Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Switch-Based Interpolated DFT for the Small Number of Acquired Sine Wave Cycles

The frequency of a real sinusoid is often estimated by interpolated discrete Fourier transform (IpDFT) algorithms because of the high accuracy and low computational burden. However, conventional IpDFTs focus on frequency estimation when the number of acquired sine wave cycles (NASC) is more than two. Frequency estimation with the small NASC is applicable in manufacturing processes, radar level measurement, and other applications. The spectral leakage of the negative frequency (the image component) significantly distorts the positive frequency when the NASC is small, dramatically degrading estimation accuracy. In particular, it is a challenging task for existing IpDFTs to provide high estimation accuracy when the NASC is less than one. In this paper, a switch-based IpDFT is proposed to provide high frequency estimation accuracy for NASC <; 1. The theoretical variance of the algorithm in white Gaussian noise is formulated, which includes the upper bound and the lower bound. Computer simulations and real measurements are conducted to corroborate the theoretical analysis and to demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves better accuracy and antinoise capability for NASC <; 1 than existing algorithms.
Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa Antagonists in Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes and Percutaneous Interventions: From Pharmacology to Individual Patient’s Therapy: Part 2: When and How to Use Various Agents

Abstract: Patients with high-risk characteristics admitted for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes benefit from an early invasive treatment, and in this case glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors appear effective in improving prognosis. There is however an ongoing debate on which of the currently available agents is the best in patients who are candidates for percutaneous coronary interventions. The dispute revolves on the optimal level of inhibition of platelet function and on whether the benefit is retained in the presence of pretreatment with thienopyridines. Especially the additional value of GP IIb/IIIa inhibition on top of an aggressive antithrombotic therapy (including aspirin, heparins, and clopidogrel) requires further clarification. Here we propose an algorithm for the practical use of available GPIIb/IIIa antagonists in relation with the patient’s clinical presentation and concomitant use of other drugs and devices.
A Reliability Assessment Approach for Integrated Transportation and Electrical Power Systems Incorporating Electric Vehicles

With the increasing utilization of electric vehicles (EVs), transportation systems and electrical power systems are becoming increasingly coupled. However, the interaction between these two kinds of systems are not well captured, especially from the perspective of transportation systems. This paper studies the reliability of integrated transportation and electrical power system (ITES). A bidirectional EV charging control strategy is first demonstrated to model the interaction between the two systems. Thereafter, a simplified transportation system model is developed, whose high efficiency makes the reliability assessment of the ITES realizable with an acceptable accuracy. Novel transportation system reliability indices are then defined from the view point of EV’s driver. Based on the charging control model and the transportation simulation method, a daily periodic quasi sequential reliability assessment method is proposed for the ITES system. Case studies based on RBTS system demonstrate that bidirectional charging controls of EVs will benefit the reliability of power systems, while decreasing the reliability of EVs travelling. Also, the optimal control strategy can be obtained based on the proposed method. Finally, case studies are performed based on a large scale test system to verify the practicability of the proposed method.
Evaluation of different methods for removing oral biofilm in patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to evaluate the different methods for removing oral biofilm in combination with 0.12% chlorhexidine, in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the General University Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS Initially, the patients were included in the study and underwent periodontal evaluation by means of the visible plaque index (VPI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI). The removal of visible biofilm, by a professional, was carried out using a toothbrush and dental floss, followed by the application of a 0.12% chlorhexidine solution. The patients were included in this randomized and controlled study into four groups (total n = 48), as follows: Chlorhexidine and gauze 12/12 h; chlorhexidine and gauze 24/24 h; chlorhexidine and brushing 12/12 h; chlorhexidine and brushing 24/24 h. The patients underwent the biofilm removal protocol for 7 days and then were subjected to a new clinical evaluation as to VPI and GBI. Data analysis was performed through stratification and arrangement of the records, in order to carry out the associations with health indicators used in the study, and the statistical tests used were Kappa and t-test for independent and paired samples. RESULTS A decrease in the VPI and GBI values when comparing baseline to the final evaluation for all groups was observed. CONCLUSION Based on the methodology, it was possible to concluded that chlorhexidine associated with the mechanical action of the toothbrush or gauze in the times 12 h and 24 h in the ICU environment presented the same results as regards amount of visible biofilm. How to cite the article: Oliveira MS, Borges AH, Mattos FZ, Semenoff TA, Segundo AS, Tonetto MR, Bandeca MC, Porto AN. Evaluation of different methods for removing oral biofilm in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. J Int Oral Health 2014;6(3):61-4.
Trends in Higher Education Service-Learning Courses for Pre-Service Teachers: A Systematic Review

