Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A methodology for ecosystem‐scale modeling of selenium

The main route of exposure for selenium (Se) is dietary, yet regulations lack biologically based protocols for evaluations of risk. We propose here an ecosystem‐scale model that conceptualizes and quantifies the variables that determine how Se is processed from water through diet to predators. This approach uses biogeochemical and physiological factors from laboratory and field studies and considers loading, speciation, transformation to particulate material, bioavailability, bioaccumulation in invertebrates, and trophic transfer to predators. Validation of the model is through data sets from 29 historic and recent field case studies of Se‐exposed sites. The model links Se concentrations across media (water, particulate, tissue of different food web species). It can be used to forecast toxicity under different management or regulatory proposals or as a methodology for translating a fish‐tissue (or other predator tissue) Se concentration guideline to a dissolved Se concentration. The model illustrates some critical aspects of implementing a tissue criterion: 1) the choice of fish species determines the food web through which Se should be modeled, 2) the choice of food web is critical because the particulate material to prey kinetics of bioaccumulation differs widely among invertebrates, 3) the characterization of the type and phase of particulate material is important to quantifying Se exposure to prey through the base of the food web, and 4) the metric describing partitioning between particulate material and dissolved Se concentrations allows determination of a site‐specific dissolved Se concentration that would be responsible for that fish body burden in the specific environment. The linked approach illustrates that environmentally safe dissolved Se concentrations will differ among ecosystems depending on the ecological pathways and biogeochemical conditions in that system. Uncertainties and model sensitivities can be directly illustrated by varying exposure scenarios based on site‐specific knowledge. The model can also be used to facilitate site‐specific regulation and to present generic comparisons to illustrate limitations imposed by ecosystem setting and inhabitants. Used optimally, the model provides a tool for framing a site‐specific ecological problem or occurrence of Se exposure, quantify exposure within that ecosystem, and narrow uncertainties about how to protect it by understanding the specifics of the underlying system ecology, biogeochemistry, and hydrology. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:685–710. © 2010 SETAC
Functional diversity of microbial decomposers facilitates plant coexistence in a plant–microbe–soil feedback model

Theory and empirical evidence suggest that plant–soil feedback (PSF) determines the structure of a plant community and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The plant community alters the nutrient pool size in soil by affecting litter decomposition processes, which in turn shapes the plant community, forming a PSF system. However, the role of microbial decomposers in PSF function is often overlooked, and it remains unclear whether decomposers reinforce or weaken litter-mediated plant control over nutrient cycling. Here, we present a theoretical model incorporating the functional diversity of both plants and microbial decomposers. Two fundamental microbial processes are included that control nutrient mineralization from plant litter: (i) assimilation of mineralized nutrient into the microbial biomass (microbial immobilization), and (ii) release of the microbial nutrients into the inorganic nutrient pool (net mineralization). With this model, we show that microbial diversity may act as a buffer that weakens plant control over the soil nutrient pool, reversing the sign of PSF from positive to negative and facilitating plant coexistence. This is explained by the decoupling of litter decomposability and nutrient pool size arising from a flexible change in the microbial community composition and decomposition processes in response to variations in plant litter decomposability. Our results suggest that the microbial community plays a central role in PSF function and the plant community structure. Furthermore, the results strongly imply that the plant-centered view of nutrient cycling should be changed to a plant–microbe–soil feedback system, by incorporating the community ecology of microbial decomposers and their functional diversity.
Can Robbery and Other Theft Help Explain the Textbook Currency-Demand Puzzle? Two Dreadful Models of Money Demand with an Endogenous Probability of Crime

This paper attempts to explain one version of an empirical puzzle noted by Mankiw (2003): a Baumol-Tobin inventory-theoretic money demand equation predicts that the average U.S. adult should have held approximately $551.05 in currency and coin in 1995, while data show an average of $100. The models in this paper help explain this discrepancy using two assumptions: (1) the probabilities of being robbed or pick-pocketed, or having a purse snatched, depend on the amount of cash held; and (2) there are costs of being robbed other than loss of cash, such as injury, medical bills, lost time at work, and trauma. Two models are presented: a dynamic, stochastic model with both instantaneous and decaying noncash costs of robbery, and a revised version of the inventory-theoretic model that includes one-period noncash costs. The former model yields an easily interpreted first-order condition for money demand involving various marginal costs and benefits of holding cash. The latter model gives quantitative solutions for money demand that come much closer to matching the 1995 data--$75.98 for one plausible set of parameters. This figure implies that consumers held approximately $96 billion less cash in May 1995 than they would have in a world without crime. The modified Baumol-Tobin model predicts a large increase in household money demand in 2005, mostly due to reduced crime rates.
Nonlinear Analysis and Control of a Reaction-Wheel-Based 3-D Inverted Pendulum

