parent strain. These findings demonstrate that ferritin in C. jejuni makes a significant contribution to both iron storage and protection from intracellular iron overload, and resulting iron‐mediated oxidative stress.
“It Has No Color, It Has No Gender, It’s Gender Bending”: Gender and Sexuality Fluidity and Subversiveness in Drag Performance

ABSTRACT Gender identity is a key question for drag performers. Previous research has shown a lack of consensus about the subversiveness and gender fluidity of drag performers. This article examines the question: How does the relationship between performers and their audience affect the subversive nature and gender representation of drag performers in this study? Furthermore, is this relationship complicated by sexuality? This study uses ethnographic and interview methods, examining experiences of 10 drag performers. Findings indicate mutuality in the relationship between performers and audience. The recursiveness of this relationship provides a constant feedback to the performers in their effort to displace the audience’s previously held notions. The performers have fluid understandings of gender and sexuality, often presenting multiple genders in and out of drag. Interactions between performers and their audience indicate their belief in gender fluidity; moreover, the drag performers themselves desire to be subversive and gender and sexually fluid.
Is the Reduction of Spasticity by Botulinum Toxin A Beneficial for the Recovery of Motor Function of Arm and Hand in Stroke Patients?

To determine the functional benefit of botulinum toxin A (BtxA) in spasticity of arm flexors, we conducted an open-label study with 10 stroke patients. 480 mouse units BtxA (Dysport®) were injected into flexor muscles. Outcome measures were done by the Modified Ashworth Scale, Rivermead Motor Assessment (arm section), active and passive ranges of motion (ROM), grip strength and a 3-dimensional motion analysis. The functional capacity of the entire arm, even of the shoulder, and the ROM of fingers and wrist increased. Despite a diminution of muscle tone, grip strength remained unchanged or increased. An improvement of forearm extension was only observed in cases of preserved voluntary extensor motricity. Injection of BtxA into spastic distal flexor muscles may lead to a functional improvement of the entire arm. Grip strength is not necessarily reduced.
Abrin Toxicity and Bioavailability after Temperature and pH Treatment

Abrin, one of most potent toxins known to man, is derived from the rosary pea (jequirity pea), Abrus precatorius and is a potential bioterror weapon. The temperature and pH stability of abrin was evaluated with an in vitro cell free translation (CFT) assay, a Vero cell culture cytotoxicity assay, and an in vivo mouse bioassay. pH treatment of abrin had no detrimental effect on its stability and toxicity as seen either in vitro or in vivo. Abrin exposure to increasing temperatures did not completely abrogate protein translation. In both the cell culture cytotoxicity model and the mouse bioassay, abrin’s toxic effects were completely abrogated if the toxin was exposed to temperatures of 74 °C or higher. In the cell culture model, 63 °C-treated abrin had a 30% reduction in cytotoxicity which was validated in the in vivo mouse bioassay with all mice dying but with a slight time-to-death delay as compared to the non-treated abrin control. Since temperature inactivation did not affect abrin’s ability to inhibit protein synthesis (A-chain), we hypothesize that high temperature treatment affected abrin’s ability to bind to cellular receptors (affecting B-chain). Our results confirm the absolute need to validate in vitro cytotoxicity assays with in vivo mouse bioassays.
An exploratory study of constructions of masculinity, sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Southern Africa

The goal of the current study was to explore notions of masculinity and their linkages to HIV/AIDS among Owambo men and women in Namibia, where an estimated one‐fifth of 15–49 year‐olds have acquired HIV. Thirteen open‐ended interviews and three focus groups were conducted with 50 male and female participants aged 19–50 in rural and urban Namibia. Qualitative analysis revealed six central themes: the evolving meanings of masculinity, power dynamics between men and women, women as active agents, the tension between formal and informal education and HIV transmission, alcohol and masculinity, and the blending of masculinity and explanations of HIV and AIDS. The findings suggest both direct and indirect linkages between notions of masculinity and AIDS, and highlight the need for prevention efforts that focus on providing alternative avenues for attaining culturally recognized markers of masculinity.
Architecture of high capacity VOD server and the implementation of its prototype

Recently, video-on-demand (VOD) has attracted a great deal of attention as a very feasible multimedia service. However, in order for VOD to become a wider commercial success, the VOD server must be able to handle large quantities of clients in a cost effective way. Based on our research, this paper proposes a single system control with multiple data pumps (SSCWMDP) architecture for high capacity VOD server to provide VOD service on large scale in Internet environment. Also, a prototype implementation is carried out in order to explore the effectiveness of the architecture. The key techniques that ensure performance of the VOD server are extensively studied. Emulation results show that by adopting the SSCWMDP architecture, the prototype can handle large quantities of clients simultaneously.
The perception of prosody and speaker gender in normal-hearing listeners and cochlear implant recipients

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of altering the fundamental frequency (F0) on perception of prosody and speaker gender in both normal-hearing listeners and cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Tests with natural speech and defined modifications of the F0 were performed, and the resulting changes in perception were measured. Compared to the normal-hearing listeners, most of the CI users exhibited worse outcomes, especially for sentence stress. In contrast, the speaker gender tests yielded similar results for both groups when artificially modifying the F0 contour. The results seemed to be strongly related to the duration of alterations in F0. Although the perception of prosodic cues was limited in most of the CI recipients, they showed qualitatively similar results to normal-hearing listeners in that the boundary between questions and statements and between female and male voices was comparable. A large inter-individual difference in performance was observed among the CI recipients, which could not be attributed to different processor or implant types or to other factors such as implant experience.
On the capacity of a direct-detection photon channel with intertransition-constrained binary input

The classical directed detection photon channel is modeled by an output nu /sub t/ (observed signal) describing the photon-arrival Poisson (count) process with intensity (rate) lambda /sub t/+ lambda /sub 0/, where lambda /sub t/ (photons/s) is the channel input (information carrying) intensity and lambda /sub 0/ (photons/s) is the dark current intensity. Upper and lower bounds on the capacity of this channel are presented for two-level (binary) inputs taking on the extreme value lambda /sub t/ in (0,A), where A denotes the peak power satisfying an average power constraint E( lambda /sub t/) >
Expression of the Escherichia coli Ada Regulon in Stationary Phase: Evidence for rpoS-Dependent Negative Regulation of alkA Transcription

ABSTRACT The Escherichia coli Ada protein activates ς70-dependent transcription at three different promoters (ada, aidB, and alkA) in response to alkylation damage of DNA. During stationary phase, however, the methylated form of Ada shuts off expression of alkA; this repression is specific for ςS-dependent transcription. Thus, at the alkA promoter, the Ada protein can act as both a positive and negative modulator of the adaptive response to alkylation damage, depending on the cell’s physiological state.
A SiGe BiCMOS 1ns fast hopping frequency synthesizer for UWB radio

A fully integrated multi-tone generator based on 2 PLL and a SSB mixer in 0.25/spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS achieves frequency hopping between 3.432, 3.960, and 4.488GHz within 1 ns. Spurious tones are below -50dBc in the 5GHz and -45dBc in the 2.4GHz ISM bands. The power dissipation is 73mW from a 2.7V supply. The close-in phase noise is below -90dBc/Hz and out-of-band phase noise is below -100dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset.