Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
APPLICATION OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES IN DRINKING WATER PURIFICATION

Pathogenic bacteria are fetal to human health, requiring cost-effective and safe approaches to be removed from drinking water source. With poly-allylamine-hydrochloride (PAAH) stabilization, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were introduced in this study to remove pathogenic bacteria by electrostatic interaction and magnet capture. High removal efficiency was achieved for four main pathogenic species, as Escherichia, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Bacillus, and over 99.5% of the pathogens can be removed when the bacterial count was less than 105 CFU/mL. Related to various species, the MNPs have respective adhesion effects on bacterial cells, which are higher for Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, due to the mechanisms of external cell structure and ion exchange capacity, but not the zeta potential of bacterial cell surface. With the practical application in real drinking water samples collected from reservoirs in Sheffield and Leeds, the results showed high bacteria removal efficiency (99.48%) and the total bacteria residual counts was as low as 78 CFU/mL, which met the drinking water standard of WHO (<100 CFU/mL). Further toxicity test indicated that no significant genotoxicity or cytoxicity existed in MNPs treated water, suggesting MNPs are biocompatible for safety issues in drinking water. As an effective, easy-operation and low cost technique, MNPs have bright future and great potential in practical drinking water treatment to remove pathogenic bacteria.
Statistically Secure Evaluation of Quadratic Functions and 2-CNF Circuits Over a Dynamic Set of Secret Shares

One of the most interesting research topics in cryptography is finding schemes for an efficient fully-homomorphic encryption (FHE), preferably information-theoretically secure schemes, which are not based on unproven computational hardness assumptions. The greatest breakthrough in this field was made by Gentry [11] in 2009, and since then there were some interesting developments, e.g., Boneh et al. [3] and Brakerski and Perlman [4]. All currently known FHE schemes are computationally secure and time-wise inefficient. We suggest here an information-theoretically secure secret sharing scheme of restricted values that efficiently supports one homomorphic multiplication of secrets in addition to homomorphic additions of, practically, any number of such multiplied secrets. In particular, our scheme enables sharing a dynamic set of secrets amongst N participants, using polynomials of degree N −1. Quadratic functions and 2-CNF circuits over the set of secrets can then be homomorphically evaluated, while no information is revealed to any single participant, both before and after the computation. Moreover, we prove that our scheme is statistically secure against coalitions of less than N − 1 participants.
Cone connections of the horizontal cells of the rhesus monkey’s retina

The presence in the rhesus monkey’s retina of a second morphological type of horizontal cell (H2), described by Kolb et al. (1980), is confirmed. Both types of cell are here further described. Their cone connections are quantified and compared with those of mammals and other vertebrates. The dendrites and axons of the H2 type of cell contact only cones as do the dendrites of the H1 cell (originally described by Polyak (1941)) which has an axon contacting only rods. The dendrites of foveal H2 cells contact between 11 and 14 cones; those of H1 contact 7. The number of cones that each type of cell contacts increases with increasing distance from the fovea, so that, by 5-6 mm eccentricity, H2-type cells synapse with between 20 and 30 cones, and the H1 cells with 12-15. The qualitatively estimated coverage factors of each are 3 or 4; every cone synapses with more than one of both types. Neither type of horizontal cell makes chromatically specific connections that are anatomically recognizable, unlike the situation in some teleostean and turtle retinae. Individual horizontal cells, particularly those connected to foveal cones, may have different ratios of chromatic input. At equivalent eccentricities, up to about 6 mm from the fovea, the dendritic fields of H2 horizontal cells are about twice the size of H1 cells and contact about twice the number of cones. These relative differences are closely similar to those of the cat’s horizontal cells and it is suggested that they are a basic feature of most placental mammals. The organization of foveal cone fibres within Henle’s layer is described. The distribution of primate cone telodendria, gap junctions and synapses in the outer plexiform layer are briefly reviewed and compared with those of other vertebrate retinae.
Who is Responsible for Inadequate Lymph Node Retrieval after Colorectal Surgery: Surgeon or Pathologist ?

