Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neonatal and Adult ICU Ventilators to Provide Ventilation in Neonates, Infants, and Children: A Bench Model Study

BACKGROUND: Using a bench test model, we investigated the hypothesis that neonatal and/or adult ventilators equipped with neonatal/pediatric modes currently do not reliably administer pressure support (PS) in neonatal or pediatric patient groups in either the absence or presence of air leaks. METHODS: PS was evaluated in 4 neonatal and 6 adult ventilators using a bench model to evaluate triggering, pressurization, and cycling in both the absence and presence of leaks. Delivered tidal volumes were also assessed. Three patients were simulated: a preterm infant (resistance 100 cm H2O/L/s, compliance 2 mL/cm H2O, inspiratory time of the patient [TI] 400 ms, inspiratory effort 1 and 2 cm H2O), a full-term infant (resistance 50 cm H2O/L/s, compliance 5 mL/cm H2O, TI 500 ms, inspiratory effort 2 and 4 cm H2O), and a child (resistance 30 cm H2O/L/s, compliance 10 mL/cm H2O, TI 600 ms, inspiratory effort 5 and 10 cm H2O). Two PS levels were tested (10 and 15 cm H2O) with and without leaks and with and without the leak compensation algorithm activated. RESULTS: Without leaks, only 2 neonatal ventilators and one adult ventilator had trigger delays under a given predefined acceptable limit (1/8 TI). Pressurization showed high variability between ventilators. Most ventilators showed TI in excess high enough to seriously impair patient-ventilator synchronization (> 50% of the TI of the subject). In some ventilators, leaks led to autotriggering and impairment of ventilation performance, but the influence of leaks was generally lower in neonatal ventilators. When a noninvasive ventilation algorithm was available, this was partially corrected. In general, tidal volume was calculated too low by the ventilators in the presence of leaks; the noninvasive ventilation algorithm was able to correct this difference in only 2 adult ventilators. CONCLUSIONS: No ventilator performed equally well under all tested conditions for all explored parameters. However, neonatal ventilators tended to perform better in the presence of leaks. These findings emphasize the need to improve algorithms for assisted ventilation modes to better deal with situations of high airway resistance, low pulmonary compliance, and the presence of leaks.
Deletion of integrin linked kinase in endothelial cells results in defective RTK signaling caused by caveolin 1 mislocalization

Integrin linked kinase (ILK) connects the ILK-Pinch-Parvin complex with integrin adhesion sites. Because of the functional relevance of integrin-linked signaling for endothelial cell (EC) biology, we have explored this pathway in Ilk–/– embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiated into ECs and vessel-like structures. We have focused in particular on the mechanistic relevance of ILK-Pinch-Parvin complex-related signaling for EC development and tube formation. Our analysis revealed that the formation of vessel-like structures was strongly reduced in Ilk–/– ES cells and that this phenotype could be rescued by re-expression of ILK in ES cells. ECs were MACS sorted from wild-type (WT) and Ilk–/– ES cells and functional analysis using intracellular calcium imaging as the read-out yielded a complete lack of vascular endothelial growth factor- and epidermal growth factor-dependent responses. The possibility of a caveolin 1-related defect was investigated by transfecting WT and Ilk–/– ECs with a caveolin 1-EGFP fusion protein. Time-lapse microscopy showed that the prominent phenotype is due to altered dynamics of caveolin 1 and to a lack of positioning of caveolin 1 in the vicinity of the plasma membrane and that it is rescued by re-expressing ILK in the Ilk–/– ES cells. We also found that the defect is caused by the perturbed organization of microtubules and cortical actin filaments. Thus, ILK is required as a scaffold to allow actin-microtubule interactions and correct positioning of caveolin 1 close to the plasma membrane. This is crucial for signaling compartmentalization in ECs and explains the key role of ILK for EC development and function.
Criar leitores para uma sociedade democrática

Depois de uma breve descricao das tres condicoes ou fases da aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita num sistema alfabetico, examino as consequencias das desigualdades socioeconomicas e socioculturais quer sobre a entrada no processo de alfabetizacao e no seu decurso, quer sobre o desenvolvimento cognitivo de maneira mais geral. Como o acesso a literacia por todos ou, ao contrario, apenas por uma elite tambem tem consequencias para o modo de governo da sociedade, na terceira e ultima parte deste artigo discuto o que, ao longo dos seculos, ja foi democracia e o que esta deveria realmente ser, assim como a contribuicao que podem ter, para a construcao de uma verdadeira democracia, a universalizacao da literacia e de uma cultura baseada no pensamento livre e critico.
Using mineral compositions to indicate the origin of sediments in a tidal flat of an estuarine marsh

