Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudoaccommodative cornea treatment using the NIDEK EC-5000 CXIII excimer laser in myopic and hyperopic presbyopes.

PURPOSE To investigate the refractive outcomes and spherical aberration of multifocal LASIK to create a distant-dominant center and near-dominant periphery in hyperopic, myopic, and emmetropic presbyopia. METHODS One hundred ninety-five eyes with myopic presbyopia and 119 eyes with hyperopic or emmetropic presbyopia that underwent LASIK or epithelial LASIK (epi-LASIK) were assessed out to 3 months postoperatively. All eyes underwent the pseudoaccommodative cornea (PAC) treatment using aspheric ablation profiles and wavefront correction with the NIDEK CXIII excimer laser. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -3.80+/-2.10 diopters (D) for myopic presbyopia and +1.00+/-0.92 D for hyperopic or emmetropic presbyopia. RESULTS Mean postoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -0.40+/-0.77 D for myopic presbyopia and +0.15+/-0.62 D for hyperopic or emmetropic presbyopia. Functional vision, defined as 20/30 or better distance uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) combined with J3 or better near UCVA, was achieved in 162 (83%) eyes with myopic presbyopia and 103 (87%) eyes with hyperopic or emmetropic presbyopia. An induction of 0.312 microm of spherical aberration was noted at 6 mm for myopic presbyopia treatments and 0.016 microm for hyperopic presbyopia treatments. CONCLUSIONS The distance-dominant center used for PAC treatments is effective in emmetropic, myopic, and hyperopic presbyopia. The induced spherical aberration allows for depth of focus in patients with presbyopia.
Game Theoretic Approach to Demand Side Management in Smart Grid with User-Dependent Acceptance Prices

Efficient demand side management through dynamic power pricing is an important application in the smart grids. However, in the absence of a detailed user consumption model, it is difficult to set an optimal power price. In this paper, we propose to efficiently capture the user consumption behavior through a user-dependent acceptance price. Each rational user will decide its own acceptance price based on its desire to get served. Then, we model the selfish interaction between operator and users as a Stackelberg game, where the operator aims to maximize its profit, while the individual users try to pay the lowest price and be served in time. After each user selfishly declares its own acceptance price, the operator sets an optimal power price, based on the user feedback and taking into account the random output of the renewable power sources. Simulation results confirm that the operator can maximize its profit and the users get served in time, while the proposed scheme leads to the optimal usage of the renewable power production.
Body mass index rebound and overweight at 8 years of age in hyperphenylalaninaemic children

Aim: To evaluate whether the age at body mass index (BMI) rebound may be associated with overweight at age 8 y in hyperphenylalaninaemic (HPA) children. Methods: A longitudinal observational study including 97 HPA children born 1984–1993 and detected by the National Neonatal Screening programme. Children were followed up at the same institution and evaluated for dietary intakes and anthropometrical parameters from diagnosis up to the age of 8 y. Outcome measure was overweight at age 8 y, defined according to the International Obesity Task Force. The age at BMI rebound, BMI before and at rebound were considered as potential determinants. Familial overweight, breastfeeding and macronutrients intake at age 1 y were considered as confounders. Results: Mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) age at BMI rebound was 5.0 (4.7–5.3) y. At the age of 8 y, 24.7% (95% CI 16.3–33.1%) of children was overweight. Children overweight at the age of 8y exhibited earlier BMI rebound than non‐overweight children (mean difference [95% CI] —2.1 [‐2.8 to ‐1.4] y) and higher BMI from the age of 1 y (mean difference [95% CI] 1.2 [0.9–2.5] kg/m2) onward. Overweight was more likely in children with, rather than without, parental overweight (41.0% vs 19.8%). After adjustment for confounders, logistic analysis showed that earlier BMI rebound (odds ratio [OR] 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.8) and BMI at age 1 y (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.1–4.98) were independently associated with overweight at the age of 8 y.
The Design and Application of the Public Booking Service System