As a malleable, potent curricular tool with numerous positive outcomes in students’ personal, academic and social lives, Service-Learning (S-L) has lately gained an increased interest from the scientific community. The most important challenge in introducing S-L instructional strategies in academic practice is designing effective, pragmatic S-L programs directed towards both reforming education by enhancing pre-service teachers’ experiences and addressing community needs. Following the systematic review algorithm, this paper focuses on summarizing novel trends and procedures in higher education S-L courses for pre-service teachers and on outlining a best practices profile. The systematic review is based on key research questions that reveal the following aspects of the S-L programs: the major scope of the programs, the most common types of programs, the hosting environment chosen by project managers, the types of activities included in such programs, the architecture of the mandatory reflection component of S-L programs, as well as the duration and evaluation techniques of the programs. The findings may serve as a reference point in designing more efficient S-L programs. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.uk
Phacoemulsification in a Patient with Small Pupil and a Large Iris Cyst

Purpose Peripheral iris cysts are generally asymptomatic and nonprogressive. They are usually located in the inferotemporal quadrant of the anterior segment, most commonly in the iridociliary sulcus. We report our management strategy in a patient with small pupil and a large iris cyst. Method Retrospective, case report. Results A 65-year-old man was referred, reporting blurred vision OS. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 6/12 OD and 6/48 OS. Anterior chamber (AC) examination OS revealed an iris cyst protruding inferotemporally occupying almost one-third of AC volume. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 32 mmHg OS and 19 mmHg OD. Aspiration with a 27-G cannula, without cyst resection, was performed. Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were uneventful. The BCVA improved to 6/9 1 week postoperatively and to 6/6 a month later. In the first postoperative visit, IOP dropped to 16 mmHg. The cyst was significantly decreased in size. Six months postoperatively, BCVA remained unchanged while AC examination revealed that the cyst remained in place with no signs of enlargement. Conclusions In this case, cyst aspiration was elected as a treatment procedure that led to significant decrease in size. This management option, combined with an uncomplicated cataract extraction procedure, resulted in an excellent visual and a positive anatomic outcome.
A-MapCG: An Adaptive MapReduce Framework for GPUs

The MapReduce framework proposed by Google to process large data sets is an efficient framework used in many areas, such as social network, scientific research, electronic business, etc. Hence, many MapReduce frameworks are proposed and implemented on different platforms. However, these MapReduce frameworks have limitations, and they cannot handle the collision problem in the map phase, and the unbalanced workload problem in the reduce phase. In this paper, an Adaptive MapReduce Framework (A-MapCG) is proposed based on the MapCG framework, to further improve the MapReduce performance on GPU platforms. Based on the experiments, we observed that for certain MapReduce applications emitting multiple Key/value (K/V) pairs for the same key, the atomic collision problem degrades the map phase performance of the MapReduce framework substantially. In addition, the workload unbalance problem wastes parallel computing resources and limits the overall reduction phase performance of the MapReduce framework on GPU platforms. A-MapCG uses segmentation table and intra-warp combination to reduce the number of collisions during the map phase. A-MapCG also adopts balanced workload assignment to improve the reduce phase performance. The proposed A-MapCG framework is evaluated on the Tesla K40 GPU hosted by Intel Core i7-4790. The case study shows that the map phase of A-MapCG achieves a speedup of 4.63 over MapCG for the test case, Word Count, with a 64MB workload. The average reduce phase speedup of A-MapCG over MapCG with parallel reductions of Word Count is 6.92. The average reduce phase speedup of A-MapCG over MapCG with serial reductions of Word Count is 4.11.
Escherichia coli strains with nonimmune immunoglobulin-binding activity

