Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Large-scale investment in green space as an intervention for physical activity, mental and cardiometabolic health: study protocol for a quasi-experimental evaluation of a natural experiment

Introduction ‘Green spaces’ such as public parks are regarded as determinants of health, but evidence from tends to be based on cross-sectional designs. This protocol describes a study that will evaluate a large-scale investment in approximately 5280 hectares of green space stretching 27 km north to south in Western Sydney, Australia. Methods and analysis A Geographic Information System was used to identify 7272 participants in the 45 and Up Study baseline data (2006–2008) living within 5 km of the Western Sydney Parklands and some of the features that have been constructed since 2009, such as public access points, advertising billboards, walking and cycle tracks, BBQ stations, and children's playgrounds. These data were linked to information on a range of health and behavioural outcomes, with the second wave of data collection initiated by the Sax Institute in 2012 and expected to be completed by 2015. Multilevel models will be used to analyse potential change in physical activity, weight status, social contacts, mental and cardiometabolic health within a closed sample of residentially stable participants. Comparisons between persons with contrasting proximities to different areas of the Parklands will provide ‘treatment’ and ‘control’ groups within a ‘quasi-experimental’ study design. In line with expectations, baseline results prior to the enhancement of the Western Sydney Parklands indicated virtually no significant differences in the distribution of any of the outcomes with respect to proximity to green space preintervention. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was obtained for the 45 and Up Study from the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee. Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the University of Western Sydney Ethics Committee. Findings will be disseminated through partner organisations (the Western Sydney Parklands and the National Heart Foundation of Australia), as well as to policymakers in parallel with scientific papers and conference presentations.
Pathogenic bacteria colonizing the airways in asymptomatic neonates stimulates topical inflammatory mediator release.

RATIONALE Bacterial colonization of neonatal airways with the pathogenic bacterial species, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae, is associated with later development of childhood asthma. OBJECTIVES To study a possible association between colonization with pathogenic bacterial strains and the immune signature of the upper airways in healthy neonates. METHODS A total of 20 cytokines and chemokines were quantified in vivo in the airway mucosal lining fluid of 662 neonates from the Copenhagen Prospective Study of Asthma in Childhood 2010 birth cohort. Colonization of the hypopharynx with M. catarrhalis, S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed simultaneously. The association between immune signatures and bacterial colonization or noncolonized controls was analyzed using conventional statistical methods supplemented by a multivariate approach for pattern identification. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Colonization with M. catarrhalis and H. influenzae induced a mixed T helper cell (Th) type 1/Th2/Th17 response with high levels of IL-1β (M. catarrhalis, P = 2.2 × 10(-12); H. influenzae, P = 7.1 × 10(-10)), TNF-α (M. catarrhalis, P = 1.5 × 10(-9); H. influenzae, P = 5.9 × 10(-7)), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (M. catarrhalis, P = 1.6 × 10(-11); H. influenzae, P = 2.7 × 10(-7)). S. aureus colonization demonstrated a Th17-promoting profile with elevated IL-17 levels (P = 1.6 × 10(-24)). S. pneumoniae colonization was not significantly associated with any of the mediators. CONCLUSIONS M. catarrhalis and H. influenzae colonization of the airways of asymptomatic neonates is associated with an inflammatory immune response of the airway mucosa, which may result in chronic inflammation.
HDA dataset-DRAFT 1 A Multi-camera video data set for research on High-Definition surveillance

We present a fully labelled image sequence data set for benchmarking video surveillance algorithms. The data set was acquired from 13 indoor cameras distributed over three floors of one building, recording simultaneously for 30 minutes. The data set was specially designed and labelled to tackle the person detection and re-identification problems. Around 80 persons participated in the data collection, most of them appearing in more than one camera. The data set is heterogeneous: there are three distinct types of cameras (standard, high and very high resolution), different view types (corridors, doors, open spaces) and different frame rates. This diversity is essential for a proper assessment of the robustness of video analytics algorithms in different imaging conditions. We illustrate the application of pedestrian detection and re-identification algorithms to the given data set, pointing out important criteria for benchmarking and the impact of highresolution imagery on the performance of the algorithms.
Reliable NMR chemical shifts for molecules in solution by methods rooted in density functional theory

The conceptual and numerical problems involved in the computation of reliable NMR chemical shifts for molecules in condensed phases are analyzed with reference to a number of case studies ranging from aromatic compounds in low‐polarity solvents to carbonyl and amidic models in aqueous solution and to large polypeptides. The results show that an integrated tool including the most recent density functionals, mixed discrete‐continuum solvent models, hybrid QM/MM approaches and, when needed, averaging from molecular dynamics simulations are becoming an invaluable complement to experimental results. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A technique analysis of the fast bowler action in cricket