Abstract Background : Many factors have been described influencing survival of patients with colorectal cancer. The most important prognostic factor is lymph node involvement. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network indicates that at least 12 lymph nodes (LN12) must be retrieved for proper staging and treatment planning. The surgeon and the pathologist influence the number of retrieved lymph nodes. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed all patients with diagnosis and subsequent surgery for colorectal cancer from January 2004 to January 2010 at Gulhane Military Medical Academy in Ankara, Turkey. We investigated the relationship between LN12 and the independent variables of tumour size, lymph node involvement, metastasis, age, gender, surgeon, pathologist, surgical specimen length, tumour stage, and localization. Statistical analysis utilized the Shapiro-Wilk test, interquartile range, Mann-Whitney test, chi-square and chi-square likelihood ratio tests, and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric variance analysis. In order to identify influencing factors for retrieval of lymph nodes, multiple linear regression was performed. In order to identify the direction and extent of effects of these influencing factors, logistic regression was performed. OR (Odds Ratio) and 95% CI (Confidence Interval) of the OR were calculated. Results : There were 223 study patients, 134 with colon cancer and 89 with rectal cancer. There was no statistical significance in terms of age, gender, cancer type and postoperative tumour size, number of metastatic lymph nodes > 4, or LN12 (p > 0.05). Statistical significance was found between surgeons and LN12, the number of operations and LN12 (p < 0.001), and pathologists and LN12 (p = 0.049). Conclusions : Harvesting an adequate number of lymph nodes is crucial for patients with colorectal cancer in terms of staging and planning further treatment modalities such as adjuvant chemotherapy. Multidisciplinary collaboration between surgeons and pathologists is vital for optimal patient outcomes.
Undergraduate prosthetics and orthotics teaching methods: A baseline for international comparison

Background: Education of Prosthetics and Orthotics is a relatively recent professional program. While there has been some work on various teaching methods and strategies in international medical education, limited publication exists within prosthetics and orthotics. Objectives: To identify the teaching and learning methods that are used in Bachelor-level prosthetics and orthotics programs that are given highest priority by expert prosthetics and orthotics instructors from regions enjoying a range of economic development. Study design: Mixed method. Methods: The study partly documented by this article utilized a mixed method approach (qualitative and quantitative methods) within which each phase provided data for other phases. It began with analysis of prosthetics and orthotics curricula documents, which was followed by a broad survey of instructors in this field and then a modified Delphi process. Results: The expert instructors who participated in this study gave high priority to student-centered, small group methods that encourage critical thinking and may lead to lifelong learning. Instructors from more developed nations placed higher priority on student’s independent acquisition of prosthetics and orthotics knowledge, particularly in clinical training. Conclusions: Application of student-centered approaches to prosthetics and orthotics programs may be preferred by many experts, but there appeared to be regional differences in the priority given to different teaching methods. Clinical relevance The results of this study identify the methods of teaching that are preferred by expert prosthetics and orthotics instructors from a variety of regions. This treatment of current instructional techniques may inform instructor choice of teaching methods that impact the quality of education and improve the professional skills of students.
Design and implementation of feedback controllers for a power converter based on a three-terminal switch mode

In this study, the feedback controllers for a power converter were designed and implemented to fulfill the constant-voltage (CV) and constant-current (CC) output modes. The topology used by the DC-DC converter was a phase-shifted full-bridge with a parallel current-doubler rectification converter (PSFB-PCDRC). In order to design the feedback controllers for the PSFB-PCDRC CV and CC operations, the PSFB-PCDRC small-signal model was established and employed to analyze frequency responses. Moreover, the three-terminal switch model and state-space representation were used, therefore, the PSFB-PCDRC transfer function was available to be acquired for the Bode plot simulation and analyzing. According to a small-signal instrument measurements, the derived small-signal model and loop compensative parameters could be approved. Simulations and measurements corresponded to the anticipated results of theory, demonstrating the validity of proposed design.
Network traffic modeling using fully-stable cascades