We have identified several strains of Escherichia coli which contain immunoglobulin-binding activity on the cell surface. Affinity-purified antibodies ordinarily used as secondary antibodies in immunodetection protocols were bound by 6 of 72 strains of the ECOR reference collection of E. coli. The Fc fragments of both human and sheep immunoglobulin G (IgG) were also bound, demonstrating the nonimmune nature of the phenomenon. Binding of conjugated IgG Fc directly to unfixed cells was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Western blots showed that the immunoglobulin-binding material occurs in the form of multiple bands, with the apparent molecular masses of the most prominent bands exceeding 100 kDa. No two of the strains have the same pattern of bands. The binding activity in extracts was sensitive to proteinase K. The binding activity of intact cells was reduced preferentially by trypsin digestion, demonstrating exposure at the cell surface. Expression of binding activity in Luria-Bertani broth cultures was favored by a temperature of 37 degrees C and entry into stationary phase of growth.
Moving from a discourse of access to reading instructional materials to the management and utilisation thereof : Progress International Reading Literature Study at Grade 4 in South Africa

Two cycles of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) were completed in South Africa in 2006 and 2011. In this article, we investigate the qualities of high-performing reading literacy schools for optimal resource management and utilisation strategies for possible application to low-performing schools. We do this against the background of reports on reading resource shortages and inadequacies in the context of reading literacy learning from both of the PIRLS main studies. This is done by comparing six case study schools with varying contexts and performance levels. The findings from a secondary analysis using the PIRLS 2006 data together with six case studies using international reading benchmarks from PIRLS 2006 to depict performance levels, confirmed that learners in low-performing schools from the study had inadequate access to reading instruction resources. This appeared partly attributable to inadequate funding and government provisioning; ineffective resource management at school level and non-resourcefulness of teachers at classroom level exacerbating reading resource inadequacies; as well as ineffective utilisation of materials at these low-performing schools. The resource management and utilisation strategies of high-performing case study schools were found to be potential models for schools with inadequate strategies. Â
Preparation, Optimization and Activity Evaluation of PLGA/Streptokinase Nanoparticles Using Electrospray

Purpose: PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively investigated as carriers of different drug molecules to enhance their therapeutic effects or preserve them from the aqueous environment. Streptokinase (SK) is an important medicine for thrombotic diseases. Methods: In this study, we used electrospray to encapsulate SK in PLGA NPs and evaluate its activity. This is the first paper which investigates activity of an electrosprayed enzyme. Effect of three input parameters, namely, voltage, internal diameter of needle (nozzle) and concentration ratio of polymer to protein on size and size distribution (SD) of NPs was evaluated using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Optimizing the SD has been rarely reported so far in electrospray. Results: From the results, to obtain lowest size of nanoparticles, ratio of polymer/enzyme and needle internal diameter (ID) should be low. Also, minimum SD was obtainable at high values of voltage. The optimum preparation had mean (SD) size, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of 37 (12) nm, 90% and 8.2%, respectively. Nearly, 20% of SK was released in the first 30 minutes, followed by cumulative release of 41% during 72 h. Activity of the enzyme was also checked 30 min after preparation and 19.2% activity was shown. Conclusion: Our study showed that electrospraying could be an interesting approach to encapsulate proteins/enzymes in polymeric nanoparticles. However, further works are required to assure maintaining the activity of the enzyme/protein after electrospray.
Engineering of Quasi-Natural Pseudomonas putida Strains for Toluene Metabolism through anortho-Cleavage Degradation Pathway

