Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual function in school‐aged children born before 29 weeks of gestation: a population‐based study

The aim of this study was to assess visual function, including visual perception, in a geographically‐based population of school‐aged children, with a median age of 7.2 years (range 5.1 to 9.3 years), born before 29 weeks of gestation to mothers living in Göteborg, Sweden. Fifty‐one preterm children participated in the study, six of whom had known brain lesions. Visual acuity, visual fields, stereoacuity, and visual perception were tested. The Test of Visual Perceptual Skills —Revised (TVPS‐R, Gardner 1996) was used to measure visual perception, and the results were compared with those of 50 term (control) subjects. Six percent of the preterm children were visually impaired, with a visual acuity of less than 0.3 (6/18), while 42% of all the preterm children and 34% of those without known brain lesions had a total score below the 5th centile of the reference material for the test, compared with 14% of the control subjects. In conclusion, visual‐perceptual problems seem to be common among very preterm children and should be screened for and assessed before the children start school.
A VANADIUM BROMOPEROXIDASE CATALYZES THE FORMATION OF HIGH‐MOLECULAR‐WEIGHT COMPLEXES BETWEEN BROWN ALGAL PHENOLIC SUBSTANCES AND ALGINATES 1

The interaction between phenolic substances (PS) and alginates (ALG) has been suggested to play a role in the structure of the cell walls of brown seaweeds. However, no clear evidence for this interaction was reported. Vanadium bromoperoxidase (VBPO) has been proposed as a possible catalyst for the binding of PS to ALG. In this work, we studied the interaction between PS and ALG from brown algae using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and optical tweezers microscopy. The analysis by SEC revealed that ALG forms a high‐molecular‐weight complex with PS. To study the formation of this molecular complex, we investigated the in vitro interaction of purified ALG from Fucus vesiculosus L. with purified PS from Padina gymnospora (Kütz.) Sond. , in the presence or absence of VBPO. The interaction between PS and ALG only occurred when VBPO was added, indicating that the enzyme is essential for the binding process. The interaction of these molecules led to a reduction in ALG viscosity. We propose that VBPO promotes the binding of PS molecules to the ALG uronic acids residues, and we also suggest that PS are components of the brown algal cell walls.
Hardware-based pointer data prefetcher

Effective prefetching of data from a lower memory hierarchy to higher level is a helpful way to combat the increasing memory latency that impedes the performance improvement. This paper presents a hardware-based prefetching technique to alleviate load misses caused by irregular access patterns common in linked-list structures. Different from previous works we identify a pointer load using its architecture source register. A table called target register bitmap (TRB) is maintained. By looking up this table we can identify if a load is a pointer load. We remember the base addresses of consumer load operations in a cache and prefetch the data pointed by speculative virtual addresses to a prefetch buffer, which is smaller than the data cache. Whenever a load is encountered, both the prefetch buffer and the data cache are looked up. SPEC2000 and Olden benchmarks are used to evaluate this method. This technique is able to predict accurately over 80% of the pointer load address. A system using this technique having 8KB LI data cache plus a 1KB address cache and a 1KB prefetch buffer gives an average of around 6% performance improvement over a system with 16KB LI data cache.
Review Article: Effectiveness of Patient Care Teams and the Role of Clinical Expertise and Coordination

Health care is increasingly provided by teams of health professionals rather than by individual doctors. For decision makers, it is imperative to identify the critical elements for effective teams to transform health care workplaces into effective team-based environments. The authors reviewed the research literature published between 1990 and February 2008. The available research indicated that teams with enhanced clinical expertise improved professional performance and had mixed effects on patient outcomes. Teams with improved coordination had some positive effects on patient outcomes and limited effects on costs and resource utilization. The combination of enhanced expertise and coordination only showed some limited effect on patient outcomes. The authors conclude that enhancement of the clinical expertise is a potentially effective component of improving the impact of patient care teams. The added value of coordination functions remained unclear. Overall, current studies provide little insight into the underlying mechanisms of teamwork.
Phenotypic switching of in vitro mandibular condylar cartilage during matrix mineralization

In order to analyze the phenotypic conversion of chondrocytes, mandibular condyles of mice and rabbits were cultured under cell and organ culture systems, and then examined by a combination of morphological and biochemical procedures. In organ culture, mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) obtained from newborn mice began to mineralize from the central zone and then progressively widened towards the peripheral zone. Electron microscopic observations showed that with the increasing duration of the organ culture, chondrocytes at the central zone converted into spindle-shaped osteoblastic cells accompanying the formation of the bone type of thick-banded collagen fibrils. To obtain a better understanding of the chondrocytic conversion, immunolocalizations for type I and type X collagens and osteocalcin (OC) were examined in mouse MCC cells in cell culture. Type X collagen and OC were expressed almost simultaneously at the late stage of culture, and type I collagen was detected along the calcified nodues after the production of these proteins. Northern blot analysis in cell cultures of rabbit MCC indicated that type II collagen and alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) were highly expressed at day 7, but subsequently decreased. In contrast, mRNA for type I collagen was expressed at a low level on day 7 and peaked on day 12. The present results suggest that, morphologically and biochemically, cellular modification in MCC cells under culture conditions occurs at a cellular morphological level and also at marker-gene-expression level.
Dual-energy CT as a potential new diagnostic tool in the management of gout in the acute setting.