Within the framework IDC (infinitely divisible cascades) we propose a new model for network traffic, namely the fully stable cascades. The model can capture both scaling behaviors and burstiness of network traffic in terms of stable distribution and its properties. Another advantage is that it elaborates the relationship of the two aspects simply based on the additive property of stable distribution. Several traffic traces are tested and fitted with our model well.
Blood glucose increases early after stroke onset: a study on serial measurements of blood glucose in acute stroke

The aim of this study was to evaluate if blood glucose levels change within the first 12 h after stroke onset and to investigate if the degree of change is related to stroke severity, type of stroke, or prognosis. This was a retrospective, descriptive trial based on 445 stroke patients with two blood glucose tests within 12 h of stroke onset and no history of diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose increased in the first 12 h after stroke onset; in mild to moderate stroke from 5.8 to 6.1 mmol/l (P < 0.001) and in severe stroke from 6.2 to 6.7 mmol/l (P < 0.001). In patients who died within 7 days of stroke onset, blood glucose increased from 6.8 to 7.1 mmol/l (P < 0.001). In conclusion, blood glucose increases after the onset of acute stroke and the increase is related to the severity of the stroke.
British Hypertension Society guidelines for hypertension management 2004 (BHS-IV): summary

Much new evidence has emerged on the importance of blood pressure as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease; the importance of lifestyle measures for the prevention and treatment of hypertension; the efficacy and safety of different drug classes; management of hypertension in groups at higher risk, including people with diabetes; the importance of assessing the total risk of cardiovascular disease; and additional benefits associated with the use of statins. Concern remains that national surveys continue to show substantial underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and poor rates of blood pressure control in the United Kingdom.1 A key reason for this is the predominant use of monotherapy by most doctors.1 To improve this suboptimal treatment, the British Hypertension Society recommends a treatment algorithm based on the AB/CD rule.2 Treatment of blood pressure alone will leave many hypertensive patients at unacceptably high risk of cardiovascular complications and death. This guideline reinforces the view that doctors should not focus solely on blood pressure but must also formally assess total risk of cardiovascular disease and use multifactorial interventions, including statins and aspirin, to reduce it. Most management of blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease will take place in primary care, and these guidelines are intended for general practitioners, practice nurses, and generalists in hospital practice. Detailed advice on implementation and the implications of the national service frameworks and the general medical services contract are contained in the full document (http://www.bhsoc.org/). 3 These guidelines have been prepared by the guidelines working party of the British Hypertension Society on behalf of the society. The working party reviewed new data that have become available since the previous guidelines were published4 and amended the recommendations accordingly. Drafts of the full document were improved by consultation with …
A Self-Efficacy Theory Explanation for the Management of Remote Workers in Virtual Organizations

The current study is a first step in investigating how virtual organizations can manage remote employees effectively. The research used self-efficacy theory to build a model that predicts relationships between antecedents to employees' remote work self-efficacy assessments and their behavioral and attitudinal consequences. The model was tested using responses from 376 remotely-managed employees in 18 diverse organizations. Overall, the results indicated that remote employees' self-efficacy assessments play a critical role in influencing their remote work effectiveness, perceived productivity, job satisfaction and ability to cope. Furthermore, strong relationships were observed between employees' remote work self-efficacy judgments and several antecedents, including remote work experience and training, best practices modeling by management, computer anxiety, and IT capabilities. Because many of these antecedents can be controlled managerially, these findings suggest important ways in which a remote employee's work performance can be enhanced, through the intermediary effect of improved remote work self-efficacy. The current study also provides a basis for future research in the remote work area through its development and testing of a remote management framework.
Environmental controls of temporal and spatial variability in CO2 and CH4 fluxes in a neotropical peatland

