Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global connectivity, information diffusion, and the role of multilingual users in user-generated content platforms

Internet content and Internet users are becoming more linguistically diverse as more people speaking different languages come online and produce content on user-generated content platforms. Several platforms have emerged as truly global platforms with users speaking many different languages and coming from around the world. It is now possible to study human behavior on these platforms using the digital trace data the platforms make available about the content people are authoring. Network literature suggests that people cluster together by language, but also that there is a small average path length between any two people on most Internet platforms (including two speakers of different languages). If so, multilingual users may play critical roles as bridges or brokers on these platforms by connecting clusters of monolingual users together across languages. The large differences in the content available in different languages online underscores the importance of such roles. This thesis studies the roles of multilingual users and platform design on two large, user-generated content platforms: Wikipedia and Twitter. It finds that language has a strong role structuring each platform, that multilingual users do act as linguistic bridges subject to certain limitations, that the size of a language correlates with the roles its speakers play in cross-language connections, and that there is a correlation between activity and multilingualism. In contrast to the general understanding in linguistics of high levels of multilingualism offline, this thesis finds relatively low levels of multilingualism on Twitter (11%) and Wikipedia (15%). The findings have implications for both platform design and social network theory. The findings suggest design strategies to increase multilingualism online through the identification and promotion of multilingual starter tasks, the discovery of related other-language information, and the promotion of user choice in linguistic filtering. While weak-ties have received much attention in the social networks literature, cross-language ties are often not distinguished from same-language weak ties. This thesis finds that cross-language ties are similar to same-language weak ties in that both connect distant parts of the network, have limited bandwidth, and yet transfer a non-trivial amount of information when considered in aggregate. At the same time, cross-language ties are distinct from same-language weak ties for the purposes of information diffusion. In general cross-language ties are smaller in number than same-language ties, but each cross-language tie may convey more diverse information given the large differences in the content available in different languages and the relative ease with which a multilingual speaker may access content in multiple languages compared to a monolingual speaker.
The Formalist Revolution of the 1950s

Something happened to economics in the decade of the 1950s that is little appreciated by most economists and even by professional historians of economic thought. The subject went through an intellectual revolution as profound in its impact as the so-called Keynesian Revolution of pre-war years. I call it the Formalist Revolution after Ward (1972, pp. 40–41), who was the first to recognize the profound intellectual transformation of economics in the years after World War II.
Plantar to dorsalis pedis artery subintimal angioplasty in a patient with critical foot ischemia: a novel technique in the armamentarium of the peripheral interventionist.

Revascularization by means of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a mainstay in the management of peripheral artery disease. Recent technical and technological developments, such as subintimal angioplasty [1], have lead to increased use of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty even in the challenging setting of belowthe-knee atherosclerotic disease symptomatic for critical limb ischemia [2,3].
Bipolar radiofrequency ablation with four electrodes: Ex vivo liver experiments and finite element method analysis. Influence of inter-electrode distance on coagulation size and geometry

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop an electrode system with simple needle electrodes which would allow a reliable and predictable ablation zone with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Materials and methods: In the first step, four parallel electrodes (active length 3 cm, diameter 1.8 mm) were inserted in ex vivo bovine liver. A power of 50 W was applied between two pairs of electrodes for 10 min or until current shut-off due to impedance rise. In the second step, the influence of changing inter-electrode distance on coagulation size and geometry was measured. In the third step, a finite element method (FEM) analysis of the experiment was performed to better understand the experimental findings. Results: A bipolar four-electrode system with templates adjusting the inter-electrode distance was successfully developed for ex vivo experiments. A complete and reliable coagulation zone of a 3 × 2 × 2-cm block was obtained most efficiently with an inter-electrode distance of 2 cm in 5.12 ± 0.71 min. Above 2 cm, coagulation was incomplete due to a too low electric field, as demonstrated by the FEM analysis. Conclusions: The optimal inter-electrode distance of the present bipolar four-electrode system was 2 cm, allowing a reliable and predictable ablation zone in ex vivo liver. The FEM analysis correctly simulated and explained the findings in ex vivo liver. The experimental set-up may serve as a platform to gain more insight and to optimise the application of RFA by means of four or more simple needle electrodes.
Real‐time B‐mode ultrasonography for better specificity in the noninvasive diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis.

