Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Post-Stroke Cognition in Stroke Rehabilitation Patients Predicts Functional Outcome at 13 Months

Objective: To identify prognostic factors associated with functional outcome at 13 months in a sample of stroke rehabilitation patients. Specifically, we hypothesized that cognitive functioning early after stroke would predict long-term functional outcome independently of other factors. Methods: 163 stroke rehabilitation patients underwent a structured neuropsychological examination 2–3 weeks after hospital admittance, and their functional status was subsequently evaluated 13 months later with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) as outcome measure. Three predictive models were built using linear regression analyses: a biological model (sociodemographics, apolipoprotein E genotype, prestroke vascular factors, lesion characteristics and neurological stroke-related impairment); a functional model (pre- and early post-stroke cognitive functioning, personal and instrumental activities of daily living, ADL, and depressive symptoms), and a combined model (including significant variables, with p value <0.05, from the biological and functional models). Results: A combined model of 4 variables best predicted long-term functional outcome with explained variance of 49%: neurological impairment (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; β = 0.402, p < 0.001), age (β = 0.233, p = 0.001), post-stroke cognitive functioning (Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Status, RBANS; β = –0.248, p = 0.001) and prestroke personal ADL (Barthel Index; β = –0.217, p = 0.002). Further linear regression analyses of which RBANS indexes and subtests best predicted long-term functional outcome showed that Coding (β = –0.484, p < 0.001) and Figure Copy (β = –0.233, p = 0.002) raw scores at baseline explained 42% of the variance in mRS scores at follow-up. Conclusions: Early post-stroke cognitive functioning as measured by the RBANS is a significant and independent predictor of long-term functional post-stroke outcome.
From Conservation to Preservation

Few disputes in the annals of US environmentalism enjoy the pedigree of the conservation-preservation debate. Yet, although many scholars have written extensively on the meaning and history of conservation and preservation in American environmental thought and practice, the resonance of these concepts outside the academic literature has not been sufficiently examined. Given the significance of the ideals of conservation and preservation in the justification of environmental policy and management, however, we believe that a more detailed analysis of the real-world use and understanding of these ideas is needed. In this paper, we describe the results of a qualitative, semantic study of the concepts of conservation and preservation undertaken in the context of the Chattahoochee National Forest (CNF), located in northern Georgia (USA). Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with scientists and north Georgia residents either interested or involved in the future management of the forest. Respondents were asked to define conservation and preservation in their own words and to indicate which approach they felt was more appropriate for the management of the CNF. Qualitative content analysis was used to elicit a set of recurring themes for each foundational concept. Taken together, these themes help to flesh out the meaning of conservation and preservation for citizens and scientists today, and illustrate the evolving nature of two of the more significant and venerable ideas animating US environmental policy and management.
Critical Role for Very-Long Chain Sphingolipids in Invariant Natural Killer T Cell Development and Homeostasis

The role of sphingolipids (SLs) in the immune system has come under increasing scrutiny recently due to the emerging contributions that these important membrane components play in regulating a variety of immunological processes. The acyl chain length of SLs appears particularly critical in determining SL function. Here, we show a role for very-long acyl chain SLs (VLC-SLs) in invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell maturation in the thymus and homeostasis in the liver. Ceramide synthase 2-null mice, which lack VLC-SLs, were susceptible to a hepatotropic strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which is due to a reduction in the number of iNKT cells. Bone marrow chimera experiments indicated that hematopoietic-derived VLC-SLs are essential for maturation of iNKT cells in the thymus, whereas parenchymal-derived VLC-SLs are crucial for iNKT cell survival and maintenance in the liver. Our findings suggest a critical role for VLC-SL in iNKT cell physiology.
Synthesis, Characterization and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Novel Triazolodiazepine Derivatives

A number of new triazolodiazepine derivatives starting from piperidin-4-ones via diazepam-5-ones were synthesiszed, with a view to test the novel compounds for biological activities. The structure of the synthesized compounds has been established by FT-IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, Mass and Elemental Analysis. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity by Carrageenan Induced Paw
Multiprocessor task scheduling to minimize the maximum tardiness and the total completion time

We consider a scheduling problem with two parallel processors, where one task may need the processing of more than one processor simultaneously. Alternatives are available to allocate processors to process a task. Under a given alternative, a task is assigned to some specific processor(s), and requires correspondingly a specific processing time. Task preemption is allowed. The problem is to minimize the maximum tardiness of task completion times from their due dates, through determining the following: 1) the optimal assignment of each task to processor(s) and 2) the optimal schedule for each processor to process the tasks assigned to it. We present a two-stage approach, which can generate an optimal solution in pseudopolynomial time. We also apply/extend the two-stage approach to other problems where the number of processors required by each task is prespecified, preemption is prohibited, and the total completion time is to be minimized.
Governance, bureaucratic rents, and well-being differentials across US states

