Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics Study of an Automobile Exhaust System

Low vibration levels are a critical objective in automobile exhaust system design. It is therefore important for design engineers to be able to predict, describe and assess the dynamics of various system design proposals during product development. The aim of this thesis is to provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics of automobile exhaust systems to form a basis for improved design and the development of a computationally inexpensive theoretical system model. Modelling, simulation and experimental investigation of a typical exhaust system are performed to gain such an understanding and to evaluate modelling ideas. Special attention is given to the influence of the bellows-type flexible joint on the dynamics of the exhaust system. The investigations show that the exhaust system is essentially linear downstream of the flexible joint. Highly simplified finite element models of the major components within this part are suggested. These models incorporate adjustable flexibility in their connection to the exhaust pipes and a procedure is developed for automatic updating of these parameters to obtain better correlation with experimental results. The agreement between the simulation results of the updated models and the experimental results is very good, which confirms the usability of these models. Furthermore, the investigations show the great reduction of vibration transmission to the exhaust system that the bellows-type joint, either with or without an inside liner, gives in comparison with a stiff joint. For the combined bellows and liner joint, vibration transmission is, however, higher than for the bellows alone. Inclusion of the liner also makes the exhaust system behaviour significantly non-linear and complex, whereas the system behaviour proves to be essentially linear when the joint has no liner. This shows the importance of including a model of the liner in the theoretical system model when the liner is present in the real system. The choice of whether or not to include a liner in the real system is obviously a complex issue. The advantages of reduced bellows temperature and improved flow conditions should be weighed against the disadvantages found in this work. By combining the above findings it is concluded that in coming studies of how engine vibrations affect the exhaust system, the latter may be considered as a linear system if the flexible joint consists of a bellows. If the joint also includes a liner, the system may be considered as a linear subsystem that is excited via a non-linear joint.
Assessment of Retinotopic Rod Photoreceptor Function Using a Dark-Adapted Chromatic Perimeter in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose We determine the feasibility of using a dark-adapted chromatic (DAC) perimeter to obtain dark-adapted static and dynamic rod function at multiple retinal locations, and compare these functional parameters between subjects with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and normal controls. Methods Perimetric dark-adapted retinal sensitivities for the 505 and 620 nm stimuli across 7 retinal locations within the central 12° were repeatedly measured after exposing to a single photobleach in 22 intermediate AMD subjects and 8 controls. The sensitivities for each stimulus at 20 minutes after bleach and the sensitivity difference between the stimuli were used to determine static rod function. Sensitivities for the 505 nm stimulus at various times within the initial 20 minutes after bleach were used to estimate the rod criterion time to determine rod function dynamics. The static and dynamic rod functional parameters were compared between AMD and control eyes. Results Compared to the control eyes, AMD eyes had a reduction in retinal sensitivities for the 505 nm (P < 0.001) and 620 nm (P < 0.001) stimuli, a reduction in sensitivity difference (P < 0.001), and an increased in rod criterion time (P < 0.001). Region within the central 6° appeared to be the most defective and AMD eyes with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) seemed to have worse function than eyes without RPD. Conclusions It is feasible to use a DAC perimeter to study dark-adapted static and dynamic rod-mediated function at multiple retinal loci. Static and dynamic rod function were abnormal in intermediate AMD and more so in eyes with RPD, particularly within the central 6° retina.
Success Factors of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) for Renal & Ureteric Calculi in Adult

The purpose of this study was to define factors that have a significant impact on the stone-free rate after ESWL. Methods: A total of 417 patients harboring renal or ureteral stones underwent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) between October 2008 and July 2012. Eighty five patients were lost on follow up. The remaining (n = 332). All patients were >18 yr of age. Siemens and SLX-F2 electromagnetic machines were used to impart shock waves. Patients were stratified according to localization (pelvic, calyceal, or ureteral stones) and stone size (up to 10 mm, 10 - 20 mm, and >20 mm). Result: The overall success rate was 251/332 (75.6%) achieve stone free status. Repeated ESWL sessions were needed in 258 (61.9%). Of eleven variables were studied including age, sex, side, location (pelvic, calyx, ureter), ureteric stent, previous renal surgery, stone size, number of shock waves, opacity of stone, renal system state, and type of lithotripter, three variables were significantly affect the success rate namely stone size, number of shock waves and location of stone. Conclusions: ESWL remains one of the most commonly utilized treatments for patients with upper urinary tract calculi; Stone diameter, location, and number of shock waves, are the most important predictors determining stone clearance after ESWL of renal and ureteric calculi. To optimize treatment outcomes with ESWL the presence of treating urologist is essential to optimize the final result.
Neuroimaging and Depression

