Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification and quantification of microbial populations in activated sludge and anaerobic digestion processes

Eight different phenotypes were studied in an activated sludge process (AeR) and anaerobic digester (AnD) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant by means of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and automated FISH quantification software. The phenotypes were ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO), glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAO), sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), methanotrophic bacteria and methanogenic archaea. Some findings were unexpected: (a) Presence of PAO, GAO and denitrifiers in the AeR possibly due to unexpected environmental conditions caused by oxygen deficiencies or its ability to survive aerobically; (b) presence of SRB in the AeR due to high sulphate content of wastewater intake and possibly also due to digested sludge being recycled back into the primary clarifier; (c) presence of methanogenic archaea in the AeR, which can be explained by the recirculation of digested sludge and its ability to survive periods of high oxygen levels; (d) presence of denitrifying bacteria in the AnD which cannot be fully explained because the nitrate level in the AnD was not measured. However, other authors reported the existence of denitrifiers in environments where nitrate or oxygen was not present suggesting that denitrifiers can survive in nitrate-free anaerobic environments by carrying out low-level fermentation; (e) the results of this paper are relevant because of the focus on the identification of nearly all the significant bacterial and archaeal groups of microorganisms with a known phenotype involved in the biological wastewater treatment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Dengue virus infection of human microvascular endothelial cells from different vascular beds promotes both common and specific functional changes

Dengue shock syndrome (DSS), the major life threatening outcome of severe dengue disease, which occurs in some patients in the course of dengue infection, is the consequence of plasma leakage in the microvascular territories. Data from clinical and in vitro studies suggest that an inadequate immunological response is partly responsible for the pathophysiology of DSS, but few is known concerning the consequences of direct infection of endothelial cells by dengue virus per se. In this study, an attempt was made to study the response of two microvascular human cell lines originating, respectively, from liver and dermis to infection by a dengue type 2 virus, by analyzing the virus‐induced modulation of functional markers. It is shown that the two microvascular cell lines exhibit both common and specific behaviors upon infection. In particular, LSEC and HMEC‐1 replicate efficiently the low‐passage virus and respond to infection by over‐producing inflammatory mediators involved in the cross talk with circulating immune cells. However, direct infection modulates differently the cell surface expression of molecules critically involved in the interactions between endothelial and inflammatory cells. ICAM‐1 and HLA‐I are up regulated as a consequence of infection in LSEC whereas direct infection results in downregulation of ICAM‐1 in HMEC‐1. The present results show that infection of human microvascular cells by unadapted dengue virus results in both common and specific activation patterns depending likely on the tissue origin of the cells, thus suggesting that endothelia from different territories may contribute differently to the pathophysiological events in the course of dengue infection. J. Med. Virol. 78:229–242, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficacy of the Customized Employment Supports (CES) Model of Vocational Rehabilitation for Unemployed Methadone Patients: Preliminary Results

This article presents initial efficacy data for an innovative vocational rehabilitation model designed for methadone-maintained patients—the Customized Employment Supports (CES) model. In this model, a CES counselor works intensively with a small caseload of patients in order to overcome the vocational as well as nonvocational barriers that hinder their employment, with the goal of attaining rapid placement in competitive employment. The CES model was implemented at two Manhattan methadone treatment programs as part of a randomized clinical trial comparing the model's employment outcomes with those of standard vocational counseling. The study tested the hypothesis that patients in the experimental group will have better employment outcomes than those in the comparison group. The data were collected from May 2001 through September 2003. The sample consisted of the first 121 patients who had completed their 6-month follow-up interviews. The preliminary results supported the hypothesis for two indices of paid employment, i.e., the CES group was more likely to obtain both competitive employment and informal paid employment. The clinical trial is continuing.
From Tittmuss to Anderson: A Comparative Analysis of the Indian and Swedish Welfare States

Welfare states are important societal institutions for tackling and preventing poverty. The focus of most international welfare state research is on comparisons of OECD countries; often coming with an implicit desire for understanding and learning different solutions to social problems. Titmuss and Esping-Andersen have developed models or regime types that allow classifying welfare states. Also, the welfare state literature of other than these OECD countries refers to these classifications frequently and tries to understand the welfare states by these means. This paper discusses Titmuss and Esping-Andersen’s approaches in the light of a comparison between the Indian and the Swedish welfare state, particularly poverty alleviation through social assistance schemes. This is combined with reflections about how the two countries could learn from each others’ institutions and arrangements. It concludes by stating that while India can certainly learn from the Swedish approach to guarantee a decent standard of living to the whole population, Sweden – given decreasing homogeneity in the society – could perhaps also learn from the Indian way of allowing for diversity. However, the fundamentally different geographical and population size, culture, economic strength etc need to be taken into account when classifying and comparing the two countries, and reflecting about potential policy learning.
Design and Rapid Constructions of Microstructures in Optical Fibers Using CO/sub 2/ Laser-Their Potentials for Biosensor Application

