Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scanning laser polarimetry of edematous and atrophic optic nerve heads.

OBJECTIVE To determine if scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) measures form birefringence of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). METHODS Consecutive patients with either acute unilateral disc edema or chronic diffuse unilateral disc atrophy underwent SLP using the GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer (Laser Diagnostic Technologies Inc, San Diego, Calif). The former group had peripapillary RNFL edema, presumably with no change in form birefringence elements, while the latter had optic nerve atrophy, presumably with a loss of birefringence elements in the RNFL. A subset of patients with acute unilateral disc edema who subsequently developed disc atrophy had repeated SLP at 6 months. Intereye and intertest comparisons of 6 SLP parameters representative of RNFL thickness were performed using the paired t test. RESULTS In the acute unilateral disc edema group (n = 28), none of the SLP parameters were significantly increased in affected vs fellow eyes. In the chronic unilateral disc atrophy group (n = 30), all SLP parameters were significantly decreased in affected vs fellow eyes (P<.001). Patients with disc edema who had a follow-up SLP demonstrated significant declines of all parameters in the affected eyes (P<.007) but no change in SLP parameters in unaffected eyes. CONCLUSION Scanning laser polarimetry measures form birefringence properties of the RNFL, but not necessarily the RNFL thickness.
Gene flow between insular, coastal and interior populations of brown bears in Alaska

The brown bears of coastal Alaska have been recently regarded as comprising from one to three distinct genetic groups. We sampled brown bears from each of the regions for which hypotheses of genetic uniqueness have been made, including the bears of the Kodiak Archipelago and the bears of Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof (ABC) Islands in southeast Alaska. These samples were analysed with a suite of nuclear microsatellite markers. The ‘big brown bears’ of coastal Alaska were found to be part of the continuous continental distribution of brown bears, and not genetically isolated from the physically smaller ‘grizzly bears’ of the interior. By contrast, Kodiak brown bears appear to have experienced little or no genetic exchange with continental populations in recent generations. The bears of the ABC Islands, which have previously been shown to undergo little or no female‐mediated gene flow with mainland populations, were found not to be genetically isolated from mainland bears. The data from the four insular populations indicate that female and male dispersal can be reduced or eliminated by water barriers of 2–4 km and 7km in width, respectively.
Applying Frailty Models to Analyze The Duration of Unemployment in Turkey

article is an empirical study on the unemployment duration in Turkey. Data set consists of 471368 job seekers who applied for unemployment insurance benefits is analysed by duration analysis. The factors that influences the duration of finding a job are tried to be determined by frailty modelling approach. Sex, age, marital status, education level, vocational course and city of application are found as important factors that affect the unemployment duration in Turkey.
Treasure Explorers -- A Game as a Diagnostic Assessment Tool

Understanding students' strengths and weaknesses can help in the design of teaching materials to successfully bridge identified gaps. Formal exams are useful to gauge the extent of learners' memorised information, but have been critiqued for not reflecting the true extent of learners knowledge. Diagnostic assessment assists teachers in setting task-specific plans and goals, for both individual students, and the learner-group as a whole. In this paper, we describe Treasure Explorers, a Game With a Purpose (GWAP) with a multilayered structure that facilitates the learning process, promotes user retention, and is designed to reward contributing players. A comprehensive evaluation based on game log and TAM model was conducted. The log of over 5,500 records reveals that aspects of engagement and learning had occurred, and qualitative evaluations show the applicability and usability of games as diagnostic assessment tools. Treasure Explorers assists teachers in identifying student difficulties, and has significant potential to help educators plan for lesson content.
Organization and regulation of the D-xylose operons in Escherichia coli K-12: XylR acts as a transcriptional activator

The metabolism of D-xylose in Escherichia coli K-12 is known to be mediated by the xylAB gene. However, the nearby xylFGHR genes were found by genome sequencing and predicted to be responsible for transport and regulation for xylose based on their sequence similarities to other functionally related genes. Here, we investigated transcriptional organization and functions of the xyl genes. An analysis with random transposon insertions revealed that the xyl genes are organized into two major transcriptional units, xylAB and xylFGHR, governed by the promoters PA and PF, respectively. However, there is an additional weak promoter, PR, which is specific for xylR. Sites of transcription initiation were determined by primer extension analysis. When studied with operon fusions to lacZ, the PA and PF promoters were activated by D-xylose and repressed by glucose. In contrast, the PR promoter was not regulated by these sugars. A mutation in xylR completely abolished expression from the PA and PF promoters, causing a defect in both growth and transport. Binding of XylR to the xyl promoter was enhanced by the presence of D-xylose, suggesting that transcription was positively regulated by XylR. In vivo footprinting analysis revealed that XylR binds to at least two DNA regions, IA and IF, each with a direct repeat. It is very likely that XylR interacts with IA and IF as a dimer. The presumed binding sites are located just upstream of the promoter consensus sequences (-35), while IA is additionally flanked by a cyclic AMP receptor protein-binding site on the other side. The proposed structure of xyl promoters is consistent with the regulation of xyl gene expression and with phenotypes of transposon insertions obtained in the promoter regions.
Experimental evidence for agent–patient categories in child language