Tropical peatlands play an important role in the global storage and cycling of carbon (C) but information on carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from these systems is sparse, particularly in the Neotropics. We quantified short and long‐term temporal and small scale spatial variation in CO2 and CH4 fluxes from three contrasting vegetation communities in a domed ombrotrophic peatland in Panama. There was significant variation in CO2 fluxes among vegetation communities in the order Campnosperma panamensis > Raphia taedigera > Cyperus. There was no consistent variation among sites and no discernible seasonal pattern of CH4 flux despite the considerable range of values recorded (e.g. −1.0 to 12.6 mg m−2 h−1 in 2007). CO2 fluxes varied seasonally in 2007, being greatest in drier periods (300–400 mg m−2 h−1) and lowest during the wet period (60–132 mg m−2 h−1) while very high emissions were found during the 2009 wet period, suggesting that peak CO2 fluxes may occur following both low and high rainfall. In contrast, only weak relationships between CH4 flux and rainfall (positive at the C. panamensis site) and solar radiation (negative at the C. panamensis and Cyperus sites) was found. CO2 fluxes showed a diurnal pattern across sites and at the Cyperus sp. site CO2 and CH4 fluxes were positively correlated. The amount of dissolved carbon and nutrients were strong predictors of small scale within‐site variability in gas release but the effect was site‐specific. We conclude that (i) temporal variability in CO2 was greater than variation among vegetation communities; (ii) rainfall may be a good predictor of CO2 emissions from tropical peatlands but temporal variation in CH4 does not follow seasonal rainfall patterns; and (iii) diurnal variation in CO2 fluxes across different vegetation communities can be described by a Fourier model.
Neomorphic effects of recurrent somatic mutations in Yin Yang 1 in insulin-producing adenomas

Significance The identical recurrent somatic heterozygous missense mutation in the DNA-binding domain of transcription factor YY1 is found in a third of insulin-secreting pancreatic tumors. This mutation alters sites involved in DNA contact and changes the DNA sequence motif that is bound, resulting in significant alteration of gene expression. Among genes showing markedly increased expression are two, an adenylyl cyclase (ADCY1) and a Ca2+ channel (CACNA2D2), that are involved in cAMP and Ca2+ signaling, processes known to play a role in insulin secretion. Expression of these genes in a pancreatic β-cell line causes increased insulin release. These findings provide evidence for neomorphic effects of this mutation, and demonstrate a role for altered transcription factor specificity in neoplasia. Insulinomas are pancreatic islet tumors that inappropriately secrete insulin, producing hypoglycemia. Exome and targeted sequencing revealed that 14 of 43 insulinomas harbored the identical somatic mutation in the DNA-binding zinc finger of the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1). Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) showed that this T372R substitution changes the DNA motif bound by YY1. Global analysis of gene expression demonstrated distinct clustering of tumors with and without YY1T372R mutations. Genes showing large increases in expression in YY1T372R tumors included ADCY1 (an adenylyl cyclase) and CACNA2D2 (a Ca2+ channel); both are expressed at very low levels in normal β-cells and show mutation-specific YY1 binding sites. Both gene products are involved in key pathways regulating insulin secretion. Expression of these genes in rat INS-1 cells demonstrated markedly increased insulin secretion. These findings indicate that YY1T372R mutations are neomorphic, resulting in constitutive activation of cAMP and Ca2+ signaling pathways involved in insulin secretion.
Learning air-to-ground integrated fuzzy guidance system using simulated annealing

In this paper we consider the problem of air to ground missile guidance system using fuzzy controller which uses Pure Pursuit method. The fuzzy controller's rules are defined using Simulated Annealing (SA). The missile model is assumed as three degree of freedom (3DOF) (assuming the analysis in the vertical plane only). This paper presents numerical results for applying the learned fuzzy controller to the missile in different situations of control parameters.
Les prépositions dans l'histoire du Français : Transitivité, grammaticalisation et lexicalisation

