Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nickel sulfate 5–20% aq. does not evoke irritation on the skin of non‐nickel‐sensitive subjects

To patch test patients with suspected contact dermatitis, nickel sulfate 5% pet. is routinely employed. This concentration is regarded as usually non-irritant, and, at the same time, suitable for detection of most nickel-sensitive patients. However, in eczematous patients, patch test responses appearing as a mild erythema and a few papules are often interpreted as irritant, and such patients not instructed to avoid nickel. Furthermore, it is well-known that a 5% nickel sulfate concentration does not detect nickel allergy in all sensitive subjects and that by increasing the concentration of nickel (1), by using intradermal tests (2) or by pre-treating the test area with occlusion (3) or with detergents (4), positive responses can be elicited in subjects with a high sensitization threshold.
Frequency-Dependent Altered Functional Connections of Default Mode Network in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the progressive dysfunction of cognitive ability. Previous research has indicated that the default mode network (DMN) is closely related to cognition and is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease. Because recent studies have shown that different frequency bands represent specific physiological functions, DMN functional connectivity studies of the different frequency bands based on resting state fMRI (RS-fMRI) data may provide new insight into AD pathophysiology. In this study, we explored the functional connectivity based on well-defined DMN regions of interest (ROIs) from the five frequency bands: slow-5 (0.01–0.027 Hz), slow-4 (0.027–0.073 Hz), slow-3 (0.073–0.198 Hz), slow-2 (0.198–0.25 Hzs) and standard low-frequency oscillations (LFO) (0.01–0.08 Hz). We found that the altered functional connectivity patterns are mainly in the frequency band of slow-5 and slow-4 and that the decreased connections are long distance, but some relatively short connections are increased. In addition, the altered functional connections of the DMN in AD are frequency dependent and differ between the slow-5 and slow-4 bands. Mini-Mental State Examination scores were significantly correlated with the altered functional connectivity patterns in the slow-5 and slow-4 bands. These results indicate that frequency-dependent functional connectivity changes might provide potential biomarkers for AD pathophysiology.
The Effect of Negative Equity on Mortgage Default: Evidence From HAMP’s Principal Reduction Alternative

The Home Affordable Modification Programâ€™s (HAMPâ€™s) Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA) is a government-sponsored program to reduce the principal balances and monthly mortgage payments of troubled borrowers. We examine the effect of principal forgiveness on borrowersâ€™ subsequent mortgage default. The programâ€™s rules imply a kink in the relationship between principal forgiveness and a borrowerâ€™s initial equity level. Our identification strategy exploits the quasi-experimental variation in principal forgiveness generated by this kink using a regression kink design (RKD), which compares the relationship between initial equity and default on either side of the kink. We estimate that HAMP PRA reduced the quarterly default hazard from $3.8\%$ to $3.1\%$. Received February 4, 2015; accepted August 2, 2015 by Editor Philip Strahan.
Chemical defenses and resource trade-offs structure sponge communities on Caribbean coral reefs

Significance Chemical defenses are known to protect some species from consumers, but it is often difficult to detect this advantage at the community or ecosystem levels because of the complexity of abiotic and biotic factors that influence species abundances. We surveyed the community of sponges and sponge predators (angelfishes and parrotfishes) on coral reefs across the Caribbean ranging from heavily overfished sites to protected marine reserves. High predator abundance correlated with high abundance of chemically defended sponge species, but reefs with few predators were dominated by undefended sponge species, which grow or reproduce faster than defended species. Overfishing may enhance competition between palatable sponge species and reef-building stony corals, further impeding the recovery of Caribbean coral reefs. Ecological studies have rarely been performed at the community level across a large biogeographic region. Sponges are now the primary habitat-forming organisms on Caribbean coral reefs. Recent species-level investigations have demonstrated that predatory fishes (angelfishes and some parrotfishes) differentially graze sponges that lack chemical defenses, while co-occurring, palatable species heal, grow, reproduce, or recruit at faster rates than defended species. Our prediction, based on resource allocation theory, was that predator removal would result in a greater proportion of palatable species in the sponge community on overfished reefs. We tested this prediction by performing surveys of sponge and fish community composition on reefs having different levels of fishing intensity across the Caribbean. A total of 109 sponge species was recorded from 69 sites, with the 10 most common species comprising 51.0% of sponge cover (3.6–7.7% per species). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling indicated that the species composition of sponge communities depended more on the abundance of sponge-eating fishes than geographic location. Across all sites, multiple-regression analyses revealed that spongivore abundance explained 32.8% of the variation in the proportion of palatable sponges, but when data were limited to geographically adjacent locations with strongly contrasting levels of fishing pressure (Cayman Islands and Jamaica; Curaçao, Bonaire, and Martinique), the adjusted R2 values were much higher (76.5% and 94.6%, respectively). Overfishing of Caribbean coral reefs, particularly by fish trapping, removes sponge predators and is likely to result in greater competition for space between faster-growing palatable sponges and endangered reef-building corals.
Heuristic-based architecture generation for complex computer system optimisation

