Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energetics of ATP Dissociation from the Mitochondrial ATPase during Oxidative Phosphorylation (*)

The dissociation constant (K) for ATP bound in the high affinity catalytic site of membrane-bound beef heart mitochondrial ATPase (F1) was calculated from the ratio of the rate constants for the reverse dissociation step (k) and the forward binding step (k). kfor ATP bound to submitochondrial particles or to submitochondrial particles washed with KCl so as to activate ATPase activity was accelerated by about five orders of magnitude during respiratory chain-linked oxidations of NADH. In the presence of NADH and 0.1 m M ADP, kincreased more than six orders of magnitude. These energy-dependent dissociations of ATP were sensitive to the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethyloxyphenylhydrazone. Only small changes in kwere observed in the presence of NADH or NADH and ADP. Kat 23°C in the absence of NADH and ADP was 10 M, in the presence of NADH, 3 μ M, and in the presence of NADH and 0.1 m M ADP, 60 μ M. Thus, the dissociation of ATP during the transition from non-energized to energized states was, under these conditions, accompanied by observed free energy changes of 8 and 9.7 kcal/mol, respectively.
Quality of life instruments for children and adolescents with neurodisabilities: how to choose the appropriate instrument

Aim There are many misconceptions about what constitutes ‘quality of life’ (QoL). It is often difficult for researchers and clinicians to determine which instruments will be most appropriate to their purpose. The aim of the current paper is to describe QoL instruments for children and adolescents with neurodisabilities against criteria that we think are important when choosing or developing a QoL instrument.
Regulation of oxidative stress in response to acute aerobic and resistance exercise in HIV-infected subjects: a case–control study

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects have increased levels of oxidative stress which could impair immunological function and therefore contribute to the progression of AIDS. These characteristics are usually evaluated at rest and responses to exercise have yet to be evaluated. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of a bout of aerobic exercise followed by resistance exercises on antioxidant system in HIV-infected and non-HIV subjects. There were included 14 cases (HIV-positive) and 14 controls (HIV-negative). The exercise protocol consisted of a single session of 20 minutes on a cycloergometer followed by a set of six resistance exercises. The activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase were measured in plasma samples, total glutathione (TGSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in erythrocytes. T CD4+ cells, T CD8+, viral load, complete blood count, and white blood count were also assessed. All measurements were performed at three times: baseline, after aerobic exercise, and after resistance exercises. At baseline, the HIV group had lower GST activity than controls, but after the exercise session GST values were similar in both groups. Compared to the control group TGSH was significantly lower in the HIV group at baseline, after aerobic and resistance exercises. The control group presented higher TBARS values after aerobic exercise compared to the HIV group. The neutrophil count was lower in the HIV group after aerobic and resistance exercises. These data indicate that HIV-infected subjects had lower antioxidant activity at rest. Physical exercise stimulated the enzymatic activity similarly in both groups.
Real-Time Obstacle Avoidance for Manipulators and Mobile Robots

This paper presents a unique real-time obstacle avoidance approach for manipulators and mobile robots based on the artificial potential field concept. Collision avoidance, tradi tionally considered a high level planning problem, can be effectively distributed between different levels of control, al lowing real-time robot operations in a complex environment. This method has been extended to moving obstacles by using a time-varying artificial patential field. We have applied this obstacle avoidance scheme to robot arm mechanisms and have used a new approach to the general problem of real-time manipulator control. We reformulated the manipulator con trol problem as direct control of manipulator motion in oper ational space—the space in which the task is originally described—rather than as control of the task's corresponding joint space motion obtained only after geometric and kine matic transformation. Outside the obstacles' regions of influ ence, we caused the end effector to move in a straight line with an upper speed limit. The artificial potential field ap proach has been extended to collision avoidance for all ma nipulator links. In addition, a joint space artificial potential field is used to satisfy the manipulator internal joint con straints. This method has been implemented in the COSMOS system for a PUMA 560 robot. Real-time collision avoidance demonstrations on moving obstacles have been performed by using visual sensing.
Neutralization of interleukin‐1β reduces cerebral edema and tissue loss and improves late cognitive outcome following traumatic brain injury in mice