To include: collation of information and ideas and evaluation of those ideas relative to the extant literature/concept/theory and research question/problem; adoption of a personal position on the study by linking and combining different elements of the data reported; discussion of the real-life impact of your research findings for coaches and/or practitioners (i.e. practical implications); discussion of the limitations and a critical reflection of the approach/process adopted; and indication of potential improvements and future developments building on the study; and a conclusion which summarises the relationship between the research question and the major findings.
An analytic method to predict the thermal map of cryosurgery iceballs in MR images

This paper presents a newly developed method to estimate, in magnetic resonance (MR) images, the temperatures reached within the volume of an iceball produced by a cryogenic probe. Building on the direct measurements of the MR signal intensity and its correlation with independent temperature variations at the phase transition from liquid to solid, the thermal information embedded in the images was accessed. The volume and diameter of the growing iceball were estimated from a time series of MR images. Using regressions over the volume in the time and thermal domains, this method predicted the cryogenic temperatures beyond the range of sensitivity of the MR signal itself. We present a validation of this method in samples of gelatin and ex vivo pig liver. Temperature predictions are shown to agree with independent thermosensor readings over a range extending from 20/spl deg/C down to -65/spl deg/C, with an average error of less than 6/spl deg/C.
Simulation of an energy storage system to compensate pulsed loads on shipboard electric power system

For warship electric power system, the pulsed loads (as radar or sonar) can be particularly embarrassing: when the pulsed load is running, the generators can be always in transients which can stress prime-mover and exciter actuators. Regarding the power quality, frequency and voltage modulation troubles can appear which can lead to sensitive load mis-operations and grid instability. In this paper, the limitations of pulsed load power level relating to the supply power are discussed regarding the military standard STANAG 1008: the necessity of adapting the shipgrid design is then stated. The simulation of a fast-power varying energy storage system in a simple ship grid is performed: this system is designed to compensate a pulsed load that induces excessive frequency modulation. The simulation results show a drastic reduction of the frequency modulation (by 90%) and a quite invariant power provided by the diesel generator when the compensator is running.
Towards Covalent Vaccination

Rare monoclonal antibodies (Abs) can form irreversible complexes with antigens by enzyme-like covalent nucleophile-electrophile pairing. To determine the feasibility of applying irreversible antigen inactivation by Abs as the basis of vaccination against microbes, we studied the polyclonal nucleophilic Ab response induced by the electrophilic analog of a synthetic peptide corresponding to the principal neutralizing determinant (PND) of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) gp120 located in the V3 domain. Abs from mice immunized with the PND analog containing electrophilic phosphonates (E-PND) neutralized a homologous HIV strain (MN) ∼50-fold more potently than control Abs from mice immunized with PND. The IgG fractions displayed binding to intact HIV particles. HIV complexes formed by anti-E-PND IgG dissociated noticeably more slowly than the complexes formed by anti-PND IgG. The slower dissociation kinetics are predicted to maintain long-lasting blockade of host cell receptor recognition by gp120. Pretreatment of the anti-PND IgG with a haptenic electrophilic phosphonate compound resulted in more rapid dissociation of the HIV-IgG complexes, consistent with the hypothesis that enhanced Ab nucleophilic reactivity induced by electrophilic immunization imparts irreversible character to the complexes. These results suggest that electrophilic immunization induces a sufficiently robust nucleophilic Ab response to enhance the anti-microbial efficacy of candidate polypeptide vaccines.
Gold Nano-Probes as Targeted CT Contrast Agents for In-vivo cancer Imaging

This paper describes a new class of immunotargeted and cancer specific CT contrast agents, which enable CT imaging of cancer at cellular and molecular resolution. The method is based on the development of gold nano-probes that specifically and sensitively target in vivo tumor specific antigens, while inducing distinct contrast in CT imaging (increased x-ray attenuation). The overall goal of this research is to develop a novel cancer imaging tool, which may lead to improvements in therapy due to early detection, accurate staging and micro-tumor identification.
Right-Hemisphere Superiority in the Discrimination of Spatial Phase

Visual field differences have been investigated in various detection and discrimination tasks for simple sinusoidal gratings or for complex gratings composed of two sinusoids of spatial frequencies f and 3f. Sinusoidal gratings were employed to evaluate contrast sensitivity, subthreshold summation effects, aftereffects of adaptation to a high-contrast grating, and spatial-frequency discrimination. The tasks with complex gratings were detection of the 3f component in the presence of a high-contrast f component and spatial-phase discrimination. The stimuli were presented either in the left or in the right visual hemifield. The results indicate a lack of lateralization for detection and spatial-frequency discrimination of sinusoidal gratings, and for the bandwidth of subthreshold summation effects and adaptation aftereffects, whereas the detection of the 3f component in the presence of a high-contrast f component, as well as spatial-phase discrimination of f + 3f gratings, show a left-field advantage. This suggests a right-hemisphere superiority in the processing of spatial phase.
Angle of Arrival Measurement Using Multiple Static Monopole Antennas