In order to evaluate the usefulness of B‐mode ultrasonography in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, a prospective study was performed on 145 patients. Each patient was examined with occlusive venous plethysmography, continuous wave Doppler, real‐time B‐mode ultrasonography, and radiographic contrast phlebography. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity versus phlebography were 91 and 82.1 per cent, respectively, for plethysmography, 92 and 86.6 per cent for Doppler, and 94 and 100 per cent for B‐mode sonographic scanning. The combined noninvasive approach reached a 96 per cent sensitivity. B‐mode ultrasonography demonstrated a mass in eight cases, and showed a superficial venous thrombosis in four cases, among the 45 patients without deep vein thrombosis. B‐mode ultrasonography, therefore, appears to be very useful in obtaining a better specificity and differential diagnosis.
Assessment of fault-detection processes: an approach based on reliability techniques

Two major factors influence the number of faults uncovered by a fault-detection process applied to a software artifact (e.g., specification, code): ability of the process to uncover faults, quality of the artifact (number of existing faults). These two factors must be assessed separately, so that one can: switch to a different process if the one being used is not effective enough, or stop the process if the number of remaining faults is acceptable. The fault-detection process assessment model can be applied to all sorts of artifacts produced during software development, and provides measures for both the 'effectiveness of a fault-detection process' and the 'number of existing faults in the artifact'. The model is valid even when there are zero defects in the artifact or the fault-detection process is intrinsically unable to uncover faults. More specifically, the times between fault discoveries are modeled via reliability-based techniques with an exponential distribution. The hazard rate is the product of 'effectiveness of the fault-detection process' and 'number of faults in the artifact'. Based on general hypotheses, the number of faults in an artifact follows a Poisson distribution. The unconditional distribution, whose parameters are estimated via maximum likelihood, is obtained.
Impact of dialyzer membrane selection on cellular responses in acute renal failure: a crossover study.

BACKGROUND When acute renal failure (ARF) is severe enough to require dialysis, in-hospital mortality rates approach 60%. These alarming figures have been ascribed in part to advanced age and the high prevalence of comorbid conditions. In the past several years, a number of attempts have been made to investigate the impact of dialyzer membrane type on clinical outcomes. Unfortunately, to date, clinical studies addressing this question have reported conflicting results. METHODS This crossover study examined the effect of dialyzer membrane type on cytokine synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), superoxide release by neutrophils, and apoptosis or programmed cell death of neutrophils in 24 patients with ARF requiring intermittent hemodialysis. The patients were assigned in an alternate order to a low-flux cellulose acetate (CA) or polysulfone (PS) dialyzer. After three consecutive dialysis sessions, patients were crossed over to the second dialyzer for three additional treatments. These cellular responses were measured upon dialyzer assignment and at the third and sixth dialysis session in relationship to the dialyzer type. RESULTS The results of the study showed no impact of dialyzer biocompatibility on synthesis of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin 10 (IL-10) by PBMCs, superoxide release by neutrophils, or neutrophil apoptosis. This held true regardless of the initial dialyzer assignment. Furthermore, there was no correlation between dialysis adequacy (measured by single-pool Kt/V) and postdialysis cellular responses. CONCLUSIONS In summary, this study refines the question of biocompatibility by comparing a substituted cellulose rather than unsubstituted cellulose dialyzer to a PS dialyzer in the setting of ARF. The results failed to demonstrate a dialyzer advantage on the selected cellular responses.
Relationship between the transplacental gradients of bupivacaine and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein.

1 The binding of bupivacaine (400 ng/ml) to isolated alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was studied at two protein concentrations. At 20 mg/100 ml the extent of bupivacaine binding was 31.0 +/- 1.8% (mean +/- s.d., n = 4), and at a protein concentration of 60 mg/100 ml binding of bupivacaine was 85.8 +/- 1.5% (n = 4). 2 Bupivacaine and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations were measured in plasma samples collected from a maternal peripheral vein and the umbilical vein at delivery (n = 23). The ratio of the foetal:maternal bupivacaine concentrations ranged from 0.17 to 0.52, while the foetal:maternal ration for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations ranged from 0.20 to 0.96. A positive relationship emerged between the two ratios (P less than 0.01). 3 The alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentration gradient across the placenta, and interindividual variability in the gradient appear to contribute to the low and variable transplacental bupivacaine concentration ratio observed.
The bacteriology of primary wound sepsis in potentially contaminated abdominal operations: The effect of irrigation, povidone‐iodine and cephaloridine on the sepsis rate assessed in a clinical trial

Two hundred and nine potentially contaminated abdominal operations were randomly allocated to prophylaxis with a single dose of 1 g cephaloridine intraincisionally, irrigation of the wound at the end of the operation with saline or spraying of the wound with povidone‐iodine. In high risk operations (ileocolorectal or those in obese patients) the rate of major wound sepsis in those protected by cephaloridine was 3·8 per cent compared with 13·2 per cent in the irrigation and 16.7 per cent in the povidone‐iodine groups. In low risk operations no significant differences in sepsis rates were found.
Effects of organic nitrates on mitochondrial respiration and swelling: possible correlations with the mechanism of pharmacologic action.