This paper presents control and learning algorithms for a reaction wheel-based 3-D inverted pendulum. The inverted pendulum system has two main features: the ability to balance on its edge or corner and to jump from lying flat to its corner by suddenly braking its reaction wheels. Algorithms that address both features are presented. For balancing, a backstepping-based controller providing global stability (almost everywhere) is derived, together with a simple tuning method based on the analysis of the resulting closed-loop system. For jump-up, a computationally efficient gradient-based learning algorithm is provided, which is shown experimentally to converge to the correct angular velocities enabling a successful jump-up. Moreover, a controller based on feedback linearization is derived and used to track an ideal trajectory during jump-up, increasing robustness and reliability.
Three dimensional circuit oriented electromagnetic modeling for VLSI interconnects

A general approach for modeling 3-D layout geometries is presented. In particular, the partial-element equivalent circuit (PEEC) technique has been used successfully to model interconnect structures for chips and packages. The technique, which is circuit based, permits the electrical modeling of arbitrary 3-D geometries and allows 3-D transmission line properties to be analyzed. Recently, the technique has been extended to include retardation and dielectric layers. The authors have experimented with the use of the asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) approach to speed up the solution of the resulting circuit equations. <<ETX>>
EURO-B.O.S.S.: A European study on chemotherapy in bone-sarcoma patients aged over 40: Outcome in primary high-grade osteosarcoma

Introduction: The EUROpean Bone Over 40 Sarcoma Study (EURO-B.O.S.S.) was the first prospective international study for patients 41-65 years old with high-grade bone sarcoma treated with an intensive chemotherapy regimen derived from protocols for younger patients with high-grade skeletal osteosarcoma. Methods: Chemotherapy based on doxorubicin, cisplatin, ifosfamide, and methotrexate was suggested, but patients treated with other regimens at the investigators’ choice were also eligible for the study. Results: The present report focuses on the subgroup of 218 patients with primary high-grade osteosarcoma. With a median follow-up of 47 months, the 5-year probability of overall survival (OS) was 66% in patients with localized disease and 22% in case of synchronous metastases. The 5-year OS in patients with localized disease was 29% in pelvic tumors, and 70% and 73% for extremity or craniofacial locations, respectively. In primary chemotherapy, tumor necrosis ≥90% was reported in 21% of the patients. There were no toxic deaths; however, hematological toxicity was considerable with 32% of patients experiencing 1 or more episodes of neutropenic fever. The incidence of nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity (mainly peripheral) was 28% and 24%, respectively. After methotrexate, 23% of patients experienced delayed excretion, in 4 cases with nephrotoxicity. Conclusions: In patients over 40 years of age with primary high-grade osteosarcoma, an aggressive approach with chemotherapy and surgery can offer the probability of survival similar to that achieved in younger patients. Chemotherapy-related toxicity is significant and generally higher than that reported in younger cohorts of osteosarcoma patients treated with more intensive regimens.
Design of a n ECG Signal s Amplifier with programmable Gain and Bandwidth Based on a New Method in Pseudo - Resistor Circuits

In this paper, an amplifier is designed in the 0.18 μ m CMOS technology for biomedical applications. The gain and bandwidth of the amplifier is digitally programmable. The amplifier consists of two stages. The low cutoff frequency is tuned in the f irst stage by a pseudo - resistor and it can be adjusted from 0.25 Hz to 9.8 Hz. The high cutoff frequency is also adjusted by proper selection of capacitors at the output of the first stage and it can be changed from 46 Hz to 334 Hz. The overall gain of the amplifier is programmed in the second stage. This is achieved by choosing the right values of capacitors in the input path of the second stage. The supply voltage in this circuit is 1 V and the integrated input referred noise is as low as 3.48 μV rms over the bandwidth the amplifier (from 0.25 Hz to 334 Hz) and the total power consumption has been measured to be 162 nW.
Chronic physical health conditions and disability among Canadian school-aged children: a national profile