Major depression is among the most debilitating, prevalent, and recurrent of all psychiatric disorders. Over the past decade, investigators have examined the neural mechanisms associated with this disorder. In this article we present an overview of neuroimaging research that has assessed the structure and functioning of the amygdala, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in major depression. We then describe results of studies that have attempted to elucidate the nature of the relations among these brain structures. The picture that emerges from these investigations is one in which heightened activity in limbic structures that underlie the experience and expression of emotion dampens activation in dorsal cortical structures that are involved in affect regulation, reducing their ability to influence limbic activation. We conclude by highlighting unresolved issues concerning the roles of these structures in depression and their relation to specific symptoms of this disorder.
A Complementary Ecological Model of the Coordinated School Health Program

A complementary ecological model of the coordinated school health program (CSHP) reflecting 20 years of evolved changes is proposed. Ecology refers to the complex interrelationship among intrapersonal factors, interpersonal processes and primary groups, institutional factors, community factors, and public policy. Public health and child development theories that incorporate the influence of personal and social environments on health behavior, along with models that incorporate the influence of ecology, were consulted. Concepts from several models were combined with the eight components of CSHP to formulate an ecological model involving six program and services components in an inner circle surrounded by four concentric rings representing the healthy school environment, essential structures of CSHP, local school district governance, and family and community involvement. This complementary ecological model is intended to serve as an additional conceptual approach to CSHP practice, evaluation, and research, and should prove especially useful to practitioners and researchers who already have a fundamental understanding of CSHP.
Innovative tools help counselors discuss childhood obesity with parents.

BACKGROUND Childhood overweight and obesity pose potential health risks for many children under the age of 5 years. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutritionists are in a unique position to help reduce this problem because of their frequent counseling contacts with clients during certification visits. Therefore, four new tools to facilitate nutritional counseling of parents of overweight children during certifications were developed and systematically evaluated. METHODS The Nutrition and Activity Self-History (NASH) form, Report Card/Action Plan (ReCAP), Talking Tips, and Healthy Weight Poster were evaluated by WIC nutritionists via an online survey. Anchors on the Likert scale were 0 for Strongly Disagree to 6 for Strongly Agree. Four regional focus groups were also conducted. Data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS The response rate on the survey was 83% (n=63). Focus groups were comprised of staff that volunteered to participate (n=34). The NASH form, which replaces a food frequency questionnaire for identifying nutrition risk, had a mean rating of 5.20 as "Helpful when counseling about weight. " The ReCAP, Talking Tips, and Healthy Weight Poster achieved mean ratings of 5.70, 4.75, and 5.30, respectively, in this category. Focus group responses were very positive about the usefulness of the ReCAP and Healthy Weight Poster to visually convey the concept of BMI percentile for age using a green, yellow, and red color-coded "traffic light" approach to showing healthy versus unhealthy BMI values. CONCLUSIONS WIC programs and other pediatric health care settings may want to consider adopting these innovative tools to better serve their clients and address pediatric overweight in the populations they serve.
The effects of fermentation and/or vacuum flask storage on the presence of coliforms in complementary foods prepared for Ghanaian children.

Microbial contamination of complementary foods is a major cause of childhood diarrhoea. In a community-based study in Ghana, we evaluated whether fermentation of maize porridge or storage of porridge in vacuum flasks reduces coliform contamination. The complementary food examined, Weanimix, consisted of, on a dry weight basis, toasted maize (75%), peanuts (10%), and soybeans (15%) milled into flour. The fermented food was Weanimix made with drum-dried, previously fermented maize. Fifty women with infants 6-18 months of age participated. A repeated measures cross-over design was used. Each mother participated in all four treatments (1 week per treatment, in random order): (a) non-fermented Weanimix (W), (b) fermented Weanimix (F), (c) non-fermented Weanimix stored in a vacuum flask (WV), and (d) fermented Weanimix stored in a vacuum flask (FV). Each week, mothers were supplied with the appropriate food, and asked to prepare a porridge each morning by boiling the dry mix in water. Samples were collected in the evenings and immediately plated onto 3 M Petrifilm. Contamination was defined as > or = 100 colony-forming units of coliforms per ml. Contamination rates (95% confidence intervals) were W = 48% (38-58%), F = 25% (17-34%), WV = 42% (32-52%), and FV = 13% (6-20%). All pairwise comparisons were significant (P < 0.05) except for W vs WV. Within the WV treatment, contamination rates were 85% when the sample temperature fell below 50 degrees C (N = 41) vs 12% when it remained > 50 degrees C (N = 59) (P < 0.001). These results indicate that contamination is reduced by fermentation, and further reduced by vacuum flask storage of fermented foods. For non-fermented foods, vacuum flask-storage was protective only when the temperature was maintained at > 50 degrees C; at < or = 50 degrees C vacuum flask storage increased the risk of contamination.
Determinants of Mortgage Default and Consumer Credit Use: The Effects of Foreclosure Laws and Foreclosure Delays