This paper reports on design and rapid constructions of microstructures, such as in-fiber microhole, D-shaped fiber, in-fiber microchannel, side-polished fiber and tapered fiber, in optical fibers using a CO2 laser system that help exposing the optical fiber core to the measurands. Exposing the optical fiber core to the measurands surrounding the fiber is often used to enhance the sensitivity of an optical fiber sensor. The microstructures in the fibers were examined using a SEM and an optical microscope. Testing on an in-fiber microchannel of 100 mum width, 210 mum depth and 10 mm length for fluorescence sensor embedded in a microfluidic card shows the prospect of this method for use as a fluorescence biosensor in a microfluidic card. The microstructures were fabricated using a direct-write continuous wave (CW) CO2 laser system with maximum output power of 40 W. The direct-write CO2 laser machine is a flexible and fast machining tool for design and fabrication of microfluidic cards and microstructures in an optical fiber, and can possibly be a replacement of the time consuming chemical etching method that is usually used for microstructure fabrications in an optical fiber.
Tapping into rubber: China’s opium replacement program and rubber production in Laos

Despite centuries of state-directed eradication efforts, opium cultivation persists in northern Laos and Myanmar. The most recent of these efforts is China’s Opium Replacement Program (ORP). Like other illicit crop substitution programmes, the ORP seeks to provide opium cultivators with licit livelihood alternatives. Unlike other programmes, it does so by supporting Chinese agribusiness investors in the region – predominantly rubber companies – instead of targeting opium producers directly. Rubber is not, however, economically or ecologically speaking, an optimal replacement for opium. Rubber and opium have contrasting production cycles and market characteristics, and are grown at different altitudes by different types of producers (large corporations and smallholders, respectively). Due to this apparent mismatch, critics have dismissed the ORP’s opium eradication aims, viewing it as a pretext for land grabs. I argue instead that rubber makes sense as an opium replacement crop based on Chinese and Lao state views that opium is a symptom of weak state control and underdevelopment in the borderlands and rubber a tried and true modernising crop. I thus offer that the ORP attempts replacement by displacement – not necessarily by physically replacing opium fields with rubber plantations, but rather by drawing land and labour into rubber, away from opium.
Inclusive Pedagogy Literacy among Academic Community at Institute of Teacher Education, Kuala Lumpur

This study aimed to explore Inclusive Pedagogy Literacy among the academic community at the Institute of Teacher Education (Institut Pendidikan Guru). The focus of the study is the application of Inclusive Pedagogy in teaching and learning in the classroom. The samples were chosen among the lecturers at the Institute of Teacher Education through purposive sampling based on their involvement in their major teaching specialization for the subject of special education, language specialization, music studies, physical education and sports science, Islamic education and visual arts education. Qualitative methods involving interview techniques, observation and reflection of teaching have been fully utilized in data collection. Data were analyzed by inductively to get the theme in line with the objectives of the study. The findings showed that the elements such as the ability of students, provision of equal learning opportunities, the active involvement of students, and the diversity of students’ capability are the themes to taking into account by the respondents. Implications of the findings of the study suggest that the inclusive pedagogy literacy among the academic community is in a position to provide added value to students’ knowledge. Awareness of inclusive pedagogy will help in preparing students as a novice teacher to be able to formulate a coherent activity based on clinical experience and effective teaching.
Nonvirologic Algorithms for Predicting HIV Infection Among HIV-exposed Infants Younger Than 12 Weeks of Age