ABSTRACT Evidence provided by contrastive word order for agent and patient semantic categories in young children's spontaneous speech is confounded. Agents (effectors of the action) tend to be animate; patients (entities acted upon) tend to be inanimate. In an experiment designed to circumvent this confounding and to test young children's linguistic sensitivity to the role an entity plays in the action, nine children (2; 4·0–2; 11·5) described actions involving animate and inanimate entities playing both agent and patient roles. Four linguistic measures were observed. On every measure agents were treated differently from patients. For the most part, these agent–patient differences persisted when animate and inanimate entities were examined separately. These results provide evidence for the child's intention to talk about the role an entity plays, independent of its animateness, and also suggest that the child uses role-defined linguistic categories like AGENT and PATIENT to communicate these relational intentions.
Swallowing Dysfunction and Quality of Life in Adults With Surgically Corrected Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula as Infants: Forty Years of Follow-up

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate and study the full spectrum of swallowing dysfunction and long-term disease-specific outcomes in adults with surgically corrected esophageal atresia/tracheaesophageal fistula (EA/TEF). Background: Long-term outcomes for adults who underwent EA/TEF repair because infants are lacking. Methods: We developed a disease-specific swallowing dysfunction questionnaire (SDQ) to assess swallowing dysfunction and quality of life (QOL) of adult patients with surgically corrected EA/TEF. Patients were surveyed with the newly developed SDQ and with a generic QOL tool (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). Results: Ninety-seven patients underwent EA/TEF repair at our institution from 1950 to 1997. Forty-six (61%) patients completed the survey. Median follow-up was 40 years (range 18–63). Results suggest that some degree of swallowing dysfunction is common (82%), worse with hard consistencies (70%), and is associated with frequently needing sips of liquids to facilitate swallowing (75%). The presence of swallowing dysfunction was, however, often mild and did not seem to affect patients’ food choices, or their day-to-day activities. QOL did not differ from that of the general population, regardless of the presence or absence of swallowing dysfunction. The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (26%), esophageal stricture (39%), or both (15%) does not account for all situations of swallowing dysfunction, nor does it significantly impact QOL. Conclusions: Swallowing dysfunction is common in adults who underwent EA/TEF repair as infants; however, patients reported minimal effect on QOL or day-to-day activities. The SDQ is a valid and reliable tool to measure the full spectrum of swallowing dysfunction in the EA/TEF repair population.
Trading Silver for Gold: Nineteenth-century Asian Exports and the Political Economy of Currency Unions

We examine the evolution of Asian trading volumes between 1870 and 1913, both within Asia and the rest of the world. Far Eastern countries and colonies had used silver currency for centuries. By the beginning of the twentieth century, many of them had adopted gold-exchange standards instead. Colonial powers often decided on this change in policy. We argue that adoption decisions taken by metropoles are less likely to reflect expected gains from joining a currency union, and can hence sidestep many of the endogeneity issues that have plagued the literature on trade and currency unions. We find that while silver was good for trade, joining gold was much better. Leaving silver paid handsomely in terms of total trading volume, even where former silver bloc partners ended up on different currency standards. We then ask what prevented the early adoption of gold in countries, rather than colonies, which could decide currency arrangements independently. Using a case study of Japan, we emphasize the lock-in effects that arise from the political influence of exporters. + We are grateful to Andrew Rose, our discussant at the ADB Workshop on “Quantifying the Costs and Benefits of Regional Economic Integration in Asia”, Hongkong, January 19-20, 2009, for his feedback and advice. Conference participants, and in particular, Pol Antras, Robert Barro, Jong-Wha Lee and Warwick McKibbin, helped us with their comments.
Assessment of bone vascularity in the anterior mandible using laser Doppler flowmetry.

OBJECTIVES In irradiated bone, a method assessing vascularity of intended implant recipient bone would be of clinical significance in preventing early implant loss and in reducing the risk of osteoradionecrosis due to surgical oral implant insertion. At present, assessing bone vascularity clinically, using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), seems to be realistic. The hypotheses of this study were that bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible can be assessed during implant insertion by LDF and that the recorded LDF values are providing standard data for bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-three randomly selected non-irradiated edentulous patients scheduled for treatment with oral implants in the anterior mandible were assigned, 12 men and 11 women. The patients' history of edentulousness and resorption of the residual alveolar ridges were registered. In pilot osteotomy sites of planned implant insertion, the bone vascularity was registered, using LDF and expressed in perfusion units (PU). The statistical distribution and characteristics of the LDF values were explored, separately for men and women. RESULTS A total of 41 pilot osteotomy sites were recorded with a mean LDF value of 25.80 PU. No obvious gender difference was found and LDF values did not show a relationship with patient's age or history of edentulousness. CONCLUSION The hypotheses that bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible can be assessed during implant insertion by LDF and that the recorded LDF values are providing standard data for bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible, were confirmed.
Kinetics of glutathione transferase, glutathione transferase messenger RNA, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate):quinone reductase induction by 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole in mice.