The mortgage default decision is part of a complex household credit management problem. We examine how factors affecting mortgage default spill over to other credit markets. As home equity turns negative, homeowners default on mortgages and HELOCs at higher rates, whereas they prioritize repaying credit cards and auto loans. Larger unused credit card limits intensify the preservation of credit cards over housing debt. Although mortgage non-recourse statutes increase default on all types of housing debt, they reduce credit card defaults. Foreclosure delays increase default rates for both housing and non-housing debts. Our analysis highlights the interconnectedness of debt repayment decisions.
Effects of a Night-Team System on Resident Sleep and Work Hours

OBJECTIVE: In 2009, Children's Hospital Boston implemented a night-team system on general pediatric wards to reduce extended work shifts. Residents worked 5 consecutive nights for 1 week and worked day shifts for the remainder of the rotation. Of note, resident staffing at night decreased under this system. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of this system on resident sleep and work hours. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study in which residents on the night-team system logged their sleep and work hours on work days. These data were compared with similar data collected in 2004, when there was a traditional call system. RESULTS: In 2004 and 2009, mean shift length was 15.22 ± 6.86 and 12.92 ± 5.70 hours, respectively (P = .161). Daily work hours were 10.49 ± 6.85 and 8.79 ± 6.42 hours, respectively (P = .08). Nightly sleep time decreased from 6.72 ± 2.60 to 4.77 ± 2.46 hours (P < .001). Total sleep time decreased from 7.50 ± 3.13 to 5.47 ± 2.34 hours (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a night-team system was unexpectedly associated with decreased sleep hours. As residency programs create work schedules that are compliant with the 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hour standards, resident sleep should be monitored carefully.
Patient and Provider Attitudes towards Monitored Naltrexone Treatment of Alcohol Dependence in Schizophrenia

Objective: To describe the attitudes of patients and their mental health providers regarding participation in a controlled trial of directly monitored naltrexone (NTX) treatment for alcohol dependence in schizophrenia. Method: Ninety participants with schizophrenia and their providers were asked to report opinions of treatment with oral NTX or placebo 3 times per week for 12 weeks, motivational counseling (MI), and voucher-based incentives (VBI) for attendance. Results: Seventy-nine percent of participants “liked the study a lot,” and 94% reported that it was helpful. Study components rated as helpful by participants were: VBI (95% of participants), meeting with staff 3 times per week (84%), reporting alcohol use (82%), MI (82%), reporting psychiatric symptoms (73%), breath alcohol testing (72%), and study medication (57%). Benefits reported by patients were: feeling better mentally (67%), drinking less (52%), feeling better physically (49%), and stopping drinking (27%). Seventy percent of providers reported that the study was helpful. Benefits noted by providers included: reduced drinking (33%), better treatment adherence (32%), stopping drinking (23%), and reduced psychiatric symptoms (22%). Patient/provider responses agreed on helpfulness with stopping or reducing drinking. Conclusions: Most participants with schizophrenia liked participating in a clinical trial of directly observed naltrexone treatment for alcohol dependence, and found incentives for attendance, frequent staff contact and monitoring of drinking, and motivational counseling to be the most helpful. Most participants reported improvement in mental health and reduced drinking. Mental health providers also reported that the study was helpful, but they did not describe the same degree of benefit as did patients.
Different Roles of PMv and PMd during Object Lifting

Editor's Note: These short reviews of a recent paper in the Journal, written exclusively by graduate students or postdoctoral fellows, are intended to mimic the journal clubs that exist in your own departments or institutions. For more information on the format and purpose of the Journal Club, please see Review of Davare et al.
Hydrophobicity transfer property of silicone rubber material

In this paper, the influence of ambient temperature and relative air humidity on the hydrophobicity transfer property of HTV and RTV silicone rubber (SR) is investigated. The static contact angle on polluted HTV-SR samples and plates with RTV coating was measured while being stored at different temperature and relative humidity. It has been found that the transfer characteristics on HTV-SR exhibit a saltus between 50°C and 55°C. The results further show that the influence of relative humidity is related with the hygroscopicity of soluble and non-soluble substances in pollutants on the surface.
Does patients' place of residence affect the type of physician performing primary excision of cutaneous melanoma in northern Scotland?