Having come of age in the last decade, the use of architecture to describe complex systems, especially in software, is now maturing. With our current ability to describe, represent, analyse and evaluate architectures comes the next logical step in our application of architecture to system design and optimisation. Driven by the increasing scale and complexity of modern systems, the designers have been forced to find new ways of managing the difficult and complex task of balancing the quality trade-offs inherent in all architectures. Architecture-based optimisation has the potential to not only provide designers with a practical method for approaching this task, but also to provide a generic mechanism for increasing the overall quality of system design. In this paper we explore the issues that surround the development of architectural optimisation and present an example of heuristic-based optimisation of a system with respect to concrete goals.
Relationship Between Voltage Instability and Multiple Load FLow Solutions in Electric Power Systems

There have been observed several voltage instability phenomena in electric power systems where receiving end voltages oscillate remarkably or get much lower than the nominal values. Those phenomena tend to occur in heavy loaded conditions and seem to be related to the multiple load flow solution problem for the following reasons. It has been confirmed analytically and by simulations that the multiple load flow solutions are likely to appear under the heavy-loaded conditions, and that the individual solutions of the solution pair have different features from each other, from the standpoint of stability, although they are close to each other.
Isolation from opossum serum of a metalloproteinase inhibitor homologous to human alpha 1B-glycoprotein.

Fractionation of opossum (Didelphis virginiana) serum with (NH4)2SO4, followed by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, phenyl-Sepharose, and Mono Q HR 5/5, has resulted in the isolation in homogeneous condition of a metalloproteinase inhibitor designated oprin (opossum proteinase inhibitor). Oprin is a single-chain glycoprotein (26% carbohydrate) with an estimated Mr = 52,000, pI = 3.5, and E(1%/1 cm) = 11. Oprin inhibited snake venom metalloproteinases, but showed no activity on venom serine proteinases or on bacterial metalloproteinases. Incubation of Crotalus atrox alpha-proteinase (EC 3.4.24.1) with oprin, and analysis of the reaction products by chromatography on Mono Q HR 5/5 and by electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions, indicated formation of an inactive enzyme/inhibitor complex. The complex dissociated during SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An opossum liver cDNA library was immunoscreened, and clones containing cDNA encoding for part of the open reading frame for oprin were isolated. The cDNA inserts contained nucleotide sequences corresponding to two internal amino acid sequences of oprin which had been separately determined by protein sequence analysis. Protein database screening using a 211 amino acid sequence deduced from one of the cDNA inserts showed no significant homology to known proteinase inhibitors. There was, however, a 36% identity with human alpha 1B-glycoprotein, a plasma protein of unknown function related to the immunoglobulin supergene family. In addition, the amino-terminal sequence of oprin showed 46% identity with human alpha 1B-glycoprotein in a 26 amino acid residue overlap. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Portfolio Investment Model Based on Particle Swarm Optimization

The paper introduces the concept of portfolio's model and describes multiple objective decision model about it in detail.Multiple-objective optimal problem is converted into simple objective optimization by using the fuzzy optimum seeking method.It emphasizes particle swarm optimization algorithm in succession.Portfolio investment model can be established with self-adapting mutation's PSO.Experimental result shows that the method acquires the preferable effect.
HealthSource: A Web based public health awareness with heat map on common illnesses using social media stream

This project will enable to raise awareness regarding public health and common illness in different parts of the world. With use of Twitter stream, it enables to collect global trending issues and to visualize areas prone to illness thru Heat map. It helps to address the needs of certain area to send assistance such as vaccines, antibiotics, etc. The HealthSource Web Application also have modules is to provide useful information regarding their medicine intake to such illnesses in the easiest and most understandable way.
The Challenge of Public Administration

15. Leland Goodrich, "Geographical Distribution of the Staff of the U.N. Secretariat," International Organization, Vol. XVI (Summer 1962), p. 470. 16. See, for example, General Assembly Resolution 3417 (XXX) adopted by the 30th General Assembly which noted that "64.5 percent of the staff members who occupy senior posts in the Secretariat are nationals of the developed countries," while "developing countries constitute 73 percent of the membership of the United Nations. " The resolution went on to request the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps to "increase the number of staff members recruited from among nationals of developing countries for senior posts in the Secretariat. " 17. Richard Gardner (ed.), The Future of the United Nations Secretariat (New York: United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Institute on Man and Science, 1972), p. 26. la d Goodrich, "Geographical Distribution of the the U.N. Secretariat," International Organi, ol. XVI (Summer 1962), p. 470. 18. Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on Personnel Problems in the United Nations (Bertrand Report) (A/8454) (New York: United Nations, 1971), p. 16. 19. Seymour Max Finger and John Mugno, "The Politics of Staffing the United Nations Secretariat," Orbis, Vol XIX (Spring 1975). 20. For background on the strike in Geneva, see Joint Inspection Unit, Report on Some Aspects of the Strike at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 25 February to 3 March 1976 (JIU/REP/76/6) (Geneva: United Nations, 1976). The staff of the specialized agencies in Geneva did not participate in the strike.
AS 2 TS system for protein structure modeling and analysis