ABSTRACT Given the importance of tidal flats as habitats for a wide range of organisms, a considerable amount of related research has accumulated. However, in Japan, as elsewhere in the world, tidal flats are disappearing because of increasing seaside population, urbanization, and development of coastal industries. We investigated the sediment characteristics of Tsuyabaru Marsh in Japan, using X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses to trace their sources. The estuarine Tsuyabaru Marsh comprises a tidal flat, the peripheral basin, the Ooyodo River, and the Yae River. The mineral components of the tidal flat sediment were quartz, mica minerals, kaolinite, plagioclase, and dolomite. To trace the sediment source and characterize the sediment in the Tsuyabaru Marsh, cluster analysis was applied to the peak XRD intensity ratios. A strong similarity was demonstrated between the sediments collected from the tidal flat and the Ooyodo River. A comparably strong similarity was found between sediments from the bottom of Tsuyabaru Marsh and the upstream Yae River section. Our analysis helps understand the sources and distribution of sediments in estuarine marshes. Graphical abstract
Finnish reform of the funding and provision of special education: the views of principals and municipal education administrators

This study examines the current state of special education provision and resources in Finland after the extensive reform of the government transfer system and Basic Education Act implemented in 2010–2011. Data were collected from a survey of compulsory school principals and from interviews with the highest-ranking officials in municipal education administration. The results show that participants viewed the Basic Education Act as having a more significant impact on the provision of special education than the reform of the government transfer system. Partly due to the reforms, local authorities have targeted the resources of special education differently and used resources more effectively. Continued efforts are needed to ensure the provision of resources for part-time special education and the use of other forms of early intervention in general education classrooms.
Parallel Sparse Matrix-Matrix Multiplication and Indexing: Implementation and Experiments

Generalized sparse matrix-matrix multiplication (or SpGEMM) is a key primitive for many high performance graph algorithms as well as for some linear solvers, such as algebraic multigrid. Here we show that SpGEMM also yields efficient algorithms for general sparse-matrix indexing in distributed memory, provided that the underlying SpGEMM implementation is sufficiently flexible and scalable. We demonstrate that our parallel SpGEMM methods, which use two-dimensional block data distributions with serial hypersparse kernels, are indeed highly flexible, scalable, and memory-efficient in the general case. This algorithm is the first to yield increasing speedup on an unbounded number of processors; our experiments show scaling up to thousands of processors in a variety of test scenarios.
Adaptive Emotion Based Decision Model for a Social Robot

This thesis introduces a computational model of emotions and decisions for a robot, which interacts meaningfully in a social context. The decision making framework is based on multi-attribute utility theory, but it contains a dynamic and adaptive emotional model which basically acts as a preference and perception manipulator. The emotional model is based on event appraisal with discrete emotion categories. Events are assessed using dimensions of utility and probability as well as expectations. The model uses the concepts of core affect and attributed affect to create a multilevel emotion consisting of moods and emotional events. Personality traits are used to create different emotional dynamics by modifying relevant parameters. Attitudes and relationships, understood through attributed affect and classical conditioning, make the robot emotions more believable. The robot learns from user actions and makes predictions about them and environment changes according to prob-abilistic models. Subjective well being and human need hierarchy are used as the basis for the preferences which the visceral state affects. The model is inspired by the computational models Cathexis, FLAME, EMA, TAME and Robocep-tionist, and is an expanded version of the model used in AISoy1 robot. The framework combines extensive psychological research and requires validation .
Some Relations Between Predicate Calculus and Semantic Net Representations of Discourse

Networks can be used to represent syntactic trees of the semantic relations that hold between words in sentences. They can be alternately symbolized as association lists or conjoined sets of triples. A semantic net represents a sentence as a conjoined set of binary predicates. An algorithm is presented that converts a semantic network into predicate calculus formalism. The simpler syntax of semantic network representations in contrast of ordinary predicate logic conventions is taken as an argument for their use in computational applications. Descriptive Terms: Semantic networks, Predicate logic, Natural language, Computational linguistics, Association lists.
Breast cancer and problems with medical interactions: Relationships with traumatic stress, emotional self‐efficacy, and social support

This investigation examined relationships between breast cancer patients' psychosocial characteristics (impact of the illness, traumatic stress symptoms, emotional self‐efficacy, and social support) and problems they perceived in their medical interactions and their satisfaction with their physicians. Participants were 352 women enrolled in a multicenter trial of the effects of group therapy for women with recently diagnosed primary breast cancer. The findings reported here are from a cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data gathered prior to randomization. Problems interacting with physicians and nurses were associated with greater levels of cancer‐related traumatic stress (p<0.01), less emotional self‐efficacy for cancer (p<0.05), less satisfaction with informational support from family, friends, and spouse, and a tendency to perceive those sources of support as more aversive (p<0.05). Women who were less satisfied with emotional support from their family, friends and spouse were less likely to feel satisfied with their physicians (p<0.05). These patient characteristics identify women with primary breast cancer who are likely to experience difficulty in their interactions with nurses and physicians and to be less satisfied with their physicians. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does Religious Education as an examination subject work to promote community cohesion? An empirical enquiry among 14- to 15-year-old adolescents in England and Wales