We analyse the influence of institutional restrictions on bureaucratic rents. As a measure for these rents, we propose subjective well-being differentials between workers in the public administration and workers in other industries. Based on data for the US states, we estimate the extent to which institutional efforts to strengthen bureaucratic accountability affect differences in well-being. We find that well-being differences are smaller in states with high transparency, elected auditors, and legal deficit carryover restrictions. These findings are consistent with limited rent extraction under these institutional conditions. No or weak effects are found for performance audits and regulatory review.
Effects of pentobarbital and ketamine-xylazine anaesthesia on somatosensory, brainstem auditory and peripheral sensorymotor responses in the rat

Somatosensory, brainstem auditory evoked and peripheral sensory-motor responses were recorded in rats anaesthetized with either pentobarbital or a ketamine-xylazine combination. This was carried out in order to assess which of these agents degraded responses to a lesser extent and thus would be more suitable for monitoring experimental effects. Neither of the anaesthetic agents affected peripheral sensory or motor conduction, nor were there any interpeak latency changes of the early components of the brainstem auditory response. However, pentobarbital anaesthesia resulted in an increase in latency of the initial positive component of the somatosensory cortical evoked potential and attenuation of the following negative component. During the recovery stages of ketamine-xylazine anaesthesia the longer latency evoked potential components were observed to emerge.
Incremental Rate Control for H.264 Scalable Video Coding

The emerging H.264 Scalable Video Coding (H.264/SVC) requires the rate control algorithm to regulate the output bit rate of all the coarse-grain-scalability, temporal, spatial and combined enhancement layers. In this research, we propose an incremental rate control algorithm for H.264/SVC. First, a Rate-Complexity-Quantization (R-C-Q) model is extended in scalable video coding based on our previous work on H.264/AVC. Second, a complexity measure for Intra-frames is used to precisely determine QPs (Quantization Parameters) for Intra-frames. Finally, we adopt an incremental approach to compute QPs of inter-frames and a Proportional + Integral + Derivative (PID) buffer controller to provide robust buffer control for each layer. Our simulation results demonstrate that, our algorithm outperforms JVT-W043 rate control algorithm by providing more accurate output bit rate for each layer, maintaining stable buffer fullness, reducing frame skipping and quality fluctuation, finally, improving the overall coding quality.
Review of Computer-Aided Sinus Surgery

In typical sinus surgery, surgeons use one hand to hold an endoscope and another hand to operate surgical tools. Both are the straight type. Thus, as seen in Fig. 1, there are many blind regions in the sinus area to which any currently existing surgical tools cannot reach and any endoscope cannot visualize. Thus large invasive surgery is inevitable to treat target legions in the blind regions. Current trend in computer-aided surgery is minimally invasive surgery. Using this concept, many surgical robotic systems have been successfully employed in operation room. There are three issues to provide true minimally invasive surgery. i. flexible mechanism that enables surgical endoscope or devices to approach the target legion ii. navigation software with advanced functions To date, research activities in the area of flexible mechanisms have been very active for last 10 years. Burgner-Kahrs et al [1] surveyed most research works related to flexible mechanisms. Among them, Choi et al [2] was the first one who suggested a flexible endoscope. They employed a spring as a backbone of the flexible endoscope. At the distal end of the mechanism, a camera of 3 mm diameter with resolution of 400x400 was installed. This flexible endoscope was able to look inside the maxillary sinus by turning 180 degrees. Its radius of curvature of diameter was designed as 10 mm to fit into the anatomy of the typical maxillary sinus of Korean people. Simaan et al [3] investigated an active compliance control algorithm for sinus surgery. Rather than using any navigation algorithm, their designed flexible mechanism measured the contact force during insertion and was able to comply to the sinus wall not to damage the sinus area. Yoon et al [4] developed a dual robotic system that consists of one flexible endoscope and one flexible Sinus is a cavity within a bone. Most are commonly found in the bones of the face. Specially, paranasal sinuses are air cavities in the cranial bones, especially those near the nose. They include the frontal sinuses, the ethmoid sinuses, the sphenoid sinuses and the maxillary sinuses. There are many types of sinus disease. They are classified as acute (quick onset) and chronic (over a long period of time). Besides, there are several other types of sinus diseases due to fungus and polyps. Sinus tumors also happen although it is relatively uncommon. Navigation software for general sinus surgery has been developed and are being used in the operation room. However, there are still many blind regions in the sinus area by using conventional straight type endoscope and devices. To cope with such a problem, flexible endoscope and devices are being developed along with advanced navigation algorithms. In this review, many research activities associated with computer-aided sinus surgery are discussed.
Optimization of Procedures for Counting Viruses by Flow Cytometry