The angle of arrival (AoA) is an important factor in the localization of a wireless sensor network. This paper deals with AoA measurement using omnidirectional antennas. In our case, microstrip monopole antennas are used, which have radiation patterns with two sharp minimums. Therefore, an algorithm based on an approach where an AoA is obtained along a direction where the measured received strength signal indicator is minimal. Multiple stationary microstrip antennas are placed on a printed circuit board and no moving parts are needed for measurement. In comparison with rotating antennas this simple method has lower resolution. We show that the resolution can be improved using interpolations and approximations. When using the proposed algorithm, the experimental results for the outdoor measurements reached a root-mean-square error of <;10°, and an indoor environment of <;25°.
Discovery of high‐affinity peptide ligands for vancomycin

Vancomycin, an important antibiotic against medically relevant gram‐positive bacteria such as methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, exerts its antibacterial effects by binding with moderate affinity to the C‐terminal Lys‐D‐Ala‐D‐Ala motif (Kaa) of the bacterial cell wall peptide precursor. Essential for Kaa binding to vancomcyin is the free‐carboxyl group on the terminal D‐Ala in Kaa. In efforts to identify other Kaa‐based peptides which bind vancomycin with higher affinity, we utilized our one‐bead‐one‐compound (OBOC) combinatorial library approach, a method which has been widely used to discover highly specific ligands against various receptors. In standard OBOC peptide libraries, the C‐terminal end of the synthesized peptide is tethered to a solid‐support/resin, however, this study reports development of a synthetic strategy for generating OBOC peptide libraries with a free D‐Ala‐D‐Ala carboxyl end. We screened these “OBOC inverted” peptide libraries against vancomycin, and discovered a series of peptide ligands with strong consensus, which bind vancomycin. To further optimize these ligands, two highly focused Kaa‐containing OBOC combinatorial peptidomimetic libraries were designed, synthesized, and screened against vancomycin under more stringent conditions. Peptidomimetic ligands which bind vancomycin with higher affinity than Kaa were identified. The dissociation constant of one of these ligands, Lys(Ac)‐HOCit‐Glu‐Cha‐Lys(3,5‐dihydroxybenzoyl)‐D‐Ala‐D‐Ala (9), as determined by surface plasmon resonance, was 1.03 μM, roughly a 50‐fold improvement in affinity compared to Kaa (KD = 50 μM). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 90: 421–432, 2008.
3D Layout of Spidergon, Flattened Butterfly and Dragonfly on a Chip Stack with Inductive Coupling Through Chip Interface

In most of recent Networks-on-Chip (NoCs), a simple 2D mesh structure has been adopted. However, the increasing latency caused by the large number of hops has become a problem especially in a large chip multiprocessor with increasing number of cores. Although using low ASPL networks which can reduce the hop count is a hopeful solution, a number of long wires often limits the operational frequency. Hence, we propose 3D layout of three networks: Spidergon, Flattened Butterfly, and Dragonfly on a chip stack with wireless inductive coupling through chip interface (TCI). By making the use of TCI properties, including flexible stacking and chip pass-through data transfer, the maximum length of wires is much reduced. A large system which uses many chips can easily be implemented without degrading operational frequency.
MOLECULAR SOLVATION DYNAMICS FROM INELASTIC X-RAY SCATTERING MEASUREMENTS

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction; Review of High-Resolution Inelastic X-Ray Scattering on Liquid Water: Theory and Experiment; Green's Function Imaging of Dynamics with Femtosecond Temporal and Angstrom Spatial Resolution; An excluded volume implementation for Green's Function Imaging of Dynamics; Conclusions and Outlook; References.
Activity Patterns and Foraging Behavior of the Endangered Grand Cayman Blue Iguana, Cyclura lewisi

Abstract. The historic rarity of the critically endangered Grand Cayman blue iguana, Cyclura lewisi, has prevented detailed research on this species prior to this decade. This study primarily used focal animal observations, transect sweeps, and radio-telemetry to document the behavioral ecology of a captive-bred, reintroduced population of adult C. lewisi in a botanic park on Grand Cayman. Activity budgets and foraging budgets are presented for each sex in each season, and for all data combined. Distributions of basking time and active time differed between the two seasons. Iguanas both emerged earlier and retreated later in the summer than in the fall. Of the small percentage of time spent active, iguanas mostly foraged and engaged in locomotion. Iguanas spent little time in trees or bushes or inside of retreats during the day. Observations of extensive tongue-touching of retreats, substrates, and feces suggest an importance of chemosensory ability in C. lewisi. Iguanas primarily consumed plant matter, of which the majority was non-cultivated plants in the park and surrounding area. Limited geophagy, coprophagy, and consumption of invertebrates were observed. Supplemental feeding contributed little to the overall diet of iguanas, but appeared to make iguanas more aggressive towards humans. Iguanas were heavily habituated to human and vehicular disturbances, which were common occurrences. Aspects of the behavioral ecology of C. lewisi reported here will assist in the conservation of this and other endangered iguanas.
Efficient multicast design in a microkernel environment