Increasing evidence suggests that interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) is a key mediator of the inflammatory response following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recently, we showed that intracerebroventricular administration of an IL‐1β‐neutralizing antibody was neuroprotective following TBI in mice. In the present study, an anti‐IL‐1β antibody or control antibody was administered intraperitoneally following controlled cortical injury (CCI) TBI or sham injury in 105 mice and we extended our histological, immunological and behavioral analysis. First, we demonstrated that the treatment antibody reached target brain regions of brain‐injured animals in high concentrations (> 11 nm) remaining up to 8 days post‐TBI. At 48 h post‐injury, the anti‐IL‐1β treatment attenuated the TBI‐induced hemispheric edema (P < 0.05) but not the memory deficits evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM). Neutralization of IL‐1β did not influence the TBI‐induced increases (P < 0.05) in the gene expression of the Ccl3 and Ccr2 chemokines, IL‐6 or Gfap. Up to 20 days post‐injury, neutralization of IL‐1β was associated with improved visuospatial learning in the MWM, reduced loss of hemispheric tissue and attenuation of the microglial activation caused by TBI (P < 0.05). Motor function using the rotarod and cylinder tests was not affected by the anti‐IL‐1β treatment. Our results suggest an important negative role for IL‐1β in TBI. The improved histological and behavioral outcome following anti‐IL‐1β treatment also implies that further exploration of IL‐1β‐neutralizing compounds as a treatment option for TBI patients is warranted.
Anticipation in familial plasma cell dyscrasias

Familial myeloma was described as early as 1925; however, the causative factors are unknown. Studies of families with other familial haematological malignancies demonstrate anticipation. Five new families are described in which plasma cell dyscrasias occurred in parent and child generations (six such pairs), and data were pooled with those of 16 other families (with 20 parent–child pairs affected) recorded in the literature. Disease‐free survival for parent and child generations were each estimated and differences in the disease‐free survival between generations were tested by the log‐rank and signed rank methods. In all six previously unreported parent–child pairs with plasma cell dyscrasia and in 18/20 such pairs found in the literature, the disease occurred at an earlier age in the child generation. The median age of onset of myeloma in the parent and child generations of all 26 pairs was 71 years (95% CI 67–78 years) and 50 years (95% CI 45–55 years), respectively (P < 0.0001). The ages of onset of malignant plasma cell dyscrasias in the parent and child generations of these families compared with patients in the general population were significantly different for the child generation (P < 0.005) but not for the parent generation. It would appear that anticipation occurs in familial myeloma.
Simple methods of testing ability in geriatric patients.

A simple questionnaire testing memory, vocabulary, calculation, orientation and speech, and practical tests with match sticks and toys were used to test ability in geriatric patients. The test was sufficiently simple for old people living independently at home to score full (45) or nearly full marks. Many geriatric patients (a mixed group of patients) had difficulty with part or all of the test. Scores of less than 30 were usually inconsistent with independence at home. Failure in part of the test drew attention to points requiring further clinical study. The test has been found an effective screening procedure. Many of the tests were carried out by occupational therapists and relatively unskilled observers can obtain consistent results which can be compared. Scoring allows the results to be easily understood by non-medical staff concerned with the patient’s care.
EMOTHAW: A Novel Database for Emotional State Recognition From Handwriting and Drawing

The detection of negative emotions through daily activities such as writing and drawing is useful for promoting wellbeing. The spread of human–machine interfaces such as tablets makes the collection of handwriting and drawing samples easier. In this context, we present a first publicly available database which relates emotional states to handwriting and drawing, that we call EMOTHAW (EMOTion recognition from HAndWriting and draWing). This database includes samples of 129 participants whose emotional states, namely anxiety, depression, and stress, are assessed by the Depression–Anxiety–Stress Scales (DASS) questionnaire. Seven tasks are recorded through a digitizing tablet: pentagons and house drawing, words copied in handprint, circles and clock drawing, and one sentence copied in cursive writing. Records consist in pen positions, on-paper and in-air, time stamp, pressure, pen azimuth, and altitude. We report our analysis on this database. From collected data, we first compute measurements related to timing and ductus. We compute separate measurements according to the position of the writing device: on paper or in-air. We analyze and classify this set of measurements (referred to as features) using a random forest approach. This latter is a machine learning method [1], based on an ensemble of decision trees, which includes a feature ranking process. We use this ranking process to identify the features which best reveal a targeted emotional state. We then build random forest classifiers associated with each emotional state. We provide accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity evaluation measures obtained from cross-validation experiments. Our results show that anxiety and stress recognition perform better than depression recognition.
A study on dynamically reconfigurable robotic systems: assembling, disassembling and reconfiguration of cellular manipulator by cooperation of two robot manipulators