OBJECTIVE Gout is the most common crystal deposition arthropathy currently diagnosed clinically and with arthrocentesis. Dual-energy CT is a promising new imaging technique offering potential new applications in a number of clinical areas. CONCLUSION The ability of dual-energy CT to diagnose early gout and its use as a problem-solving tool is shown here. Diagnosis of subclinical gout could avert associated long-term complications, thereby reducing disease burden and improving overall quality of life.
Dietary fatty acids in health and disease: greater controversy, greater interest.

DOI:10.1097/MCO.0000000000000038 Until relatively recently, understandings about dietary fatty acids and human health were fairly straightforward. First, saturated fatty acids raise serum cholesterol concentration and so would be associated with increased cardiovascular risk and have therefore been considered to be unhealthy [1]. Secondly, the n-6 fatty acid linoleic acid lowers serum cholesterol concentration and so would be associated with lower cardiovascular risk, and has therefore been considered to be healthy [1]. Finally, the marine n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) favourably modify cardiovascular risk factors, lowering cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and have therefore been considered to be healthy [2,3]. These anticipated effects on cardiovascular disease risk are uniformly reflected in dietary recommendations that are in place across the globe. Further support for a key role for marine n-3 fatty acids in human health comes from observations of benefits in inflammatory conditions [4,5], cancer [6,7], and mental health [8,9]. However, in 2010 Ramsden et al. [10] produced a new meta-analysis that questioned the traditionally accepted roles of saturated fatty acids and linoleic acid in determining cardiovascular risk, as discussed elsewhere [11,12]. Ramsden et al. [10] evaluated the findings of studies specifically addressing the impact of increased linoleic acid intake separately from those that included linoleic acid in combination with n-3 fatty acids. They concluded that ‘[current] advice to specifically increase n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is unlikely to provide the intended benefits and may actually increase the risks of coronary heart disease and death’ [10]. Furthermore, in the same year, three large intervention trials with marine n-3 fatty acids failed to replicate earlier findings of reduced cardiovascular mortality in at-risk patients [13–15]; these trials are discussed elsewhere [16,17]. Over the past 2 years, a series of diverse publications have further rocked the formerly sound foundations on which advice to consume linoleic acid and marine n-3 fatty acids has been built. Early in 2013, Ramsden et al. [18] published new data from an old intervention study, the Sydney
Less is More: Sparse Graph Mining with Compact Matrix Decomposition

Given a large sparse graph, how can we find patterns and anomalies? Several important applications can be modeled as large sparse graphs, e.g., network traffic monitoring, research citation network analysis, social network analysis, and financial transactions. Low‐rank decompositions, such as singular value decomposition (SVD) and CUR, are powerful techniques for revealing latent/hidden variables and associated patterns from high dimensional data. However, those methods often ignore the sparsity property of the graph, and hence usually incur too high memory and computational cost to be practical.
Regulation of ovarian follicular development: A review of microscopic studies

Follicular development in the mammalian ovary is a complex process regulated by an orchestrated action of the pituitary gonadotropins, e.g., follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and local ovarian factors, such as peptide growth factors and steroids. The mechanism of endocrine/paracrine/autocrine regulation of folliculogenesis (i.e., cell proliferation and functions) has been addressed largely by biochemical means. However, the availability of immunological and molecular tools now enables us to undertake critical microscopic studies revealing the ovarian cell‐type specific synthesis and/or accumulation of many of these local peptide modulators, their roles in the proliferation and differentiation of follicular cells, and their regulation by gonadotropins and local factors. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive yet complete picture of the endocrine/autocrine regulation of mammalian folliculogenesis as revealed by microscopic studies. Efforts have been made to include adequate research information relevant to update our understanding of the process of follicular development; however, to maintain the brevity, many equally important studies could not be included. This review confirms that FSH and LH are still the primary stimuli for follicular development. However, it is clear that the actions of these hormones at the cell level involve a host of peptide factors which are produced locally by different follicular cell types and which are powerful modulators of gonadotropin actions. The temporal and spatial expression of the genes of these modulators, the synthesis of active factors, their interactions, and the dynamics of their receptors on the follicular cell surface may be the ultimate determinants of cellular events which are crucial to coordinated growth and differentiation of follicular cells leading to folliculogenesis and ovulation. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Absorption spectroscopy of complex rare earth ion doped hybrid materials over a broad wavelength range