ABSTRACT To construct a bacterial catalyst for bioconversion of toluene and several alkyl and chloro- and nitro-substituted derivatives into the corresponding benzoates, the upper TOL operon of plasmid pWW0 ofPseudomonas putida was fully reassembled as a single gene cassette along with its cognate regulatory gene, xylR. The corresponding DNA segment was then targeted to the chromosome of aP. putida strain by using a genetic technique that allows deletion of all recombinant tags inherited from previous cloning steps and leaves the otherwise natural strain bearing exclusively the DNA segment encoding the phenotype of interest. The resulting strains grew on toluene as the only carbon source through a two-step process: conversion of toluene into benzoate, mediated by the upper TOL enzymes, and further metabolism of benzoate through the housekeepingortho-ring cleavage pathway of the catechol intermediate.
Performance of angle feedback vs. shuffling scheme for DSTTD systems

Transmit antenna shuffling (TAS) has been used widely in Double Space Time Transmit Diversity (DSTTD) systems for performance improvement. In this paper, an angle feedback and its feedback selection criterion applied in a space time coding scheme are proposed for DSTTD systems. Compared with the existing TAS scheme, according to the analysis of system, the proposed scheme has lower realization complexity. Simulations show that the proposed scheme with 2-bit angle feedback achieves almost the same performance of DSTTD systems with TAS scheme which requires 3-bit feedback.
VALUING FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT IN THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM

ii PREFACE iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi TABLE OF CONTENTS vii BACKGROUND 1 Biography 1 Educational Landscape in New Brunswick 3 Classroom Composition 5 What About the Students? 7 Formative Assessment in High School 9 Accountability 12 LITERATURE REVIEW 15 Challenges to the Research 20 SYSTEMIC PARADIGM SHIFT 23 Leading this change 24 Closing the Gap 26 REFLECTION OF CLASSROOM PRACTICES 31 Terminology 31 Collection of Evidence 32 NEXT STEPS 36 Summary 37 REFERENCES 40 APPENDIX A 41 CURRICULUM VITAE
The Cerebellum and Parietal Cortex Play a Specific Role in Coordination: A Pet Study

The synthesis of complex, coordinated movements from simple actions is an important aspect of motor control. Lesion studies have revealed specific brain areas, particularly the cerebellum, to be essential for a variety of coordinated movements, and lend support to the view that the cerebellum is engaged in the integration of simple movements into compound ones. A PET study was therefore conducted to show which brain areas were active specifically during the coordinated execution of an arm and finger movement to visual targets. A two-by-two factorial design was employed, in which subjects either made arm or finger movements alone, made coordinated arm-finger movements, or made no movements. Voxels were identified where activity was significantly greater during the execution of coordinated movements than when movements were made alone and in which this increased activity could not be accounted for simply by the additive effects of the activations for each movement in isolation. The behavioral results showed that subjects coordinated arm and finger movements well during coordination scans. Coordination-specific activations were found in left anterior lobe and bilaterally in the paramedian lobules of the cerebellum. These are known to receive forelimb-specific spinocerebellar proprioceptive inputs that may be related to multijoint movements. The same areas also receive corticocerebellar afference from motor areas that may convey efference copy information to the cerebellum. Coordination-specific activations were also seen in areas of the posterior parietal cortex. The results provide direct evidence in healthy human subjects of specific cerebellar engagement during the coordination of movement, over and above the control of constituent movements.
Simultaneous Communication and Cochlear Implants in the Classroom?