ABSTRACT The development of sensitive nucleic acid stains, in combination with flow cytometric techniques, has allowed the identification and enumeration of viruses in aquatic systems. However, the methods used in flow cytometric analyses of viruses have not been consistent to date. A detailed evaluation of a broad range of sample preparations to optimize counts and to promote the consistency of methods used is presented here. The types and concentrations of dyes, fixatives, dilution media, and additives, as well as temperature and length of incubation, dilution factor, and storage conditions were tested. A variety of different viruses, including representatives of phytoplankton viruses, cyanobacteriophages, coliphages, marine bacteriophages, and natural mixed marine virus communities were examined. The conditions that produced optimal counting results were fixation with glutaraldehyde (0.5% final concentration, 15 to 30 min), freezing in liquid nitrogen, and storage at −80°C. Upon thawing, samples should be diluted in Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 8), stained with SYBR Green I (a 5 × 10−5 dilution of commercial stock), incubated for 10 min in the dark at 80°C, and cooled for 5 min prior to analysis. The results from examinations of storage conditions clearly demonstrated the importance of low storage temperatures (at least −80°C) to prevent strong decreases (occasionally 50 to 80% of the total) in measured total virus abundance with time.
Bidirectional Current Sensorless Control for the Full-Bridge AC/DC Converter With Considering Both Inductor Resistance and Conduction Voltages

The full-bridge converter is often connected between the ac grid and the dc bus. In the conventional multiloop control, the inner current control loop shapes the ac-side current waveform, and the outer voltage control loop regulates the dc-bus voltage. In this paper, the single-loop bidirectional current sensorless control (BCSC) for the full-bridge ac/dc converter with considering both the inductor resistance and conduction voltage is first proposed. The average-value behavior of the full-bridge ac/dc converter is analyzed and it is simplified to an equivalent single-switch model. Based on this developed equivalent model, BCSC is designed and implemented in the FPGA-based system. There is only voltage control loop in the proposed BCSC (i.e., no current control loop), but BCSC is able to regulate the dc-bus voltage and shape the ac-side current. The provided results in both the rectifier operation and the inverter operation demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed BCSC.
Prison officers’ views about hepatitis C testing and treatment: a qualitative enquiry

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore the views of prison officers in an English category B male prison about people in prison being tested and treated for hepatitis C. BACKGROUND Hepatitis C testing and treatment in English prisons remain low with the reasons being poorly understood. Prison officers are in continuous contact with prisoners so might observe factors that may influence people in prisons' choice in whether to accept hepatitis C testing and treatment. DESIGN A qualitative design within an interpretative framework was employed. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 prison officers at an English male category B prison. The interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed at the prison. RESULTS Four themes emerged Safeguarding, Stigma, Confidentiality and Education. Hepatitis C testing and treatment were supported in principle but if a person in prison poses a threat to the overall security of a prison, any health issues that are not immediately life threatening will be overridden, irrespective of the financial or health consequences. The prison officers respected people in prisons' confidentiality regarding health matters, but this could be compromised during violent incidents. All of the prison officers displayed limited knowledge about hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS This qualitative enquiry illustrates that prison security transcends health. This suggests that health providers may need to offer greater flexibility and collaboration across the network of National Health Service hospitals to maintain continuity in treatment if a prisoner is moved to a different establishment or liberated. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study introduces the notion that prison security staff may have a potential role in promoting or discouraging hepatitis C testing and treatment by the ways in which their knowledge impacts on their interactions with people in prison. Engaging this staff group in educational opportunities should be a component of commissioned hepatitis service delivery in prisons.
Reversal by GroES of the GroEL Preference from Hydrophobic Amino Acids toward Hydrophilic Amino Acids (*)

The chaperones GroEL/hsp60 are present in all prokaryotes and in mitochondria and chloroplasts of eukaryotic cells. They are involved in protein folding, protein targeting to membranes, protein renaturation, and control of protein-protein interactions. They interact with many polypeptides in an ATP-dependent manner and possess a peptide-dependent ATPase activity. GroEL/hsp60 cooperates with GroES/hsp10, and the productive folding of proteins by GroEL generally requires GroES, which appears to regulate the binding and release of substrate proteins by GroEL. In a recent study, we have shown that GroEL interacts preferentially with the side chains of hydrophobic amino acids (Ile, Phe, Val, Leu, and Trp) and more weakly with several polar or charged amino acids, including the strongest α-helix and β-sheet formers (Glu, Gln, His, Thr, and Tyr). In this study, we show that GroES reduces the specificity of GroEL for hydrophobic amino acids and increases its specificity for hydrophilic ones. This shift by GroES of the GroEL specificity from hydrophobic amino acids toward hydrophilic ones might be of importance for its function in protein folding.
Catalase Activity Assays