BACKGROUND Rural residence may adversely affect cancer outcomes, perhaps because rural cancer patients are managed differently. Current UK guidelines recommend all patients with suspected melanoma be referred urgently for specialist excision biopsy; however, up to 20% of patients receive their biopsy in primary care. This project explored if rural dwellers with melanoma were more likely to have their primary biopsy in primary care. METHODS A clinical database of all primary cutaneous melanomas diagnosed in Northern Scotland between January 1991 and July 2007 was analyzed for patient demographics, clinical variables, and intermediate outcomes. Significant findings on univariate analysis were then included in a binary logistic regression model to adjust for confounders. RESULTS On univariate analysis patients living in rural areas were significantly more likely to have their melanomas excised in primary care compared with those living in the city (26.3% compared with 17.7%, P < .001). There were no significant differences between rural and urban dwellers in Breslow thickness or completeness of excision. Following adjustment for key confounders, those living in suburban areas and remote small towns were significantly more likely to be treated contrary to current UK melanoma guidelines compared to those in cities. CONCLUSIONS In Northern Scotland patients living in suburban areas and remote small towns are significantly more likely to have an initial melanoma excision in primary care, contrary to current UK guidelines. This geographical contrast signposts the way to further in-depth research into the interplay between place of residence and how the cancer journey is experienced.
Reassortment In Vivo: Driving Force for Diversity of Human Rotavirus Strains Isolated in the United Kingdom between 1995 and 1999

ABSTRACT The G and P genotypes of 3,601 rotavirus strains collected in the United Kingdom between 1995 and 1999 were determined (M. Iturriza-Gómara et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. 38:4394–4401, 2000). In 95.4% of the strains the most common G and P combinations, G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], and G4P[8], were found. A small but significant number (2%) of isolates from the remaining strains were reassortants of the most common cocirculating strains, e.g., G1P[4] and G2P[8]. Rotavirus G9P[6] and G9P[8] strains, which constituted 2.7% of all viruses, were genetically closely related in their G components, but the P components of the G9P[8] strains were very closely related to those of cocirculating strains of the more common G types (G1, G3, and G4). In conclusion, genetic interaction by reassortment among cocirculating rotaviruses is not a rare event and contributes significantly to their overall diversity.
SAP and SLAM expression in anti‐CD3 activated lymphocytes correlates with cytotoxic activity

Signalling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)‐associated protein (SAP) is a small protein that is mutant in humans with X‐linked lymphoproliferative (XLP) disease. Patients with XLP disease are affected by fatal EBV infection and malignant B‐cell lymphomas. The increased risk for B‐cell lymphomas is suggested to result from impaired immunosurveillance of B‐cell proliferation by T cells. In this study, we investigated the role of SLAM and SAP in activation of effector cells with cytotoxic activity, cytokine‐induced killer (CIK) cells, which are generated by non‐specific stimulation of the TCR and addition of exogenous IL‐2. Agonistic TCR activation 1 day after preparation (day +1) resulted in cell activation, with a peak of SLAM on day +6 visible at both the protein and mRNA level as well as membrane detectable SLAM. This increase in SLAM expression correlated significantly with SAP expression at the mRNA level as well as at the protein level. Cytotoxic activity peaked 1 day after the observed SAP and SLAM peaks. At that point in time, IL‐10 secretion, which was high during the early days of culture, decreased. In conclusion, activation of peripheral blood cells with agonistic anti‐CD3 antibody and exogenous IL‐2, as used for generation of CIK cells, results in significant SLAM and SAP activation 5 days after TCR stimulation. This peak correlates with cytotoxic activity against tumour cells. Expression of SLAM and SAP seems to be important in the activation of cytotoxic effector cells.
A Wideband Radar for Mapping Near-Surface Layers in Snow

We developed a wideband radar to map near- surface internal layers in firn with fine resolution of about 3 cm to a depth of about 10 m. It is a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FM-CW) radar that operates over the frequency range of 12-18 GHz with an antenna operated in the near field to obtain plane-wave illumination. The plane-wave illumination reduces off-vertical scattered signals from masking reflections caused by internal layers. To operate the radar on the snow surface, we designed and built a sled that includes a gimbaled mount and control system to ensure that the antenna points at nadir. In addition, the antenna is offset from the sled so it points at undisturbed snow. The radar features a fast transmit waveform synthesizer implemented using a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a phase-locked loop (PLL) with a linear digital chirp as a reference. The highly linear reference chirp is compared against the instantaneous VCO output to generate a highly linear 12 to 18 GHz transmit signal. The waveform synthesizer can be swept from 12 to 18 GHz in 1 millisecond. We tested the radar at both Summit, Greenland, and a field camp in West Antarctica in July 2005 and January 2006, respectively. We collected a large amount of data at both sites, and we have been able to follow internal layers over distances exceeding 10 km. We verified radar data by comparing radar echoes to visible wind crust and depth hoar layers observed in 2-m deep snow pits. We also measured snow and firn density with a resolution of 5 cm to determine the dielectric constant for estimating propagation velocity of the wave in snow and firn. We collected more than 200 sample traces at each pit location for comparison with visual observations. Each sample trace uses 10 sweeps that are coherently integrated to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). We made measurements in stationary mode and by dragging the sled behind a snowmobile driven at a speed of about 2.5 km/hr. Results show an excellent agreement between the snow pit stratigraphy and echoes from our plane-wave radar.