Several organic nitrates (e.g., mannitol hexanitrate and erythrityl tetranitrate), were found to induce swelling of rat liver mitochondria in vitro and to inhibit the mitochondrial swelling produced by inorganic phosphate and β-hydroxybutyrate. Low concentrations of organic nitrates which are potent vasodilators stimulate oxygen consumption and cause loss of respiratory control of tightly coupled rat liver mitochondria. With organic nitrates of moderate to low pharmacologic activity high concentrations are required to produce loss of respiratory control. The organic nitrates tested which are inactive as coronary dilators do not uncouple oxidative phosphorylation even at very high concentrations. Higher concentrations of the therapeutically employed organic nitrates are required to produce loss of respiratory control with rat heart mitochondria than with liver mitochondria. There is a correlation between (a) the ability of organic nitrates to stimulate mitochondrial respiration, (b) the rate of reaction with reduced glutathione in the presence of liver organic nitrate reductase, and (c) their oil/water partition coefficients. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This research was supported by Grants T1-GM-0096, 1-R01-HE-10107-01, and 1-R0l-CA-02284-17, The National Institutes of Health, U. S. Public Health Service.
Effect of alpha‐chloralose, halothane, pentobarbital and nitrous oxide anesthesia on metabolic coupling in somatosensory cortex of rat

The effect of various anesthetics on the functional‐metabolic coupling of cerebral cortex was studied in rats submitted to unilateral somatosensory stimulation. The regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) was measured autoradiographically using the 2‐deoxyglucose method, and somatosensory activation was carried out by electrical stimulation of the left forepaw. In animals treated with 70% nitrous oxide, 0.5% halothane/70% nitrous oxide or 40 mg/kg pentobarbital, CMRglc of somatosensory cortex did not change despite generation of primary evoked cortical potentials. Anesthesia with 80 mg/kg alpha‐chloralose, in contrast, led to a focal increase of CMRglc in the primary somatosensory cortex from 52.1 ± 18.3 to 73.1 ± 18.9 μmol/100 g/min (means ± s.d.). Metabolic activation was strictly confined to the forelimb (FL) area of somatosensory cortex, and it exhibited a laminar pattern with maximal activation in layers I, II and IV. The preservation of functional‐metabolic coupling under a surgical dose of chloralose renders this anesthetic particularly suited for the investigation of coupling processes under conditions where the experimental requirements preclude the use of unanaesthetized animals.
Evaluation of Formative Computer-based Assessment by Cell Biology Students with Differing Entry Qualifications and Ethnicity

Abstract This study was carried out to examine students’ responses to the use of on-line assessments that included feedback. First year BSc students taking a Cell Biology module undertook such an assessment and were then asked to evaluate the test by completing an anonymous questionnaire. Answers were analysed in light of the respondents’ ethnicity and also the academic route by which they gained entry to university. Statistical analysis of the data showed that students’ views of the utility of the test did not differ significantly either as a function of ethnicity or academic experience, since 80–90% of the students agreed/strongly agreed that regular tests and feedback assisted in their learning process. Generally, it was noted that non-Caucasian population, especially the Black African group strongly agreed that the test exercise benefited their earning experience. In conclusion, asynchronous on-line formative tests which provide feedback are valuable learning aids for students from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Cavity-Backed Annular Slot Antenna for GPS Receiver

A circularly polarized (CP) cavity-backed annular slot antenna for GPS receiver is designed to operate in both the L1 and L2 bands of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The measured impedance bandwidths with VSWR less than 2 are 3.7% (1.19-1.235 GHz) and 1.2% (1.565-1.585 GHz), respectively, the measured 3 dB axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth are 0.9% (1.220-1.231 GHz) and 0.6% (1.572-1.581 GHz), respectively. A cavity is designed to render a unidirectional radiation pattern.
A continuous cell separator based on buoyant force in dissimilar density fluid flows

We present a continuous particle density separator to achieve density-dependent and size-independent particle separation based on the gravity and buoyancy on the particles in dissimilar density fluids. The previous particle separators [1, 2], based on the size or dielectrophoretic property of particles, are suitable for size-dependent and density-independent particle separation; thus having difficulty to collect the same kind of particle having an identical density in size variations. Experimental study verifies the present device, flowing a diluted whole blood in dissimilar density fluids (upper fluid density, ρ<inf>1</inf> is 1.0g/ml and lower fluid density, ρ<inf>2</inf> is 1.1g/ml), by successfully extracting 82% Red Blood Cells (RBCs, ρ<inf>b</inf>=1.1−1.15g/ml, d=8−9µm) and 97% White Blood Cells (WBCs, ρ<inf>a</inf>=1.06−1.09g/ml, d=8−15µm) based on their densities, respectively. Therefore, the present particle density separator demonstrates the performance of separating RBCs and WBCs based on their density without size effect.
DNA Methylation Down-Regulates EGFR Expression in Chickens