We present a set of programs and a website designed to facilitate protein structure comparison and protein structure modeling efforts. Our protein structure analysis and comparison services use the LGA (localglobal alignment) program to search for regions of local similarity and to evaluate the level of structural similarity between compared protein structures. To facilitate the homology-based protein structure modeling process, our AL2TS service translates given sequence–structure alignment data into the standard Protein Data Bank (PDB) atom records (coordinates). For a given sequence of amino acids, the AS2TS (amino acid sequence to tertiary structure) system calculates (e.g. using PSI-BLAST PDB analysis) a list of the closest proteins from the PDB, and then a set of draft 3D models is automatically created. Web services are available at http://as2ts.llnl. gov/.
Association between air pollution and acute childhood wheezy episodes: prospective observational study

Abstract Objective: To examine the association between the air pollutants ozone, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide and the incidence of acute childhood wheezy episodes. Design: Prospective observational study over one year. Setting: District general hospital. Subjects: 1025 children attending the accident and emergency department with acute wheezy episodes; 4285 children with other conditions as the control group. Main outcome measures: Daily incidence of acute wheezy episodes. Results: After seasonal adjustment, day to day variations in daily average concentrations of ozone and sulphur dioxide were found to have significant associations with the incidence of acute wheezy episodes. The strongest association was with ozone, for which a non-linear U shaped relation was seen. In terms of the incidence rate ratio (1 at a mean 24 hour ozone concentration of 40 µg/m3 (SD=19.1)), children were more likely to attend when the concentration was two standard deviations below the mean (incidence rate ratio=3.01; 95% confidence interval 2.17 to 4.18) or two standard deviations above the mean (1.34; 1.09 to 1.66). Sulphur dioxide had a weaker log-linear relation with incidence (1.12; 1.05 to 1.19 for each standard deviation (14.1) increase in sulphur dioxide concentration). Further adjustment for temperature and wind speed did not significantly alter these associations. Conclusions: Independent of season, temperature, and wind speed, fluctuations in concentrations of atmospheric ozone and sulphur dioxide are strongly associated with patterns of attendance at accident and emergency departments for acute childhood wheezy episodes. A critical ozone concentration seems to exist in the atmosphere above or below which children are more likely to develop symptoms. Key messages This study shows that after seasonal adjust- ment the incidence was found to be high on days when ozone concentrations were very low or very high The log incidence increased in a linear manner with increasing concentrations of sulphur dioxide Nitrogen dioxide was not found to have a significant effect on the incidence of wheezy episodes The non-linear U shaped relation between ozone and incidence suggests that at low ozone concentrations either other factors are more important in determining wheezy episodes or an optimum protective concentration of ozone exists in the atmosphere
Thrombin Receptor Activation and Integrin Engagement Stimulate Tyrosine Phosphorylation of the Proto-oncogene Product, p95, in Platelets (*)

The vav proto-oncogene product, p95 or Vav, is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells and has been shown to be a substrate for tyrosine kinases. Although its function is unknown, Vav shares a region of homology with DBL, an exchange factor for the Rho family of GTP-binding proteins. The presence of this domain and the observation that cells transformed with Vav display prominent stress fibers and focal adhesions similar to those that are observed in RhoA transformed cells suggests that Vav may play a role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. We have, therefore, examined Vav phosphorylation in platelets, which undergo dramatic cytoskeletal reorganization in response to agonists. Two potent platelet agonists, thrombin (via its G protein-coupled receptor) and collagen (via its interaction with the αβ integrin), caused Vav to become phosphorylated on tyrosine. Weaker platelet agonists, including ADP, epinephrine and the thromboxane A analog, U46619, did not. The phosphorylation of Vav in response to thrombin was maximal within 15 s and was unaffected by aspirin, inhibitors of aggregation, or the presence of the ADP scavenger, apyrase. Vav phosphorylation was also observed when platelets became adherent to immobilized collagen (via integrin αβ), fibronectin (via integrin αβ), and fibrinogen (via integrin αβ). These results show that Vav phosphorylation by tyrosine kinases 1) occurs during platelet activation by potent agonists, 2) also occurs when platelets adhere to biologically relevant matrix proteins, 3) requires neither platelet aggregation nor the release of secondary agonists such as ADP and TxA, and 4) can be initiated by at least some members of two additional classes of receptors, G protein-coupled receptors and integrins, providing further evidence that both of these can couple to tyrosine kinases.
Effects of Coronary Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion on Cardiac Cycle‐Dependent Variation of Myocardial Ultrasonic Backscatter