In the present work we applied a measurement setup to determine several relevant properties of rare-earth doped nanoparticles dispersed in polymer slab waveguides in a single absorption measurement: background absorption of the polymer host material, water absorption, polymer composition (overtones), rare earth concentration, and ligand contribution (increase of exponential loss trend in the UV). Furthermore, nanoparticle size and concentration in case of a refractive index mismatch (1//spl lambda//sup 4/ and r/sup 6/ dependence of Rayleigh scattering losses in the UV) could be extracted.
A Model for Judgments of Work Values and Job Satisfaction

First, a discussion is presented of some previous research results on the relation of a person's assessment of the importance (“value”) of an object and his or her attitude toward that object, in particular on the relation of work values with job satisfaction. Then, a model is formulated and simulated to explain how both types of judgments are generated. In Phase 1, the elements of the mental representation of the respective attitude object are aggregated by two composition rules to an overall satisfaction and an overall importance judgment, respectively. In addition, possible dissonance of high importance and low satisfaction is reduced by a coping function.
Modeling of OxRAM variability from low to high resistance state using a stochastic trap assisted tunneling-based resistor network

In this work, a model is proposed to explain the variability of OxRAM devices, both in their high and low resistive states. This model is based on the calculation of a 3D resistance network, using trap assisted tunneling current. The stochastic nature of the resistance is captured by random placement of traps within a specific spatial distribution.
Metallic jet production using pulsed electrical discharges in water

Capacitor-bank driven pulsed electrical discharges in water can create high pressures, of the order of several tens of kilobars. Such pressures have industrial applications, such as in rock fragmentation. We report, for the first time, the use of such discharges to accelerate thin metallic liners to high velocities. The liners turn into high-velocity jets, which can perforate metal sheets. These experiments make use of a 15 kV, 60 kJ capacitor bank. The bank delivers energy to the load through a coaxial cable. The load is a fluid-filled cavity consisting of a right-circular cylinder, one end of which is heavily tamped. The other end is bounded by a conical copper liner. The cavity is filled with a viscous fluid. Discharge of the capacitor bank dumps energy in a small region of the fluid, producing a high pressure "hot zone". The resulting shock/pressure waves produce liner collapse and acceleration, leading to a high-velocity jet. Approximate measurements indicate that the velocity lies in the range 1.4-1.6 km/sec. We have studied the performance of these jets for metal plate perforation. Jets produced by a Cu liner can perforate up to 5 mm of Al sheet. The design and performance of this system is discussed.
Low power nMOS based memory cell

This research proposed a new type of memory cell designed by using only nMOS transistors. The memory cell consumes less power and also occupies minimum amount of silicon area. The stability of the data during successive read operation and noise margin are in the promising range. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the validity and competency of the proposed cell.
Radiometric correction effects in Landsat multi‐date/multi‐sensor change detection studies

Radiometric corrections serve to remove the effects that alter the spectral characteristics of land features, except for actual changes in ground target, becoming mandatory in multi‐sensor, multi‐date studies. In this paper, we evaluate the effects of two types of radiometric correction methods (absolute and relative) for the determination of land cover changes, using Landsat TM and Landsat ETM+ images. In addition, we present an improvement made to the relative correction method addressed. Absolute correction includes a cross‐calibration between TM and ETM+ images, and the application of an atmospheric correction protocol. Relative correction normalizes the images using pseudo‐invariant features (PIFs) selected through band‐to‐band PCA analysis. We present a new algorithm for PIFs selection in order to improve normalization results. A post‐correction evaluation index (Quadratic Difference Index (QD)), and post‐classification and change detection results were used to evaluate the performance of the methods. Only the absolute correction method and the new relative correction method presented in this paper show good post‐correction and post‐classification results (QD index ≈ 0; overall accuracy >80%; kappa >0.65) for all the images used. Land cover change estimations based on uncorrected images present unrealistic change rates (two to three times those obtained with corrected images), which highlights the fact that radiometric corrections are necessary in multi‐date multi‐sensor land cover change analysis.
Effect of Reaction Pressure and Carrier Gas on Toluene Disproportionation over Molybdenum−ZSM-5 Catalyst

This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of reaction pressure and temperature on toluene disproportionation using a ZSM-5-based catalyst impregnated with molybdenum. The results of the study showed that both toluene conversion and xylene selectivity were strongly dependent on temperature, pressure, and the kind of carrier gas used. Toluene conversion compared at the same temperature and pressure was found to be higher when nitrogen instead of hydrogen was used as the carrier gas. For both carrier gases, it was found that toluene conversion increased with both pressure and temperature. Furthermore, it was observed that catalyst deactivation was more rapid and more severe with nitrogen as the carrier gas than with hydrogen.
CD of gels and suspensions: Apparent CD in the soret region of sickle hemoglobin gels