Catalase (hydrogen peroxide/hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase) is an important cellular antioxidant enzyme that defends against oxidative stress. It is found in the peroxisomes of most aerobic cells. It serves to protect the cell from toxic effects of high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by catalyzing its decomposition into molecular oxygen and water, without the production of free radicals. It is important to measure catalase levels because oxidative stress is inherent in pathological conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cataracts, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disease, aging, and nutritional deficiencies. This unit provides methods for catalase activity measurements.
The Hag Protein of Moraxella catarrhalis Strain O35E Is Associated with Adherence to Human Lung and Middle Ear Cells

ABSTRACT Previous studies have demonstrated that the Moraxella catarrhalis surface antigen UspA1 is an adhesin for Chang human conjunctival cells. The present report demonstrates that lack of UspA1 expression does not affect the adherence of strain O35E to A549 human lung cells or primary cultures of human middle ear epithelial (HMEE) cells. These results imply that another molecule mediates the adherence of M. catarrhalis to these two cell lines. To identify this adhesin, strain O35E was mutagenized with a transposon and 1,000 mutants were screened in a microcolony formation assay using A549 cells. Nine independent isolates exhibited an 8- to 19-fold reduction in adherence and contained a transposon in the same locus. Nucleotide sequence data and PCR analysis indicated that the transposons were inserted in different locations in the gene encoding the surface protein Hag. Quantitative assays using one representative transposon mutant, O35E.TN2, showed considerably decreased binding to A549 as well as HMEE cells. However, this mutant adhered at wild-type levels to Chang conjunctival cells. These findings suggest that the M. catarrhalis Hag protein is an adhesin for cell lines derived from human lung and middle ear tissues.
Power-Controlled Hybrid Multicast Routing Protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

There has been an increasing demand for applications to support multicast communication in the mobile ad hoc networks. One of the primary concerns in the multicast communication is the feasible design of the multicast ad hoc routing protocols. Conventionally, the design of the multicast routing protocols can be categorized into the tree-based and the mesh-based schemes. These two types of protocols have their own strength and weakness under different networking scenarios. In this paper, a power-controlled hybrid multicast routing (PCHMR) protocol is proposed, which consists of both the tree-based and the mesh-based structures. The route determination scheme of the PCHMR algorithm not only relies on the hop counts but also on the received power strength of the neighborhood nodes. Moreover, the route determination thresholds are adaptive to the mean and the variations of the received power. The proposed PCHMR algorithm is suitable for the dynamically changing network topologies, especially for the group mobility scenario. Different signal propagation models are utilized in the simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of the PCHMR protocol
INTEGRATING WORKFLOW-BASED MOBILE AGENTS WITH CLOUD BUSINESSPROCESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

While researching integration aspects of cloud Business Process Management Systems (BPMS) with on-premises applications, authors have identified various scenarios that cannot be effectively addressed using existing integration solutions and patterns. Mobile Agents (MAs) were proposed as the technology addressing these integration challenges [1]. During the research, existing MA platforms were analyzed what led to conclusion that none of them is fully addressing specific requirements of end-users in BPM scenarios. As a result, a new approach for designing and executing mobile agents was proposed. This approach is based on workflows and enables end-users having no programming skills to design MAs what is critical in BPM scenarios [2]. In addition existing researches cover different scenarios of how intelligent agents can be used in BPM space, however these do not address specific aspects of MA integration with cloud BPMS, what is critical for proposed solution. During analysis of this subject, authors have identified required integration components, and are proposing an algorithm that allows to determine how these components should be implemented based on technical specification of cloud BPMS. AgentWF prototype provides a sample implementation of all components, and demonstrates how MA system should be integrated with cloud BPMS using proposed approach. Proposed approach is extendable and may be reused for integrating MAs with cloud systems in other domains as well.
Reading William Bittle and Charles Brant: On Ethnographic Representations of “Contemporary” Plains Apache

Abstract This article analyzes the writings of William Bittle and Charles Brant concerning “contemporary” Plains Apaches in the 1960s. Specifically, it examines how Bittle (1962) argues for agency among the Plains Apache through his discussion of the Manatidie dance and how Brant (1969) denies agency to the Plains Apache through his introduction to Jim Whitewolf’s life-story. For Brant (1964), the Plains Apache were “disintegrating. ” For Bittle, the Plains Apache were creatively responding to outside forces. Ultimately, the lens by which Brant and Bittle approached Plains Apaches was due to their length of research and to their continued or lack of continued contact with Plains Apaches. Their intellectual heritages may have predisposed them to adopt different perspectives concerning Plains Apache agency and creativity.