Background: Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy has been shown to reduce mortality among perinatally HIV-infected infants, but availability of virologic testing remains limited in many settings. Methods: We collected cross-sectional data from mother–infant pairs in three primary care clinics in Lusaka, Zambia, to develop predictive models for HIV infection among infants younger than 12 weeks of age. We evaluated algorithm performance for all possible combinations of selected characteristics using an iterative approach. In primary analysis, we identified the model with the highest combined sensitivity and specificity. Results: Between July 2009 and May 2011, 822 eligible HIV-infected mothers and their HIV-exposed infants were enrolled; of these, 44 (5.4%) infants had HIV diagnosed. We evaluated 382,155,260 different characteristic combinations for predicting infant HIV infection. The algorithm with the highest combined sensitivity and specificity required 5 of the following 7 characteristic thresholds: infant CD8 percentage >22; infant CD4 percentage ⩽44; infant weight-for-age Z score ⩽0; infant CD4 ⩽1600 cells/µL; infant CD8 >2200 cells/µL; maternal CD4 ⩽600 cells/µL; and mother not currently using antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment. This combination had a sensitivity of 90.3%, specificity of 78.4%, positive predictive value of 22.4%, negative predictive value of 99.2% and area under the curve of 0.844. Conclusion: Predicting HIV infection in HIV-exposed infants in this age group is difficult using clinical and immunologic characteristics. Expansion of polymerase chain reaction capacity in resource-limited settings remains urgently needed.
Priority-based opportunistic MAC protocol in IEEE 802.11 WLANs

In wireless environments, the inherent time-varying characteristics of the channel impose great challenges on medium access control design. In recent years, multiuser diversity and opportunistic medium access control schemes have been proposed to deal with the channel variation in order to efficiently improve the network throughput. In this paper, we propose a novel MAC protocol called Priority-Based Opportunistic (PBO) Medium Access Control Protocol. It takes advantage of multiuser diversity, rate adaptation and Black-Burst (BB) contention to prioritise different users and resolve the contention for shared medium access in a distributed manner. Particularly, rather than simply measuring the channel condition for a node pair each time, with the help of multicast Request-To-Send (RTS), multiple candidate receivers with qualified channel condition are selected and prioritised. Each qualified candidate receiver then concurrently contend to send out BB, pulse of energy, the duration of which is proportional to its priority. The receiver with the best channel quality among multiple candidate receivers is always successful to send back Clear-To-Send (CTS) control packet and ultimately receives packets from the sender due to its longest BB. Extensive simulation results show that our protocol achieves much better performance than legacy IEEE 802.11 and other auto rate schemes with minimal additional overhead.
CATEGORICAL PERCEPTION OF FACES AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONS: THE AGE FACTOR

ABSTRACT Effects of normal aging on categorical perception (CP) of facial identities and facial emotional expressions were investigated. The stimuli were morphs of three identities and of three expressions. In Experiment 1, 38 healthy participants (22 to 79 years old; three age groups) had to identify morphed identities (three continua) and expressions (three continua) varying with respect to their distance from the original photographs. This experiment allowed the computation of the boundary between categories (expressions and identities). The results showed that the locus of this boundary was not affected by age (except for the continuum disgust-happiness), but that the rate of intrusions and latencies of responses increased with age. In addition, CP was suggested, as latencies increased as a function of the distance between the displayed morph and the original, unmorphed photograph. CP predicts an easier discrimination of two morphs located on both sides of the boundary than discrimination of two morphs located on the same side. This was investigated in Experiment 2 (48 new participants; three age groups). For expressions, the prediction was verified in all groups for both accuracy and correct latency; in addition, an effect of age was observed only for morphs located on both sides of the boundary. For identities, the same pattern of results emerged, with one exception: for accuracy, the predicted advantage of pairs located on both sides of the boundary was not verified in the oldest group. Thus, CP of facial identities seems to vanish with normal aging, whereas CP of facial expressions appears to be more robust.
Policies to enhance social development through the promotion of SME and social entrepreneurship: a study in the Colombian construction industry

Abstract The intent of this research is to propose and analyse a set of policies in the construction industry to enhance social development. First, the paper shows the connections between the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and social entrepreneurship (SE), the reduction of the leakage, and then the generation of social value (SV) for sustainable regional development. For that, the article analyses briefly the literatures on SE and leakage, and focuses on the relevance of SME and social entrepreneurs as promoters of SV creation and development. Second, the paper proposes a framework and proposes a set of 20 policies aimed to reduce leakage, reinforce SMEs and entrepreneurship and also to promote SE behaviour by the diverse economic agents in the construction industry, in order to increase the generation of SV and sustainable development. Then, the paper analyses the acceptability, feasibility and viability of these proposed polices, which can be useful for academics and practitioners. For that, the study uses the Delphi methodology, applied to an expert-group of 23 professionals (representatives of the private and public sector) belonging to the Colombian construction industry. The results emphasize the relevance of the development of local incumbents and the social focus of firms to increase the generation of SV. Oppositely, policies interfering economic freedom and free trade receive the lowest rates in the three criteria considered.
Therapeutic mTOR Inhibition in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: What Is the Appropriate Serum Level?