Objective: The objective of this study was to provide a national health and disability profile of Canadian school-aged children based on the World Health Organization's definitions of health condition and disability that would facilitate international comparisons of child health data. Methods: Data were used from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, a 1994 – 95 population-based sample of 22 831 children. Findings: An estimated total of 30.3% of Canadian children aged 6 to 11 had one or more chronic physical health conditions/impairments, while 3.6% had activity-limiting conditions/impairments. Children living with one parent were significantly more likely to have activity-limiting conditions/impairments than those living with two parents. Children with conditions/impairments, particularly those with activity limitations, were significantly more likely than children without health problems to have experienced mental health conditions and learning disabilities, missed school days, received special education, visited health professionals, been hospitalized, and used prescription medication. Conclusion: Important differences were found among children in a number of areas as a function of overall physical health status. The findings emphasize the importance of measuring activity limitations distinctly from chronic conditions and impairments, and, perhaps, of measuring impairments distinctly from chronic conditions, and of comparing children with such health problems to children without health problems in order to obtain a more accurate picture of the impact of health on children's lives. The World Health Organization's distinct definitions of health condition and disability facilitate a dimensional approach for describing child health that can serve to clarify this field of study and improve comparability of data across countries.
Cancer Therapy : Preclinical A Novel Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus that Synergizes with Phosphoinositide 3-kinase / Akt Pathway Inhibitors to Target Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Purpose: To develop a new oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) for glioblastoma (GBM) therapy that will be effective in glioblastoma stem cells (GSC), an important and untargeted component of GBM. One approach to enhance oHSV efficacy is by combination with other therapeutic modalities. Experimental Design: MG18L, containing a US3 deletion and an inactivating LacZ insertion in UL39, was constructed for the treatment of brain tumors. Safety was evaluated after intracerebral injection inHSVsusceptible mice. The efficacy of MG18L in human GSCs and glioma cell lines in vitro was compared with other oHSVs, alone or in combination with phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibitors (LY294002, triciribine, GDC-0941, and BEZ235). Cytotoxic interactions betweenMG18L and PI3K/Akt inhibitors were determined using Chou–Talalay analysis. In vivo efficacy studies were conducted using a clinically relevant mouse model of GSC-derived GBM. Results: MG18L was severely neuroattenuated in mice, replicated well in GSCs, and had anti-GBM activity in vivo. PI3K/Akt inhibitors displayed significant but variable antiproliferative activities in GSCs, whereas their combination with MG18L synergized in killing GSCs and glioma cell lines, but not human astrocytes, through enhanced induction of apoptosis. Importantly, synergy was independent of inhibitor sensitivity. In vivo, the combination of MG18L and LY294002 significantly prolonged survival of mice, as compared with either agent alone, achieving 50% long-term survival in GBM-bearing mice. Conclusions: This study establishes a novel therapeutic strategy: oHSV manipulation of critical oncogenic pathways to sensitize cancer cells to molecularly targeted drugs. MG18L is a promising agent for the treatment of GBM, being especially effective when combined with PI3K/Akt pathway–targeted agents. Clin Cancer Res; 17(11); 3686–96. 2011 AACR.
A Disparity-Based Adaptive Multihomography Method for Moving Target Detection Based on Global Motion Compensation

Moving target detection is an important technique in visual surveillance systems. If a camera is freely moving, it becomes more difficult to detect a moving target, especially in the environment of a wide-range background. To compensate for the global motion of a wide-range background, a disparity-based adaptive multi-homography method is proposed. The proposed method comprises four steps: 1) feature point extraction; 2) generation of adaptive multi-homography matrices using motion grouping; 3) generation of background model and detection of background; and 4) target detection. Experimental results show that the proposed method can robustly detect moving targets in sequences taken by a freely moving camera.
Determinants of eating habits among pre-retired and post-retired Mauritians

The aging population (60 years and above) is becoming a global phenomenon and so is in Mauritius and over the last 4 years there has been an increase of 20.4%. There is an inadequate nutrition-related data among the older adults in Mauritius and in addition the factors influencing eating habits warrant investigation. This study aimed to understand how socioeconomic factors (income level and employment status), physical activity level, body mass index, nutritional knowledge is associated with eating habits of pre-retired and post-retired Mauritians. A survey based questionnaire was used to elicit information of the various factors. Chi square test, Independent sample t-test, One-way variance analysis and Pearson cor- relation were the main statistical tests used to determine relationship between eating habits and the different factors. Healthy food items were more frequently consumed by high income earners as compared to low income earners. Similarly, post-retired participants and those having high physical activity level consumed healthy food items more frequently. Low physical activity level was associated with high consumption rate of fast food and low intake of fruits and vegetables. There was also positive influence of nutritional knowledge on eating habits. Income level, employment status, physical activity level and nutritional knowledge have a great impact on the eating habits whereas no relation was found between eating habits and body mass index.
The MTO-Framework for Implementation of E-Business Models