Deals with a kind of cellular robotic system (CEBOT), called self organizing manipulator system. In this system the configuration of the manipulator can be changed according to the given task. The authors use two manipulators to assemble, disassemble, and reassemble cellular universal manipulator by cooperation work. When a simple task is given, the system can analyze the task and generate the structure of the cellular manipulator. The assembling work was divided into modular subtasks, and then the system generate the macro command based on the database. The order of subtask and the collision avoidance are considered for planning the cooperation work by using the collision database which was calculated before hand. They show the algorithm for calculation the collision database and for planning the cooperation work. The results of the simulation and the experiment are shown. <<ETX>>
MicroRNAs and B cell receptor signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract The relative expression levels of certain microRNAs (miRNAs) correlate with known prognostic markers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), such as leukemia-cell expression of zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa (ZAP-70), use of unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region genes (IGHV), chromosomal abnormalities or dysfunctional p53. Here we review studies that provide evidence suggesting that certain miRNAs (e.g. miR-155, miR-17-92, miR-181, miR-29) can regulate the activated phenotype of CLL cells and/or fitness of the surface-immunoglobulin (sIg) B cell receptor (BCR) complex expressed by CLL cells, thereby accounting for the differential leukemia-cell expression of these miRNAs in different CLL prognostic subgroups. How these miRNAs influence cellular activation and/or BCR signaling through the post-transcriptional regulation of critical signaling molecules (e.g. Lyn, Syk, BTK, SHIP-1, SHP1) is a topic of current research.
LIVING KIDNEY DONOR WITH EXPANDED CRITERIA FOR QUALIFICATION – A CASE REPORT

Kidney transplantation from a living donor is the best method of treatment of end-stage renal disease. The cost of treatment is lower than that of long-term dialysis. It allows for avoiding dialysis in patients referred for pre-emptive transplantation. It does not pose a threat to donor’s health, as documented by the long-term study results. In order to be qualified, the donor must be in full health. Kidney disease, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory disorders as well as viral infections must be excluded on the basis of clinical investigations, including laboratory testing and imaging studies. A 59-year-old patient was admitted in order to be qualified for transplantation as a living kidney donor for his son. Significant abnormalities included the presence of hypertension resistant to treatment. Computed tomography revealed left renal artery stenosis, which was considered the etiology of resistant hypertension. During the left-side nephroureterectomy, after visualization of the left renal artery, a tightly adhering atherosclerotic plaque penetrating into the aorta was identified. Follow-up after three months, eight months and three years showed reduction in blood pressure and no need for hypertensive medication. Apart from persistent hyperlipidemia, patient’s laboratory tests were unremarkable. The donor remained in good general condition, as did the kidney recipient. No significant deviations associated with the procedure were noted.
Methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma in singly fractured bone of mice.

In order to find a positive correlation between the development of sarcoma of the bone and preceding local traumatic injury, the right femur of dd-strain mice was fractured at the diaphysis, and 0.2mg of 20-methylcholanthrene (MC) was injected into the bone marrow or callus at the site of fracture. Various types of sarcoma of the bone developed after various latent periods (57-202 days). A positive sarcoma induction seemed to be related to the histological pattern of the callus at the time of MC-administration. In the callus composed of already mature cells, no sarcoma developed, while the tumor was induced in 45.5% of animals with the callus of immature cells after a short latent period. It was assumed that this difference would be due to the different nature of cells composing callus: An active proliferating ability with evident susceptibility to certain carcinogens would be inherent to immature cells but not to mature cells. This would be one of the important factors, which must be taken into consideration in the interpretation of so-called traumatic sarcoma.
Insight, innovation, and the big picture in system design

Systems architecting is the design phase where the top‐level functions and performance of a system are distributed over the system's parts, its environment, and its users. Up till now, system architects had to largely learn the required skills in practice. Some courses exist that teach the right attitude and mindset for the system architect. However, methods for architecting that can be implemented in a computer tool are virtually nonexistent. Earlier we presented a method, FunKey Architecting, which may aid the system architect in the early phase of design. In combination with TRIZ a design tool is created, which can be used to simplify and improve system architectures. It aims at supporting both the system designer and the specialist designers working on systems. The main topic of the paper is the application of the method in two industrial cases. The one case is an environment where new technology has to be developed and state of the art physics have to meet machine construction principles. The other case is in an industry where well‐proven technology is used in such a way that high‐performance machines are created. A third application of the FunKey tool is performed by students at the University of Twente. The context of each case and the results will be described. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 14
Improving the Performance of ZnO Thin-Film Transistors with ZnON Source/Drain Contacts