SUMMARY. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a growth-factor-receptor tyrosine kinase, is up-regulated in numerous tumors, which provides a good target for cancer therapy. Although it has been documented that oncoviruses are responsible for the activation of EGFR in tumors, the impact of Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection on EGFR has not yet been studied. We performed quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR to check EGFR expression and found that it was significantly down-regulated after MDV infection. To explore the mechanism of EGFR repression, we examined the level of methylation of the EGFR promoter. The methylation level was significantly increased at 21 days postinfection, indicating a potential role of promoter methylation in EGFR repression. RESUMEN. La metilación del ADN disminuye la expresión del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (EGFR) en los pollos. El receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (con las siglas en inglés EGFR), que es un receptor de un factor de crecimiento del tipo quinasa de tirosina, está regulado para su aumento en numerosos tumores, lo que lo convierte en un buen objetivo para la terapia contra el cáncer. Aunque se ha documentado que los oncovirus son responsables de la activación de EGFR en tumores, el impacto de la infección por el virus de la enfermedad de Marek (MDV), sobre el EGFR aún no ha sido estudiado. Se llevó a cabo una técnica de transcriptasa inversa y PCR cuantitativo (RT-PCR) para comprobar la expresión del EGFR y se encontró que era regulado hacia su disminución de manera significativa después de la infección por el virus de Marek. Para explorar el mecanismo de represión del EGFR, se examinó el nivel de metilación del promotor del EGFR. El nivel de metilación aumentó significativamente a los 21 días después de la infección, lo que indica un posible papel de la metilación del promotor en la represión del EGFR.
Ecological interactions and coexistence are predicted by gene expression similarity in freshwater green algae

Phenotypic variation controls the species interactions which determine whether or not species coexist. Long‐standing hypotheses in ecology and evolution posit that phenotypic differentiation enables coexistence by increasing the size of niche differentiation. This hypothesis has only been tested using macroscopic traits to date, but niche differentiation, particularly of microscopic organisms, also occurs at the molecular and metabolic level. We examined how phenotypic variation that arises at the level of gene expression over evolutionary time affects phytoplankton species interactions and coexistence. We predicted that similarity in gene expression among species would decline with phylogenetic distance, and that reduced similarity in gene expression would weaken competition, increase facilitation and promote coexistence. To test this, we grew eight species of freshwater green algae in monocultures and bicultures for 46 days in a laboratory microcosm experiment. We quantified the strength of species interactions by: (i) fitting Lotka–Volterra models to time‐series densities and estimating interaction coefficients, and (ii) calculating relative densities that compare species’ steady‐state densities in biculture to those in monoculture. We used Illumina high throughput sequencing to quantify the expression of 1253 families of homologous genes, including a set of 17 candidate genes that we hypothesized a priori to be involved in competition or facilitation. Synthesis. We found that closely related species had greater similarity in gene expression than did distantly related species, but as gene expression became more similar, species experienced weaker competition or greater facilitation, and were more likely to coexist. We identified gene functional categories that were uniquely differentially regulated in association with particular species interaction types. Contrary to common thinking in ecology and evolution, similarity in gene expression, and not differentiation, was associated with weaker competition, facilitation and coexistence.
The origin of variable retention time in DRAM

To investigate the origin of DRAM variable retention time (VRT), we use test structures and carefully measure the time dependence of leakage current in DRAM. Consequently we find for the first time that the junction leakage current fluctuates just like random telegraph signal. We analyze the leakage current fluctuation in detail and find it the origin of VRT
High frequency of SDHB germline mutations in patients with malignant catecholamine-producing paragangliomas: implications for genetic testing.

CONTEXT Adrenal and extraadrenal paragangliomas are tumors of chromaffin cells that are usually benign but that may also develop into malignant disease. Mutations of the gene for succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) are associated with a high risk of malignancy, but establishing the precise contribution requires relatively large numbers of patients with well-defined malignancy. OBJECTIVE We assessed the prevalence of SDHB mutations in a series of patients with malignant paraganglioma. DESIGN SDHB mutation testing was carried out in 44 consecutive patients with malignant paraganglioma. Clinical characteristics of patients with malignant disease due to SDHB mutations were compared with those without mutations. RESULTS Pathogenic SDHB mutations were found in 13 of the 44 patients (30%). Close to one third of patients had metastases originating from an adrenal primary tumor, compared with a little over two thirds from an extraadrenal tumor. Among the latter patients, the frequency of SDHB mutations was 48%. CONCLUSION This study establishes that missense, nonsense, frameshift, and splice site mutations of the SDHB gene are associated with about half of all malignancies originating from extraadrenal paragangliomas. The high frequency of SDHB germline mutations among patients with malignant disease, particularly when originating from an extraadrenal paraganglioma, may justify a high priority for SDHB germline mutation testing in these patients.