The mechanisms by which 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) protects against chemical carcinogenesis and toxicity include enhancement of the activities of several detoxification enzymes. In previous studies, 14-day administration of BHA to female CD-1 mice at 0.75% of the diet led to large increases in cytosolic glutathione transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) dehydrogenase (quinone) (EC 1.6.99.2) [NAD(P)H:quinone reductase; DT-diaphorase] specific activities in several tissues, and elevated hepatic glutathione transferase messenger RNA. In the present study, one day of dietary BHA significantly increased NAD(P)H:quinone reductase and glutathione transferase activities in the liver, kidney, and proximal small intestine, and NAD(P)H:quinone reductase activity in the forestomach and lung. In the proximal small intestine, glutathione transferase specific activities toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene rose to 2.6 and 8 times those of control, respectively, and NAD(P)H:quinone reductase specific activity doubled, within 1 day on the BHA diet. Six hr after a single p.o. dose of BHA (620 mg/kg), intestinal glutathione transferase specific activities were 30 to 50% above those of control mice. In liver, the kinetics of increase of glutathione transferase messenger RNA were in accord with increased synthesis as the mechanism of elevation of glutathione transferase activity in response to BHA. Although changes in mixed-function oxygenase activities have been reported to occur more rapidly, the kinetics of the response of glutathione transferase and NAD(P)H:quinone reductase specific activities to BHA indicates that nonoxidative detoxification potential is substantially enhanced within 24 hr or less after initiation of BHA administration.
Design Considerations in Actuators for Aerospace Applications

In this paper, a comparative optimal design of actuators for aerospace applications based on induction-machine (IM) and permanent-magnet machine (PMM) technologies is undertaken by means of a combined electromagnetic and thermal evaluation. Initially, 3-D time-stepping finite-element analysis is employed for the determination of the actuators' basic dimensional and operating characteristics. As the actuator thermal constraints constitute a key feature of the respective systems, the proposed configurations are compared on the basis of equal thermal evacuation. Both configurations considered are in a next step optimized regarding the mean torque and torque ripple through the application of a specific optimization procedure employing Taguchi's methodology in conjunction with an extended Rosenbrock's method accounting also for the machine operation cycle. Resulting IM and PMM optimal configurations have been validated through manufactured prototypes, illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed optimization algorithm presenting, however, complementary advantages for aerospace applications.
The impact of board administration on risk and financial stability of Islamic banks: an empirical investigation

The board of directors , risk and financial stability are important variables in the banking literature . Indeed , they are important for shareholders and other stakeholders of the bank . In this article , we have studied a sample of 40 banks ( 20 Islamic banks and 20 conventional banks ) in GCC countries over the period (2006…2012). We found that only the presence of institutional investors on the board of directors influence the financial stability of conventional banks . The Islamic banks are more stable when the debt ratio is low . The bank size has a positive but not significant impact on the financial stability of Islamic banks . This effect is negative on financial stability of conventional banks . Key words : board of directors , Islamic banks , conventional banks , risk , financial stability
Nonlinear Trajectory Control of a High-Speed Linear Axis Driven by Pneumatic Muscle Actuators

This paper presents a flatness-based control scheme for a new linear axis. Its guided carriage is driven by a nonlinear mechanism consisting of a rocker with a pair of pneumatic muscle actuators arranged at both sides. This innovative drive concept allows for an increased workspace as well as higher carriage velocities as compared to a direct actuation. Modelling of the muscle driven positioning system leads to a system of nonlinear differential equations including polynomial approximations of the volume characteristic as well as the force characteristic of pneumatic muscles. Taking advantage of the flatness property of the given system model, a flatness-based cascade control approach involving nonlinear feedforward and feedback control is employed. The internal pressure of each pneumatic muscle is controlled by a fast underlying control loop. Hence, the control design for the outer control loop can be simplified by considering these controlled muscle pressures as ideal control inputs. The flatness-based control design of the outer control loop involves a decoupling of carriage position as well as mean internal pressure of both pneumatic muscles as flat outputs. Steady-state accuracy in view of model uncertainties is achieved by an integral control part. Simulations show an excellent control performance with small control errors
Cerebrospinal fluid nitrate levels in patients with Parkinson's disease