Multicast has become popular in recent years with the introduction of new, very fast networks. Existing solutions of the multicast design and implementation problems are either inefficient in microkernel environments or too expensive in terms of the host operating system overhead involved. In our search for a new solution we investigate various aspects of the problem. Exploring the desired semantics, we come to the conclusion that control functions, group maintenance algorithms and various ordering semantics can be implemented on top of the basic services, and that the efficiency of these implementations is less critical than that of the basic services. We describe a few naive solutions to supporting multicast in microkernels and show their limitations. Then we suggest a new solution to the problem and show analytically that it is significantly better than other solutions. The solution we decided to implement is a hybrid solution supporting control operations in user space and data operations in the kernel. It enables the semantics of multicast or group communication abstractions to be separated from the operating system support and mechanisms used to implement those abstractions. Since we propose an efficient solution while introducing minimal changes to the Mach kernel, our hybrid solution suggests splitting the group communication burden between the microkernel and a group server (GS). To implement our hybrid solution the Mach kernel has been modified. Finally, we present an implementation of our new solution for the Mach 3.0 microkernel environment and show a very significant measured speedup in performance of multicast operations over naive methods for multicasting. 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Involvement of a Caspase‐3‐Like Cysteine Protease in 1‐Methyl‐4‐Phenylpyridinium‐Mediated Apoptosis of Cultured Cerebellar Granule Neurons

Abstract: Exposure of various neuronal cells or cell lines to high concentrations of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the active metabolite of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), results in cell death. Recently, it has been reported that low concentrations of MPP+ induce apoptosis in susceptible neurons. We have further characterized MPP+‐mediated toxicity of cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) and found that exposure of CGNs to relatively low concentrations of MPP+ results in apoptosis, whereas higher concentrations result in necrosis. Cotreatment of CGNs with MPP+ and the tetrapeptide inhibitor of caspase‐3‐like proteases, acetyl‐DEVD‐CHO, markedly attenuates apoptotic but not necrotic death of these neurons. The more specific inhibitor of caspase‐1‐like proteases, acetyl‐YVAD‐CHO, however, was ineffective against MPP+ neurotoxicity. Moreover, cytoplasmic extracts prepared from MPP+‐treated CGNs contain markedly increased protease activity that cleaves the caspase‐3 substrate acetyl‐DEVD‐p‐nitroaniline. Finally, the cytoplasmic concentration of the apoptogenic protein cytochrome c was increased in a time‐dependent fashion in MPP+‐treated CGNs before the onset of apoptosis. Our data confirm that the neurotoxicity of MPP+ is due to both necrosis and apoptosis and suggest that the latter is mediated by activation of a caspase‐3‐like protease.
A globally asymptotically stable decentralized PI controller for multi-terminal high-voltage DC transmission systems

In this paper the problem of controlling a multi-terminal voltage source converter-based high-voltage DC (HVDC) transmission system is addressed. A decentralized PI control that guarantees global asymptotical stability of the closed-loop system is proposed. The performance of the controller design is verified via simulations on a two-terminals example.
Structure and Properties of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Na+ Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium montmorillonite nanocomposites of various compositions were created by casting from a polymer/silicate water suspension. The composite structure study revealed a coexistence of exfoliated and intercalated MMT layers, especially for low and moderate silicate loadings. The inorganic layers promote a new crystalline phase different than the one of the respective neat PVA, characterized by higher melting temperature and a different crystal structure. This new crystal phase reflects on the composite materials properties. Namely, the hybrid polymer/silicate systems have mechanical, thermal, and water vapor transmission properties, which are superior to that of the neat polymer and its conventionally filled composites. For example, for a 5 wt % MMT exfoliated composite, the softening temperature increases by 25 °C and the Young's modulus triples with a decrease of only 20% in toughness, whereas there is also a 60% reduction in the water permeability. Furthermore, due to the nanoscale d.
The virology, epidemiology, and clinical impact of West Nile virus: a decade of advancements in research since its introduction into the Western Hemisphere

SUMMARY West Nile virus (WNV) is now endemic in the USA. After the widespread surge of virus activity across the USA, research has flourished, and our knowledge base has significantly expanded over the past 10 years since WNV was first recognized in New York City. This article provides a review of the virology of WNV, history, epidemiology, clinical features, pathology of infection, the innate and adaptive immune response, host risk factors for developing severe disease, clinical sequelae following severe disease, chronic infection, and the future of prevention.