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the potential of simultaneous communication (sign and speech together) to support classroom learning by college students who use cochlear implants (CIs). Metacognitive awareness of learning also was evaluated. A within-subjects design involving 40 implant users indicated that the student participants learned significantly more when material was presented via simultaneous communication than spoken language overall, but a statistical interaction indicated that the difference held only with more difficult material. Learning in the speech-only condition was positively related to the students' spoken language skills, their confidence with spoken language, and their receptive simultaneous communication skills. Learning in that condition was negatively related to the age at which the participants learned to sign. Findings were interpreted to indicate that simultaneous communication can be beneficial for classroom learning by college students with CIs, at least with more complex material or when information redundancy is otherwise important. Further research is needed to determine who is likely to benefit in what settings.
A new device to limit extravasation during contrast-enhanced CT.

OBJECTIVE The extravasation detection accessory (EDA) is designed for use during contrast-enhanced CT studies performed with a power injector. The EDA detects the changes in soft-tissue impedance that occur with enhanced extravasation and halts the further infusion of contrast material via a feedback circuit to the injector. We tested the sensitivity of this device in a model of contrast extravasation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study subjects had an extravasation of 5% dextrose in water (nonionic contrast equivalent) in one arm and 0.9% sodium chloride solution (ionic contrast equivalent) in the other. An EDA was placed over the site of infusion and connected to a power injector. Injections were performed at 0.25 ml/sec (n = 40), 2.5 ml/sec (n = 62), or 5 ml/sec (n = 20). RESULTS At infusion rates of 2.5 and 5 ml/sec, the device halted the injector in every subject after an average volume of 12.5 +/- 1.6 ml was delivered. At 0.25 ml/sec, the device failed to halt the injector in 11 of 20 events. After reprogramming the algorithm, 10 more subjects were tested at the lowest injection rate. The device halted 18 of 20 extravasation events with an average volume of 3.7 +/- 0.5 ml. CONCLUSION In our model of contrast extravasation, the EDA halted a power injector with reliability and reproducibility before a large volume of contrast material was delivered. The sensitivity of the device approached, but did not reach, 100%. This device may serve to diminish the morbidity of extravasation events.
Anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of the novel calcium antagonist NP04634 on kainic acid‐induced seizures in rats

Kainic acid (KA)‐induced status epilepticus (SE) is a well‐characterized model of excitotoxic neuronal injury. Excitotoxicity results from activation of specific glutamate receptors, with resultant elevation of intracellular Ca2+. The CA1 and CA3 subregions of the hippocampus are especially vulnerable to KA, and this pattern of neuronal injury resembles that occurring in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Calcium plays an essential role in excitotoxicity, and accordingly calcium channel inhibitors have been shown to have protective effects in various experimental models of epilepsy and brain injury. Moreover, they also potentiate the antiseizure efficacy of conventional antiepileptic drugs. This study was undertaken to determine whether NP04634, a novel compound, reported as a non‐L‐type voltage‐sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) inhibitor, could prevent the entrance in SE and the neuronal loss evoked by intraperitoneal injection of KA. Our results show that intragastrical administration of NP04634 reduced the percentage of rats that entered SE after KA injection, increased the latency of SE entry, and significantly reduced the mortality of rats that entered SE. Also, NP04634 prevented the loss of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons and reduced the gliosis induced by KA. These results point to a potential anticonvulsant and neuroprotective role for NP04634. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Concentration of Salicylic Acid in Tomato Leaves after Foliar Aspersions of This Compound

Increased plant tolerance to stress may be chemically induced with applications of salicylic acid (SA). The aim of this study was to determine the change in the SA leaf concentration over time in response to the SA spraying in leaves of greenhouse grown tomato. In sprayed leaves the SA concentration showed changes over time similar to the reported responses to environmental stress. Two days after the first application, the SA foliar concentration reached the maximum of 8 μg·g-1, equivalent to twice the amount observed in the control plants. SA decreased until it reached the level of control plants eight days later. A second application showed actually the same response, but with a faster decline of SA in two days. According to the results of this assay, SA applications on tomato should be performed within a minimum interval of eight days in order to maintain the SA concentration related with the increase in plant tolerance to environmental stress.