The target of the public booking service system is to relieve the pressure of queue congestion due to the contradictions of supply and demand between people and social resources, achieve a well-ordered management of social resources, and save time spent waiting in line. First, through the analysis of booking resources, this paper proposes a unified booking resources model and achieves the consistency management of all kinds of booking resources. On this basis, this article introduces the basic structure and components of Public Service Booking System; terminal queuing calling system, network application server and Web site. In the end, the paper analyzes the application in Real Estate Trade Center in Sichuan province; the application proves this system is very effective. With the accelerating pace of life, people have no patience to spend time in waiting. Therefore, the high- efficiency and quick booking service has been developed. At present, tickets booking service has been developed, e.g. in the early 1970s, the Federal Republic of Germany's railway system used the railway ticket booking service system "EPA" at first (1); ANA's booking service system "Able", besides the air ticket booking service, some auxiliary services such as passenger's special comestible booking service also can be achieved (2). However, the above separate and independent booking system aiming at achieving sole booking service lacks some effective means of supporting management of some basic data which include personal data, booking message and so on. And also can not make full use of personal data and booking information. Therefore, a uniformly and extensible platform of the public booking service which can promote the service level in service industry and the orderly management of social resources has an important significance. Meanwhile, it provides a means of support for "personalized" service. Based on the analysis of the booking resource, this paper presents a unified booking model, that support consistency management of all kinds of booking resources. On this condition, this paper introduces the basic structure and the component of the remote public booking service system and gives a detailed introduction to its key part: terminal queuing calling system and website. In the final part, it analyzes an application in Real Estate Trade Center in Sichuan province.
Bone marrow-derived fibroblast precursors mediate ischemic cardiomyopathy in mice

We previously described a mouse model of fibrotic ischemia/reperfusion cardiomyopathy (I/RC) arising from daily, brief coronary occlusion. One characteristic of I/RC was the prolonged elevation of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), which was obligate to its phenotype and may contribute to the uptake of bloodborne cells. Here we describe in I/RC hearts a population of small spindle-shaped fibroblasts that were highly proliferative and expressed collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (myofibroblast markers), CD34 (a precursor marker), and CD45 (a hematopoietic marker). These cells represented 3% of all nonmyocyte live cells. To confirm the cells' bone marrow origin, chimeric mice were created by the rescue of irradiated C57BL/6 mice with marrow from ROSA26, a congenic line expressing lacZ. I/RC resulted in a large population of spindle-shaped fibroblasts containing lacZ. We postulated that the fibroblast precursors represented a developmental path for a subset of monocytes, whose phenotype we have shown to be influenced by serum amyloid P (SAP). Thus, we administered SAP in vivo, which markedly reduced the number of proliferative spindle-shaped fibroblasts and completely prevented I/RC-induced fibrosis and global ventricular dysfunction. By contrast, SAP did not suppress the inflammation or chemokine expression seen in I/RC. SAP, a member of the pentraxin family, binds to Fcγ receptors and modifies the pathophysiological function of monocytes. Our data suggest that SAP interferes with assumption of a fibroblast phenotype in a subset of monocytes and that SAP may be an important regulator in the linkage between inflammation and nonadaptive fibrosis in the heart.
Load Following of Multiple Heterogeneous TCL Aggregators by Centralized Control

Aggregate thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) are good candidates for providing load following services in power systems. This paper is concerned with the modeling, evaluation, and control problems of a population of heterogeneous TCLs. Specifically, the heterogeneous population is divided into multiple homogeneous clusters and each cluster, i.e., TCL aggregator, is modeled by an approximated three-input single-output state space model. Here, the aggregators serve as a bridge connecting the load utility and the terminal TCLs, which have their own decision makers and are responsible for aggregate estimation and command issuing. And aggregate evaluation is carried out for the aggregator so as to provide the aggregate regulation capacities and ramping rates, which is useful for setting of the reference power trajectory. Based on the established control model, we furthermore propose a hierarchical centralized control algorithm for a bus load utility to regulate all TCLs inside it so as to provide load following service, while not affecting the customers’ comfort levels. Finally, simulation results with respect to a common bus load are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed aggregate modeling and the centralized load following strategy.
Microencapsulated liposomes in controlled drug delivery: strategies to modulate drug release and eliminate the burst effect.