Venture capitalists typically require that you can explain the business model in the time it takes the lift to get to the tenth floor. Implementation typically takes years. There is a disproportionate large amount of focus on what constitutes an innovative new business model compared to implementation since most e-business failures are attributed to failures in implementation. Obviously, there is a significant lack of knowledge of factors leading to successful implementation among those responsible for practical implementation of e-business models. E-business models or IT-systems for inter-organizational purposes cannot be implemented exclusively following the traditional guidelines in the IS/IT literature. Development methods are very different from earlier, there are many more stakeholders, and the environment is much more dynamic. The paper suggests a framework highlighting important implementation factors derived from four different disciplines; venture capitalist experiences, business process reengineering, diffusion theory and system development. The contribution of the paper is a classification of implementation factors in a framework that identifies the technological, the organizational, and the market related factors relevant for implementation of e-business models.
Mechanisms of Antitumor Action of Corynebacterium parvum: Nonspecific Tumor Cell Destruction at Site of an Immunologically Mediated Sensitivity Reaction to C. parvum

: Mice immunized in the footpad with Corynebacterium parvum developed a systemic mechanism with a potential for destroying syngeneic tumor cells. The development of this mechanism of antitumor action depended on the generation of a state of systemic sensitivity to C. parvum antigens, which allowed an immunologically mediated inflammatory response to be focused at the site of a tumor cell challenge or in the bed of an established tumor. This resulted in complete inhibition of growth of the former regression of the latter. This nonspecific mechanism of tumor cell destruction could be utilized only during a relatively short period when mice were responding maximally to the organism. This corresponded to a period during which there was maximum cell division in the lymph node draining the site of immunization with C. parvum, maximum systemic macrophage activation, and maximum sensitivity to eliciting injections of the organism. The potential for destroying tumor cells could be transferred to normal recipients with lymph node cells from C. parvum-immunized donors, which indicated the distinct possibility that antitumor action was based on the cell-mediated response to C. parvum antigens. That the destruction of tumor cells at the site of a C. parvum sensitivity reaction was associated with a massive influx of mono-nuclear cells provided further support for this possibility.
Differences in Rat Models Used in Routine Toxicity Studies

The discussion on whether the Sprague Dawley (SD), the Fischer F344, or the Hannover Wistar rat is the most appropriate model for toxicity studies in rodents is ongoing. A substantial quantity of data on these strains concerning their source, diet, and housing conditions have been published. Generally, before starting a toxicology program in rodents, it should be taken into account that oncogenicity studies will be required for the majority of compounds successfully completing development. Survival, body weight development, incidence, type, time of onset of age-dependent lesions and neoplasms, as well as some special considerations of the rat model selected may be decisive. Therefore, an understanding of the historical background data is essential. These aspects demonstrate why the use of a specific rat model should be carefully considered at the beginning of the toxicology program.
Binocular Vertical Rectus Muscle Recession For Comitant Vertical Strabismus

Background: Binocular vertical rectus muscle recession has not been formally evaluated in the correction of comitant vertical strabismus. Methods: Eight patients with stable comitant vertical strabismus for at least 6 months were included. All underwent recession of the superior rectus muscle of the hypertropic eye combined with an equal or nearly equal recession of the inferior rectus muscle in the hypotropic eye. On the day before surgery, on one of the first three postoperative days, and at one year postoperatively, ocular alignment in vertical and horizontal gaze directions were measured with simultaneous and alternate cover test at a viewing distance of 5 meters, and with the two dimensional Hess screen test. The field of single binocular vision was determined with a Goldmann perimeter. The Lang stereopsis chart was presented at the last follow-up visit. Results: All patients were orthotropic at the last postoperative follow-up visit. In primary gaze, the degree of vertical and horizontal phoria diminished significantly. Normal alignment was achieved in nearly all gaze directions and stereopsis was reestablished. The field of single binocular vision enlarged after the surgery. Conclusions: Binocular vertical rectus muscle recession is an effective surgical approach for patients with comitant vertical ocular misalignment.
Effect of insulin and glucagon on fulminant murine hepatitis.

Fulminant hepatic failure is the most serious complication of viral hepatitis, the mortality of patients with Stage 4 coma being approximately 80 to 90 per cent.1 2 3 4 Most of the survivors recover completely, at least in part because of the remarkable capacity of the liver to regenerate.5 Attempts to sustain life by supportive measures until spontaneous regeneration could occur have so far failed to reduce mortality.6 7 8 We have therefore adopted an approach based on recent studies by Bucher and Swaffield showing that in laboratory animals, hepatic regeneration can be enhanced by the synergistic action of two pancreatic hormones — insulin and .
Energy Accumulation in a Functionally Graded Spatial-Temporal Checkerboard

This letter extends the analysis of wave propagation in transmission lines with LC-parameters varying in space and time and the related effect of energy accumulation emerging from the concept of dynamic materials. We consider a practically important scenario of functionally graded checkerboard in space and time, i.e., the assembly combined of two dielectrics with material property transition zones applied instead of sharp interfaces. It is shown that the energy accumulation in traveling waves is preserved for certain ranges of material and geometric parameters.