It has been suggested that nitric oxide could be implicated in the neuronal degeneration of substantia nigra compacta in patients with Parkinson's disease. Recently, it has been reported decreased CSF nitrate levels (oxidation product that provides an indirect estimation of nitric oxide) in Parkinson's disease patients, assessed with a colorimetric method. We studied the CSF and plasma levels of nitrate with a kinetic cadmium‐reduction method in 31 Parkinson's disease patients and 38 matched controls. The CSF and plasma nitrate levels were not correlated either in patient or in the control group, and they did not differ significantly between the two study groups. They were not influenced significantly by antiparkinsonian drugs in patients, although there was a trend for CSF nitrate levels to be higher in patients treated with levodopa or with dopamine agonists. CSF and plasma nitrate levels did not correlate with age at onset, duration, scores of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scales and Hoehn & Yahr staging in the patients group. These data suggest that CSF and plasma levels of nitrate are apparently unrelated with the risk for PD.
Using the RITA Threats Ontology to Guide Requirements Elicitation: an Empirical Experiment in the Banking Sector

Eliciting requirements is an important issue of systems development projects. One particular approach to requirements elicitation is to analyse non nominal cases of systems behaviour. Non nominal behaviours can be dealt with under different perspectives such as obstacles, conflicts, or risks. RITA is a requirements elicitation method that makes use of an ontology, which englobes these different perspectives using the concept of threat. The threats ontology can be used to diagnose non nominal system behaviours, and discover new requirements to overcome them. This paper reports an empirical experiment of the RITA threats ontology in the banking sector. The experiment was undertaken with the goal to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the RITA threats ontology to discover system requirements. The paper describes the experiment, reports a few results, and raises a few questions to address in the development of ontology-based requirements engineering methods.
Ge-Rich SiGe Mode-Locker for Erbium-Doped Fiber Lasers

A nonstoichiometric Si<sub>1−</sub><italic><sub>x</sub></italic>Ge<italic><sub>x</sub></italic> with composition ratio dependent saturable absorption prepared by vaporized synthesis and chemical exfoliation is performed to passively mode-lock the Erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL). The Si<sub>1−</sub><italic><sub>x</sub></italic>Ge <italic><sub>x</sub></italic> with varied Ge/Si composition ratio from 3 to 16 exhibits tunable nonlinear modulation depth from 17% to 22%, where the Si<sub>1−</sub><italic><sub>x</sub></italic>Ge<italic> <sub>x</sub></italic> with the highest Ge content performs the largest nonlinear modulation depth. When operating the EDFL in the self-amplitude modulation region, the Si<sub>1−</sub><italic><sub>x</sub></italic>Ge<italic><sub>x </sub></italic> with Ge/Si composition ratios of 3, 9, and 16 self-starts the EDFL pulsation with pulsewidths of 820, 760, and 730 fs. When operating the EDFL in high gain region, the self-phase modulation induced soliton compression dominates the repulsation of passively mode-locked EDFL, which slightly shrinks the EDFL pulsewidth from 346 to 338 fs. All these demonstrations are premier and important to explore the superior nonstoichiometric Si<sub> 1−</sub><italic><sub>x</sub></italic>Ge<italic><sub>x</sub></italic> saturable absorbers for ultrafast fiber lasers.
Experimental characterization of Digitized Heat Transfer in circular microchannels

Digitized Heat Transfer (DHT) is a relatively new and promising form of thermal management that uses discrete droplets to remove excess heat. In this investigation, DHT is studied using infrared thermography to measure the heat transfer to a digitized flow in a microchannel that is subject to a constant heat flux. Results show that heat transfer, characterized by Nusselt number (Nu), exhibits an initial power law decay followed by periodic oscillations whose period is dependent on droplet aspect ratio. The overall magnitude of Nu is found to have a positive correlation with Reynolds number (Re). Using two scaling constants given by equation and equation, the experimental Nu curves for various flows are scaled and approximately collapsed to a single curve. In the future, these simplified Nu curves will be helpful in analyzing and designing potential DHT thermal solutions.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR MOBILITY IN ESTONIA: ANALYSIS USING DURATION MODELS

The current paper analyses unemployment and labour movements between labour market statuses in the period of January 1997 to July 2000 using data from the Estonian Labour Force Surveys. The paper is motivated by the hypothesis that in the beginning of transition in Estonia high labour mobility and low unemployment rate seemed to be related. The analysis reveals that in the end of the 1990s labour mobility has decreased substantially in Estonia compared to 1994. The results from the paper indicate that unemployment rate and labour mobility measure have inverse relationship, both in aggregate and disaggregate level. The most mobile groups in Estonian labour market are Estonians, people living in the area of capital Tallinn and people with higher education. Young people also tend to move a lot from job to job. High mobility in case of young workers is accompanied by high number of unemployment incidents, which is captured by the aggregate unemployment rate time series.