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited renal disease, and sirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, has been shown to significantly retard cyst expansion in animal models. The optimal therapeutic dose of sirolimus is not yet defined. Here, we report the history of a previously unknown ADPKD deceased donor whose kidneys were engrafted in two different recipients. One of the two received an immunosuppressive regimen based on sirolimus for 5 years while the other did not. After transplantation, both patients developed severe transplant cystic disease. Donor DNA sequence identified a new hypomorphic mutation in PKD1. The rate of cyst growth was identical in the two patients regardless of the treatment. While sirolimus treatment reduced the activation of mTOR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, it failed to prevent mTOR activation in kidney tubular cells, this could account for the inefficiency of treatment on cyst growth. Together, our results suggest that the dose of sirolimus required to inhibit mTOR varies according to the tissue.
Expression screening of factors binding to the osteocalcin bone‐specific promoter element OC Box I: Isolation of a novel osteoblast differentiation‐specific factor

Contributing to bone‐specific expression of the osteocalcin gene is the promoter element OC Box I (−99 to −76), which binds both Hox proteins and another nonhomeodomain factor (designated OCBP for osteocalcin‐box binding protein) (Hoffmann et al. [ 1996 ] J Cell Biochem 61:310–324). OCBP correlates with increased promoter activity and may, therefore, be important to development or maintenance of the osteoblast phenotype. To identify OCBP candidates, we used a multimerized OC Box I sequence to screen a γgt11 cDNA expression library, constructed from the rat osteosarcoma osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cell line, for cDNA clones encoding factors that recognize this element. Mutant OC Box I sequences that do not bind OCBP and/or homeodomain proteins were used to counterscreen the cDNA isolates. Clones showing binding specificity were sequenced and further characterized for patterns of expression in different tissues and cell lines. Among the characterized nonhomeodomain‐related isolates, we identified a nucleolin, a clone encoding rCAP2 that is related to myogenic differentiation and more importantly, a cDNA clone containing a previously uncharacterized gene that has been designated as a cell differentiation‐related factor (DRF). DRF mRNA is highly expressed in ROS 17/2.8 cells and in a developmentally regulated pattern during osteoblast differentiation, being upregulated at the postproliferative maturation transition and coinciding with the induction of osteocalcin gene expression. The 7.7‐kb transcript encoded by clone 44 is abundantly expressed in osteoblasts, but the mRNA was not present at detectable levels in bone and soft tissues by Northern blot analysis. However, related expressed sequence tags were recently reported in cDNA libraries of rat lung and mouse sympathetic ganglion. The identification of DRF represents a novel osteoblast differentiation‐specific marker related to osteocalcin expression. The identification of DRF may further facilitate definition of gene regulatory mechanisms mediating the final stages of bone cell differentiation J. Cell. Biochem. 80:156–168, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combined adaptive-robust and neural network control of RLED robot manipulators using backstepping design

In this paper, a combined adaptive-robust and neural network control using backstepping design is proposed for trajectory tracking of non-redundant RLED robot manipulators. First, using the adaptive-robust algorithm, the current vector is regarded as the control variable for mechanical subsystem and an embedded control input for the desired current vector is designed so that the tracking goal may be achieved. Second, using neural network controller for DC motor dynamics, the voltage commands are designed such that the joint currents track their desired valued. The simplicity of the control law and low computational load are two main advantages of the adaptive-robust method. Also, the proposed control algorithm does not require the mathematical model representing the robot and its actuator dynamics. The robot parameters and neural weights are adapted on-line. Simulation results of application of the proposed scheme on a 5-DOF RLED robot manipulator are presented which show the efficiency and usefulness of the scheme
The health transition: implications for health policy in developing countries.

Our purpose in this chapter is to explore in a more general way the implications of the epidemiologic and health transition for health policy. We begin by reviewing the global health transition and its constituent demographic and epidemiologic transitions. We then turn to discussion of the implications of these transitions for national governments and in closing we explore implications for international aid. The geographical focus is on developing countries. (EXCERPT)
A method for optimizing the design of SPM type magnetic gear based on reluctance network analysis

Magnetic gears, which can transmit torque without mechanical contact, have low vibration and acoustic noise, and are low maintenance in comparison with conventional mechanical gears. Various types of the magnetic gears have been introduced. Among them, a planetary type magnetic gear has attracted interest recently because its transmission torque is higher than the other types. This paper presents a high-speed and accurate optimal design method of the planetary type magnetic gear based on reluctance network analysis (RNA). The RNA has several features including a simple analytical model, high calculation accuracy with high speed, and ease of coupled analysis with rotational motion of rotors. The validity of the proposed method is proved by comparing with a finite element analysis (FEA) and experiment.