Abstract This study begins by examining the way in which, in both England and Wales, Religious Education has become implicated in political discussion regarding the role of education in promoting community cohesion. The relationship between taking Religious Education as an examination subject and attitude towards religious diversity (as an affective indicator of community cohesion) is then explored among 3052 14- to 15-year-old students. After controlling for contextual factors (school type and geographical location), personal factors (sex and age), psychological factors (psychoticism, neuroticism and extraversion) and religious factors (Christian affiliation, worship attendance, personal prayer and belief in God), a small but significant positive association was found between taking Religious Education as an examination subject and attitude towards religious diversity. This finding may be interpreted as supporting the view that Religious Education works to promote community cohesion, although the wider debate that the community cohesion agenda has generated among religious educators needs further exploration.
Hand distinction for multi-touch tabletop interaction

Recent multi-touch multi-user tabletop systems offer rich touch contact properties to applications. Not only they provide touch positions, but also finger orientations. Applications can use these properties separated for each finger or derive information by combining the given touch contact data. In this paper, we present an approach to map fingers to their associated joined hand contributing to potential enhancements for gesture recognition and user interaction. For instance, a gesture can be composed of multiple fingers of one hand or different hands. Therefore, we present a simple heuristic for mapping fingers to hands that makes use of constraints applied to the touch position combined with the finger orientation. We tested our approach with collected diverse touch contact data and analyze the results.
cycles on lexical acquisition and retention The effect of multiple-choice L 1 glosses and input-output

can be found at: Language Teaching Research Additional services and information for http://ltr.sagepub. com/cgi/alerts Email Alerts: http://ltr.sagepub. com/subscriptions Subscriptions: http://www.sagepub. com/journalsReprints.nav Reprints: http://www.sagepub. com/journalsPermissions.nav Permissions: http://ltr.sagepub. com/cgi/content/refs/6/3/183 SAGE Journals Online and HighWire Press platforms): (this article cites 27 articles hosted on the Citations
The Potential of an in Vitro Digestion Method for Predicting Glycemic Response of Foods and Meals

Increased interest in glycemic response derives from its linkage with chronic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Our objective was to develop an in vitro method that predicts glycemic response. We proposed a simulated gastrointestinal digestion protocol that uses the concentration of dialyzable glucose (glucose in the soluble low molecular weight fraction of digests) as an index for the prediction of glycemic response. For protocol evaluation, dialyzable glucose from 30 foods or meals digested in vitro were compared with published values for their glycemic index (GI) (nine foods), glycemic load (GL) (16 foods) and glycemic response (14 meals). The correlations were significant when comparing dialyzable glucose with GL (Spearman’s rho = 0.953, p < 0.001), GI (Spearman’s rho = 0.800, p = 0.010) and glycemic response (Spearman’s rho = 0.736, p = 0.003). These results demonstrate that despite limitations associated with in vitro approaches, the proposed protocol may be a useful tool for predicting glycemic response of foods or meals.
Factors Determining the Biodiversity of Halophilic Microorganisms on Historic Masonry Buildings

The aim of the present study was to obtain insights into the relationship between the chemical (salt content and pH) and physico-mechanical (humidity and compressive strength) properties of mineral-based materials from historic buildings with salt efflorescence and the growth and biodiversity of halophilic microorganisms. Samples were mainly characterized by pH 6.5–8.5 and a moisture content of between 0.12 and 3.3%. Significant variations were also found in the salt content (sulfates, chlorides, and nitrates) of the materials. An SEM/EDS analysis of material surfaces revealed the presence of halite, calcite, gypsum, sodium sulfate, and potassium-sodium sulfate. Culture-dependent and culture-independent (clone library construction) approaches were both applied to detect halophilic microorganisms. Results derived from culturable methods and the materials analysis revealed a correlation between the total halophile count and pH value as well as sulfate content. A correlation was not observed between the concentration of chlorides or nitrates and the number of halophilic microorganisms. The materials studied were inhabited by the culturable halophilic bacteria Halobacillus sp. , Virgibacillus sp. , and Marinococcus sp. as well as the yeast Sterigmatomyces sp. , which was isolated for the first time from mineral materials. Culture-independent techniques revealed the following bacterial species: Salinibacterium, Salinisphaera, Rubrobacter, Rubricoccus, Halomonas, Halorhodospira, Solirubrobacter, Salinicoccus, and Salinibacter. Biodiversity was the highest in materials with high or moderate salinity.
Winter segregation of migrant European robins Erithacus rubecula in relation to sex, age and size