CD spectra in the soret region of sickle‐cell deoxyhemoglobin (deoxy‐HbS) fiber gels are radically different from the CD of deoxy‐HbS in solution. An explanation is found using the Stokes–Mueller representation of the interaction of a polarized beam with the instrument optical train and sample to derive expressions for the apparent CD of gels and suspensions of optically active molecules that consist of randomly oriented domains or particles that are linearly dichroic and linearly birefringent. These theoretical considerations show that the apparent CD spectra from such systems have contributions from the LD and birefringence of each domain even if no net linear birefringence and dichroism is apparent in the sample. Thus, the interpretation of the CD from gels and suspensions is problematic, unless it can be demonstrated that each domain or particle has extremely small absorbance or that the LD and birefringence of each is a very small fraction of the total absorbance. As a result, we conclude that the spectra of HbS gels are not due to the CD of the heme per se; rather, they also reflect the randomly oriented domain structure of the gels and the LD and linear birefringence associated with each domain.
Cloning and expression of an anti-LDL(-) single-chain variable fragment, and its inhibitory effect on experimental atherosclerosis

The in vivo modified forms of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are important for the formation of foam cells and as mediators of the immuno-inflammatory process involved in the progression of atherosclerosis. Electronegative LDL, LDL(-), is a LDL subfraction with pro-inflammatory properties that is present in human blood. To investigate possible atheroprotective effects, an anti-LDL(-) single-chain variable fragment (scFv) was expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and its activity was evaluated in vitro against macrophages and in experimental atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice. The recombinant 2C7 scFv was produced in a yield of 9.5 mg of protein/L. The specificity and affinity of purified 2C7 scFv against LDL(-) was confirmed by ELISA. To assess the activity of 2C7 scFv on foam cell formation, RAW 264.7 macrophages were exposed to LDL(-) in the presence or absence of 2C7 scFv. The 2C7 scFv inhibited the uptake of LDL(-) by macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, and internalization of LDL(-) by these cells was found to be mediated by the CD36 and CD14 receptor. In addition, compared with untreated cells, lipid accumulation in macrophages was decreased, and the expression of Cd36, Tlr-4 and Cox-2 was downregulated in macrophages treated with 2C7 scFv. Importantly, compared with untreated mice, the treatment of Ldlr-/- mice with 2C7 scFv decreased the atherosclerotic lesion area at the aortic sinus. In conclusion, our data show that 2C7 scFv inhibits foam cell formation and atherosclerotic plaque development by modulating the expression of genes relevant to atherogenesis. These results encourage further use of this antibody fragment in the development of new therapeutic strategies that neutralize the pro-atherogenic effects of LDL(-).
Detection and localization of syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacteria in granular sludge by in situ hybridization using 16S rRNA-based oligonucleotide probes

In situ hybridization with fluorescent oligonucleotides was used to detect and localize microorganisms in the granules of two lab-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors that had been fed for several months with either sucrose or a mixture of volatile fatty acids. Sections of the granules were hybridized with 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes for Bacteria, Archaea, specific phylogenetic groups of methanogens, and two syntrophic propionate-oxidizing strains, MPOB and KOPROP1. Cells of the syntrophic strain KOPROP1 were not detected in either type of sludge granules. Hybridizations of the sucrose-fed granules showed an outer layer of mainly bacterial microcolonies with different morphologies. More inwards of these granules, a layer of different methanogenic microcolonies mixed with large colonies of the syntrophic strain MPOB could be detected. The MPOB colonies were intertwined with hydrogen- or formate-consuming methanogens, indicating their syntrophic growth. The granules fed with volatile fatty acids showed an outer layer of mainly bacteria and then a thick layer of Methanosaeta-like methanogens mixed with a few bacteria and a layer of methanogens mixed with syntrophic MPOB microcolonies. The centers of both sludge types consisted of large cavities and methanogenic microcolonies. These results indicate a juxtapositioning of syntrophic bacteria and methanogens and provide additional evidence for a layered microbial architecture of anaerobic granular sludge.
Group selection in predator-prey communities.

Many animals regulate their population density by patterns of behavior that would be easy to explain if the forces of natural selection acted to optimize group properties. But Darwinian selection acts on individuals, not groups, and most simple theories have shown group selection to be too slow ever to oppose individual selection successfully. In this book Michael Gilpin presents a model, based on predator-prey dynamics, wherein nonlinear effects are important, so that small advantages to the selfish individual are nonlinearly amplified into disaster for his group. The result is that group selection can be rapid and powerful. Of course many instances of apparent group selection can be explained by kin selection; in other cases, close examination reveals that seemingly altruistic behavior directly benefits the individual genotype as well as the group. The value of the monograph is that it provides a robust model in which group selection, pure and unadulterated, can be seen to work.