The release of fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) from alginate-microencapsulated liposomes was studied to evaluate the properties of this system for controlled drug delivery. Liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol (Chol) (molar ratio 7:3) and of PC, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and cholesterol (6:1:3) were encapsulated in alginate (Alg) crosslinked with Ca(2+) (Ca-Alg), Al(3+) (Al-Alg), and Ba(2+) (Ba-Alg). Capsules were coated with poly(l-ornithine) followed by a final alginate coat. A rapid initial burst of protein release was observed from liposomes encapsulated in Ca-Alg and Al-Alg. No burst was observed when liposomes were encapsulated in Ba-Alg, indicating that the crosslinking ions could significantly affect the release of entrapped protein. Also, the release from encapsulated liposomes varied significantly with liposome composition, especially with Ca-Alg as observed with encapsulation of PC, dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), and DOPC/Chol liposomes. Cholesterol increased the leakiness of the liposomes after encapsulation. In all cases, the release from microencapsulated liposomes was much faster than that from free liposomes suggesting an interaction between the liposomes and the alginate. Differential scanning calorimetry supports the hypothesis that alginate was inserted into the lipid bilayer resulting in a rapid release of protein from microencapsulated liposomes. Moreover, it was observed that the degree of interaction between liposomes and alginate varied with liposome composition.
Frequency Dependence of Attenuation Due to Vegetation for Satellite Services

This letter presents the results of vegetation loss measurements at 2.0, 3.5, 5.0, and 6.5 GHz for elevation angles ranging from 20° to 90°. The excess attenuation due to vegetation was measured at four different wooded locations using a remote-controlled airship as a pseudo-satellite. Measurements taken in an open field were used as a reference. The results are given as additional attenuation averaged over the whole range of azimuth and elevation angles for circular polarization. Average results from all four locations vary from 9 dB at 2.0 GHz to 14.5 dB at 6.5 GHz. Linear frequency dependence of vegetation attenuation was observed, and a corresponding empirical model providing the additional vegetation loss as a function of the frequency was derived in closed form. The results are then compared to the literature.
Mechanism for induction of adaptive mutations in Escherichia coli

When bacterial cells are subjected to a strong selective pressure it often induces specific mutations. Here a model is considered in which errors are introduced at random in one of the strands of the DNA molecule: a nick in one of the strands can initiate strand displacement rendering a region of the chromosome single‐stranded. Upon conversion back to double‐stranded DNA there is a certain probability of introducing errors creating a heteroduplex. If an error results in the production of an mRNA molecule encoding a product which provides a selective advantage, growth will be stimulated and the mutation can be immortalized by chromosomal replication. Otherwise, the error can be corrected by the DNA ‘proofreading’ enzymes.
Bioreducible Carboxymethyl Dextran Nanoparticles for Tumor‐Targeted Drug Delivery

Bioreducible carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) derivatives are synthesized by the chemical modification of CMD with lithocholic acid (LCA) through a disulfide linkage. The hydrophobic nature of LCA allows the conjugates (CMD‐SS‐LCAs) to form self‐assembled nanoparticles in aqueous conditions. Depending on the degree of LCA substitution, the particle diameters range from 163 to 242 nm. Doxorubicin (DOX), chosen as a model anticancer drug, is effectively encapsulated into the nanoparticles with high loading efficiency (>70%). In vitro optical imaging tests reveal that the fluorescence signal of DOX quenched in the bioreducible nanoparticles is highly recovered in the presence of glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide capable of reducing disulfide bonds in the intracellular compartments. Bioreducible nanoparticles rapidly release DOX when they are incubated with 10 mm GSH, whereas the drug release is greatly retarded in physiological buffer (pH 7.4). DOX‐loaded bioreducible nanoparticles exhibit higher toxicity to SCC7 cancer cells than DOX‐loaded nanoparticles without the disulfide bond. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observation demonstrate that bioreducible nanoparticles can effectively deliver DOX into the nuclei of SCC7 cells. In vivo biodistribution study indicates that Cy5.5‐labeled CMD‐SS‐LCAs selectively accumulate at tumor sites after systemic administration into tumor‐bearing mice. Notably, DOX‐loaded bioreducible nanoparticles exhibit higher antitumor efficacy than reduction‐insensitive control nanoparticles. Overall, it is evident that bioreducible CMD‐SS‐LCA nanoparticles are useful as a drug carrier for cancer therapy.
Mixed- versus strong right-handedness is associated with biases towards "remember" versus "know" judgements in recognition memory: Role of interhemispheric interaction

Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that episodic versus semantic memories rely primarily on interhemispheric versus intrahemispheric processing, respectively. For example, a recent study found that individuals with presumed greater interhemispheric interaction were superior in episodic recall but inferior at semantic word fragment completion; however, tests of recognition memory yielded no group differences. Interestingly, recognition memory can be based on either explicitly remembering a stimulus or implicitly knowing that a stimulus had been presented. The current experiments administered recognition memory tests to strongly versus mixed handed participants who judged for each recognised item whether their response was based on remembering (episodic memory) or knowing (semantic memory) (Tulving, 1983). Results indicate that strong versus mixed handers are biased towards basing recognition responses on judgements of knowing versus remembering, respectively. As strong versus mixed handedness is associated with greater versus lesser interhemispheric processing, the results support the original hypothesis.
Flavanol-rich cocoa induces nitric-oxide-dependent vasodilation in healthy humans

Background Consumption of flavonoid-rich beverages, including tea and red wine, has been associated with a reduction in coronary events, but the physiological mechanism remains obscure. Cocoa can contain extraordinary concentrations of flavanols, a flavonoid subclass shown to activate nitric oxide synthase in vitro. Objective To test the hypothesis that flavanol-rich cocoa induces nitric-oxide-dependent vasodilation in humans. Design The study prospectively assessed the effects of Flavanol-rich cocoa, using both time and beverage controls. Participants were blinded to intervention; the endpoint was objective and blinded. Methods Pulse wave amplitude was measured on the finger in 27 healthy people with a volume-sensitive validated calibrated plethysmograph, before and after 5 days of consumption of Flavanol-rich cocoa [821 mg of flavanols/day, quantitated as (−)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, and related procyanidin oligomers]. The specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) was infused intravenously on day 1, before cocoa, and on day 5, after an acute ingestion of cocoa. Results Four days of flavanol-rich cocoa induced consistent and striking peripheral vasodilation (P = 0.009). On day 5, pulse wave amplitude exhibited a large additional acute response to cocoa (P = 0.01). l-NAME completely reversed this vasodilation (P = 0.004). In addition, intake of flavanol-rich cocoa augmented the vasodilator response to ischemia. Flavanol-poor cocoa induced much smaller responses (P = 0.005), and none was induced in the time-control study. Flavanol-rich cocoa also amplified the systemic pressor effects of l-NAME (P = 0.005). Conclusion In healthy humans, flavanol-rich cocoa induced vasodilation via activation of the nitric oxide system, providing a plausible mechanism for the protection that flavanol-rich foods induce against coronary events.
Measurement Combination for Acoustic Source Localization in a Room Environment

The behavior of time delay estimation (TDE) is well understood and therefore attractive to apply in acoustic source localization (ASL). A time delay between microphones maps into a hyperbola. Furthermore, the likelihoods for different time delays are mapped into a set of weighted nonoverlapping hyperbolae in the spatial domain. Combining TDE functions from several microphone pairs results in a spatial likelihood function (SLF) which is a combination of sets of weighted hyperbolae. Traditionally, the maximum SLF point is considered as the source location but is corrupted by reverberation and noise. Particle filters utilize past source information to improve localization performance in such environments. However, uncertainty exists on how to combine the TDE functions. Results from simulated dialogues in various conditions favor TDE combination using intersection-based methods over union. The real-data dialogue results agree with the simulations, showing a 45% RMSE reduction when choosing the intersection over union of TDE functions.
Analysis of Match Activities in Elite Soccer Referees During Actual Match Play