Birds often show some form of social segregation during winter, both at large geographical scales (a consequence of differential migration) and at the regional or local level, when comparing different habitats or micro-habitats. However, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying such patterns is still poor. These issues have been rarely investigated in migratory Old-World passerines, particularly with respect to differences between the sexes. In this study, we show that female European robins Erithacus rubecula (sexed by molecular techniques) greatly outnumber males in southern Iberia, which confirms that this species is a differential migrant with a strong latitudinal segregation of the sexes. Furthermore, sex, age and body size influence the habitat distribution of robins in winter. Subordinate birds (females, juveniles and small individuals) were generally more common in habitats with a greater shrub development, and comparatively scarce in woodlands with relatively little undergrowth. Birds wintering in woodlands were in better condition (assessed by breast-muscle scoring) than birds wintering in shrubland. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that proposes that social dominance, mediated by differences in size and experience, is important in determining the habitat segregation of sex and age classes. The alternative hypothesis (habitat specialization), although not specifically supported by our findings, cannot be ruled out on the basis of the available evidence.
Variations in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly Culture Medium Modulate Infectivity and Pathogenicity of Borrelia burgdorferi Clinical Isolates

ABSTRACT The effects of variations in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) medium on the infectivity and pathogenicity of Borrelia burgdorferi clinical isolates were assessed by retrospective and prospective studies using a murine model of Lyme borreliosis. Thirty of 35 (86%) mice infected with any of six virulent B. burgdorferi clinical isolates grown in a BSK-H medium developed clinically apparent arthritis. By contrast, arthritis was observed in only 25 of 60 (42%) mice inoculated with two of these B. burgdorferi strains grown in a different lot of BSK-H medium (P < 0.001). In a prospective study, mice inoculated with a B. burgdorferi clinical isolate grown in a BSK medium prepared in-house produced significantly greater disease than those injected with the same isolate cultured in BSK-H medium (P < 0.05). The attenuated pathogenicity is not due to the loss of plasmids during in vitro cultivation. The data suggest that variations in BSK medium have a significant impact on the infectivity and pathogenicity of B. burgdorferi clinical isolates.
A two-state kinetic model for the unfolding of single molecules by mechanical force

We investigate the work dissipated during the irreversible unfolding of single molecules by mechanical force, using the simplest model necessary to represent experimental data. The model consists of two levels (folded and unfolded states) separated by an intermediate barrier. We compute the probability distribution for the dissipated work and give analytical expressions for the average and variance of the distribution. To first order, the amount of dissipated work is directly proportional to the rate of application of force (the loading rate) and to the relaxation time of the molecule. The model yields estimates for parameters that characterize the unfolding kinetics under force in agreement with those obtained in recent experimental results. We obtain a general equation for the minimum number of repeated experiments needed to obtain an equilibrium free energy, to within kBT, from nonequilibrium experiments by using the Jarzynski formula. The number of irreversible experiments grows exponentially with the ratio of the average dissipated work, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} \begin{equation*}\overline{{\mathit{W}}_{dis}}\end{equation*}\end{document} to kBT.
Do More with Less:

At Azure we always seek to emulate the principles of how nature is created to operate. The principle of energy conservation is fundamental in how everything works, from galaxies to atoms. Everything in nature does the maximum amount possible with the least amount of energy-it Does More With Less! In business, we do this not as penny pinching, but as making every penny make the biggest impact possible. Do More With Less means efficiency. With time, we view every moment as an opportunity to excel. We set aside a third of our life to serve others and be a blessing to someone else at work, do we wish that third of our life to hurry by? Or, do we value that time as a huge opportunity to Do More With Less? Relationships are a perfect opportunity to Do More With Less. When we take every moment and every word to strengthen our relationships and develop valuable new ones, we are using our energy in the most efficient way possible. We all know the destructive, energy-, time-and even life-wasting consequences there are for not being efficient with our relationships. Our processes are designed to Do More With Less. We think of ways to handle a product the least amount of times from the moment it gets to the Warehouse to the time the customer receives it. We consider how the Team can use the least amount of footsteps in picking an item; how the tractor can go over a field the least amount of times; how our software can be designed to take the least amount of clicks to place, take or pick an order; and even how our website can be designed to Do More With Less skill or time needed from the customer. The amazing part about Doing More With Less is that it's not troublesome to be more efficient, but it is exciting! It makes life easier and more enjoyable. That is because Doing More With Less is not only a Core Value of Azure, but one that is built into the building blocks of the universe. So if we live by it, all aspects of our life will thrive!