We have recently reported a systematic variation in integrated ultrasonic backscatter throughout the cardiac cycle in canine hearts. This study was performed to determine whether the pattern of such variation is modified systematically by ischemia. Measurements of integrated ultrasonic backscatter in selected regions of normal, ischemic, and reperfused hearts were compared in view of known differences in systolic function of myocardium in each of these regions. Integrated ultrasonic backscatter (3–7 MHz) gated to the first derivative of left ventricular pressure was measured at the apex, midwall, and base in 10 dogs and at the apex before and during transient ischemia and reperfusion in four dogs. Quantitative integrated ultrasonic backscatter was referenced to a steel reflector. Cyclic variation of integrated ultrasonic backscatter was greatest at the apex [peak to trough variation 5.5 ± 0.9 dB (mean ± SE)] with the maximum near end diastole (−52.9 ± 0.9 dB) and minimum near end systole (−58.4 ±1.0 dB). Variation at the apex (5.5 ± 0.9 dB) and the midwall (4.3 ± 0.8 dB) was greater than at the base (0.5 ± 1.0 dB) (P < 0.01 for either region compared with base). Left anterior descending coronary occlusion for 10 minutes in four of 10 dogs reduced variation at the apex to 0.4 ± 1.5 dB (P < 0.02 compared with preocclusion). Reperfusion for 2 hours restored apical cyclic variation to 3.9 ±1.7 dB, i.e., to values not significantly different from those before occlusion. Thus, regional differences in cyclic variation of integrated ultrasonic backscatter in the intact canine heart are blunted promptly by ischemia and restored substantially by reperfusion. These results suggest that quantitative ultrasonic interrogation may permit assessment with ultrasound of the intrinsic properties of myocardium modified by ischemia by analysis of physical properties of the tissue per se, rather than exclusively by assessment of geometrical changes.
Empathy from the client's perspective: A grounded theory analysis

Abstract Although empathy is one of most robust predictors of client outcome, there is little consensus about how best to conceptualize this construct. Objective: The aim of the present research was to investigate clients’ perceptions and in-session experiences of empathy. Method: Semi-structured, video-assisted interpersonal process recall interviews were used to collect data from nine clients receiving individual psychotherapy at a university psychology clinic. Results: Grounded theory analysis yielded a model consisting of three clusters: (1) relational context of empathy (i.e., personal relationship and professional relationship), (2) types of empathy (i.e., psychotherapists’ cognitive empathy, psychotherapists’ emotional empathy, and client attunement to psychotherapist), and (3) utility of empathy (i.e., process-related benefits and client-related benefits). Conclusions: These results suggest that empathy is a multi-dimensional, interactional process that affects—and is affected by—the broader relationship between client and psychotherapist.
Targeting BAFF and APRIL in systemic lupus erythematosus and other antibody-associated diseases

ABSTRACT The B cell-stimulating molecules, BAFF (B cell activating factor) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand), are critical factors in the maintenance of the B cell pool and humoral immunity. In addition, BAFF and APRIL are involved in the pathogenesis of a number of human autoimmune diseases, with elevated levels of these cytokines detected in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), IgA nephropathy, Sjögren's syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. As such, both molecules are rational targets for new therapies in B cell-driven autoimmune diseases, and several inhibitors of BAFF or BAFF and APRIL together have been investigated in clinical trials. These include the BAFF/APRIL dual inhibitor, atacicept, and the BAFF inhibitor, belimumab, which is approved as an add-on therapy for patients with active SLE. Post hoc analyses of these trials indicate that baseline serum levels of BAFF and BAFF/APRIL correlate with treatment response to belimumab and atacicept, respectively, suggesting a role for the two molecules as predictive biomarkers. It will, however, be important to refine future testing to identify active forms of BAFF and APRIL in the circulation, as well as to distinguish between homotrimer and heteromer configurations. In this review, we discuss the rationale for dual BAFF/APRIL inhibition versus single BAFF inhibition in autoimmune disease, by focusing on the similarities and differences between the physiological and pathogenic roles of the two molecules. A summary of the preclinical and clinical data currently available is also presented.
Finite time stability of switched nonlinear singular systems with stable and unstable subsystems

This note considers the problem of finite time stability of switched nonlinear singular systems consisting of both stable and unstable subsystems. First, based on the equivalent dynamics decomposition form of systems, a description for state jumps of the switched nonlinear singular system is presented. Then a switching law for finite time stability of systems is designed by using the equivalent dynamics decomposition form of systems and average dwell time approach. Furthermore, another switching law for finite time stability of systems is designed based on the comparison principle. These results obtained in this note are the extensions of the existing works. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.