This study describes the work-rate profile of Italian high-level soccer referees (N = 33). The referees were examined during official games (n = 96) of the 1992–1996 first division Italian championships (Series A). Subjects were all experienced, top-level referees enrolled in the Commissione Arbitri Nazionali and officiated in the Series A and B Italian championships. Mean age of the referees studied was 37.8 ± 2.1 years. Match analysis was performed using a technology similar to that reported by Ohashi et al. in 1988. Average match distance was 11,469 ± 983 m. Referees, on average, covered 17.2% of the entire match distance at speeds faster than 18.1 km·h−1. A 4.1% decrement of the total distance covered was evident during the second half (p < 0.001). Furthermore, less distances were covered running backward and sideways during the second half compared to the first half (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, the referees experienced no decrement in the distance covered at speeds faster than 18.1 km·h−1 throughout the match. Match analysis revealed the intermittent nature of the referees' activities. Their intensity varied from situation to situation, frequently reaching near maximal intensity. However, sprint bouts never lasted for more than a few seconds (2–4 seconds). Therefore, refereeing, at least at top level, places unique stresses on the officials, and thus specific training and fitness assessment are needed.
Cellular distribution and karyophilic properties of matrix, integrase, and Vpr proteins from the human and simian immunodeficiency viruses.

Infections by human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV) are independent of host cell division since the preintegration complex (PIC), containing the viral DNA, is able to undergo active nuclear import after viral entry. In order to clarify the mechanisms responsible for nuclear import of the PIC, we have analyzed the subcellular distribution and the karyophilic properties of its viral components, matrix protein (MA), integrase (IN), Vpr, and Vpx. Although MA has been reported to contain a nuclear localization signal, the MA/GFP fusions are excluded from the nucleus and associated with cellular membranes. In contrast, both HIV-1 and SIV IN and Vpr localize in the nucleus of transfected cells. Interestingly, only Vpx from SIVsm virus accumulate in the nucleus while SIVsm Vpr is uniformly distributed throughout nucleus and cytoplasm. Coexpression of MA, Vpr, and IN does not induce any change in their respective intracellular localizations. Finally, we confirm the karyophilic properties of HIV-1 IN and Vpr using an in vitro nuclear import assay. These results indicate that the viral proteins IN and Vpr, which are strongly associated with the viral DNA within PIC, may participate in the nuclear import of the HIV PIC.
Energy conversion improvement in ferroelectrics: application to energy harvesting and self-powered systems

The proliferation of consumer electronics, combined with the constant progress in ultra-low power devices and increasing demand in terms of autonomous sensors and sensor networks, has enabled the conception of systems powered up using ambient sources such as vibrations, hence allowing the replacement of batteries that present maintenance issues and environmental problems. However, the power output of microgenerators is still limited from a few tens of microwatts to a few milliwatts. The topic addressed here exposes the conversion enhancement principles for piezoelectric generators, using a simple, low-cost, embeddable and truly self-powerable concept based on an intermittent switching of the piezoelement, allowing a great increase of the piezoelectric conversion abilities and thus of the performance of energy harvesters. Several schemes derived from this basic switching concept will be discussed, with a particular attention placed not only on the energy harvesting abilities of the microgenerators, but also on their realistic implementation and their use for powering up electronics devices (e.g., by considering the power output as a function of the connected load). The application of the conversion enhancement principles to semi-passive, self-powered or semi-active vibration control will be also presented, as well as its application to other conversion effects (e.g., pyroelectric). Finally, a truly self-powered wireless Structural Health Monitoring scheme using an efficient energy harvesting scheme will be described.