Motivation to study the ZnO channel for thin-film transistors (TFTs) is strong in light of its decent high mobility and large bandgap, enabling simultaneous coexistence of high on current and low off-state leakage. Nevertheless, the improvement in device performance for ZnO TFTs has not been fully exercised and even the field-effect mobility (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu _{\text {FE}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) is degraded with downscaling the channel length owing to considerable series source/drain (S/D) resistance (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{\text {SD}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>). In this paper, we show that inserting a thin contact layer of ZnON between the ZnO channel and Al S/D effectively suppresses the formation of interfacial layer of AlO<sub><italic>x</italic></sub> and thereby reduces <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R} _{\text {SD}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> dramatically. This is evidenced by a significant reduction in <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R} _{\text {SD}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from 30.1 to 14.4 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{k}\Omega \cdot \mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> measured on 0.5-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ZnO TFTs with a ZnON contact layer or not, leading to an improvement in <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu _{\text {FE}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from 18.2 to 29.6 cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{2}/\text {V}\cdot \text {s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.
THE COST OF ILLIQUIDITY AND ITS EFFECTS ON HEDGING

Though liquidity is commonly believed to be a major effect in financial markets, there appears to be no consensus definition of what it is or how it is to be measured. In this paper, we understand liquidity as a nonlinear transaction cost incurred as a function of rate of change of portfolio. Using this definition, we obtain the optimal hedging policy for the hedging of a call option in a Black‐Scholes model. This is a more challenging question than the more common studies of optimal strategy for liquidating an initial position, because our goal requires us to match a random final value. The solution we obtain reduces in the case of quadratic loss to the solution of three partial differential equations of Black‐Scholes type, one of them nonlinear.
Neutropenia in Felty's syndrome successfully treated with hydroxychloroquine.

Felty’s syndrome (FS) is a rare disease defined by the presence of 3 conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), neutropenia, and splenomegaly 1. It has been subdivided into two entities, depending on the presence or absence of large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukaemia. LGL leukaemia is diagnosed by
Automatic Segmentation of Raw LIDAR Data for Extraction of Building Roofs

Automatic extraction of building roofs from remote sensing data is important for many applications, including 3D city modeling. This paper proposes a new method for automatic segmentation of raw LIDAR (light detection and ranging) data. Using the ground height from a DEM (digital elevation model), the raw LIDAR points are separated into two groups. The first group contains the ground points that form a “building mask”. The second group contains non-ground points that are clustered using the building mask. A cluster of points usually represents an individual building or tree. During segmentation, the planar roof segments are extracted from each cluster of points and refined using rules, such as the coplanarity of points and their locality. Planes on trees are removed using information, such as area and point height difference. Experimental results on nine areas of six different data sets show that the proposed method can successfully remove vegetation and, so, offers a high success rate for building detection (about 90% correctness and completeness) and roof plane extraction (about 80% correctness and completeness), when LIDAR point density is as low as four points/m2. Thus, the proposed method can be exploited in various applications.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs: the impact of venture capitalists on executive turnover

We present evidence on venture capitalists? (VCs) impact on turnover of executives for a sample of nearly 47,000 German high-tech start-ups between 1995 and 2004. We confirm that the presence of VCs increases the probability of a change in the initial executive team. Additionally, we take a closer look on the subsample of venturebacked firms. We find that a small distance between the VCs and the companies they finance and a larger total stake in the company owned by VCs increase the probability of changes in the initial executive teams.
Missed bolus doses: devastating for metabolic control in CSII‐treated adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Objective: To investigate the management of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in adolescents with type 1 diabetes including their administration of bolus doses and to study relationships between insulin omission and metabolic control, body mass index, daily frequency of self‐monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and bolus doses, health‐related quality of life (HRQOL), the burden of diabetes and treatment satisfaction.
ReDeCheck: an automatic layout failure checking tool for responsively designed web pages

Since people frequently access websites with a wide variety of devices (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and desktops), developers need frameworks and tools for creating layouts that are useful at many viewport widths. While responsive web design (RWD) principles and frameworks facilitate the development of such sites, there is a lack of tools supporting the detection of failures in their layout. Since the quality assurance process for responsively designed websites is often manual, time-consuming, and error-prone, this paper presents ReDeCheck, an automated layout checking tool that alerts developers to both potential unintended regressions in responsive layout and common types of layout failure. In addition to summarizing ReDeCheck’s benefits, this paper explores two different usage scenarios for this tool that is publicly available on GitHub.
A multipoint relay selection method for reliable broadcast in ad hoc networks

Optimized Link State Routing Protocol (OLSR) is a table-driven routing protocol in wireless ad hoc networks. In OLSR, a node chooses Multipoint Relay (MPR) among its 1-hop neighbor nodes such that all 2-hop neighbor nodes can be covered by the set of MPR nodes at least once. However, limited retransmission only by MPRs may affect negatively in terms of reliable delivery of broadcast packets. In this paper, we propose an MPR selection method for reliable broadcast. The proposed MPR selection method chooses additional MPR nodes such that 2-hop MPR node can be covered m-times. Simulation results show that the proposed MPR selection method can improve the reliability of broadcast packet delivery with little increment of the number of MPR nodes.