Le present article porte sur l'evolution des prepositions dans l'histoire du francais. Au debut du Moyen Age, le francais comportait un systeme de particules separees modifiant le semantisme du verbe. Ce n'est qu'a partir de la fin du 15 eme siecle que nous assistons vraiment a la disparition de ces prepositions intransitives. Nous attribuons ce changement a la deflexivisation massive du systeme morphologique francais entre les 13 eme et 15 eme siecle. Nous proposons que la lexicalisation des verbes prefixes a entraine un changement dans l'encodage du noeud [+ direction-nel/aspectuel]. Selon notre analyse, la disparition des particules tient a la relexicalisation de la directionalite comme propriete verbale. Par la suite, la perte du systeme des particules a donne lieu au developpement du double systeme prepositionnel que connait le francais moderne, en creant un systeme de quasi-doublets lexicaux. Un changement subsequent survenu en francais classique a eu pour consequence une plus grande differenciation des deux systemes de prepositions, differenciation qui s'est operee en prenant pour base les differences casuelles existant entre les deux types de prepositions et les en accentuant. Les donnees de cette etude proviennent principalement du corpus, Base du francais medieval, constitue par Christiane Marchello-Nizia de l'ENS-Lyon.
Functional Genetic and Biophysical Analyses of Membrane Disruption by Human Adenovirus

ABSTRACT The identification of the adenovirus (AdV) protein that mediates endosome penetration during infection has remained elusive. Several lines of evidence from previous studies suggest that the membrane lytic factor of AdV is the internal capsid protein VI. While these earlier results imply a role for protein VI in endosome disruption, direct evidence during cell entry has not been demonstrated. To acquire more definitive proof, we engineered random mutations in a critical N-terminal amphipathic α-helix of VI in an attempt to generate AdV mutants that lack efficient membrane penetration and infection. Random mutagenesis within the context of the AdV genome was achieved via the development of a novel technique that incorporates both error-prone PCR and recombineering. Using this system, we identified a single mutation, L40Q, that significantly reduced infectivity and selectively impaired endosome penetration. Furthermore, we obtained biophysical data showing that the lack of efficient endosomalysis is associated with reduced insertion of the L40Q mutation in protein VI (VI-L40Q) into membranes. Our studies indicate that protein VI is the critical membrane lytic factor of AdV during cellular entry and reveal the biochemical basis for its membrane interactions.
Do novel biomarkers add to existing scores of total cardiovascular risk?

While cardiovascular disease and certain other conditions are considered to confer a high or very high risk of cardiovascular events, the asymptomatic population can be subdivided in different categories of total CV risk using risk models; this allows the clinician to adapt the intensity of preventive strategies accordingly. Risk models, such as that based on the US Framingham Study and the SCORE model, based on European cohorts, estimate risk according to the presence of risk factors, including age, gender, smoking habits, systolic blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. However, estimation of an individual’s cardiovascular risk remains approximate, and whether new biomarkers of risk will improve risk assessment is a key question. Several novel cardiovascular risk markers have been suggested, including lipid, inflammatory, thrombotic, and genetic biomarkers. Demonstrating that a novel biomarker is predictive of cardiovascular disease is, by itself, insufficient proof that it adds incremental value to existing risk estimation models. The Net Reclassification Improvement index provides an indication of the ability of a novel marker to improve risk estimation by classifying individuals to a more correct category. In addition, new risk models may be calibrated by measuring how closely predicted outcomes agree with actual outcomes. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors explain most of an individual’s risk. Consequently, the addition of new risk factors to existing models has provided disappointingly small effects overall. However, there addition to conventional risk estimation may be useful in correctly reclassifying individuals at intermediate risk as above or below a chosen intervention threshold.
Analysis of equal gain diversity on Nakagami fading channels

An infinite series for the complementary probability distribution function (cdf) of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the output of L-branch equal gain (EG) diversity combiners in Nakagami fading channels is derived. The bit error rate for a matched filter receiver is analyzed for the L-branch EG combiner and different fading parameters. Both coherent phase shift keying (CPSK) and differential coherent phase shift keying (DCPSK) are considered