Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Intention and Effect

Objective: This post occupancy evaluation (POE) assessed the impact of architectural design on psychosocial well-being among patients and staff in the context of a new complex continuing care and rehabilitation facility. Background: Departing from typical POEs, the hospital design intentions formed the theoretical basis to assess outcomes. Intentions included creating an environment of wellness; enhancing connection to the community, the city, and nature; enhancing opportunities for social interaction; and inspiring activity. Methods: A pretest–posttest quasi experiment, including quantitative surveys, assessed the impact of the building design on well-being outcomes across three facilities—the new hospital, the former hospital, and a comparison facility with a similar population. Results: With the exception of connection to neighborhood (for patients) and opportunities to visit with others (for staff) and wayfinding (for patients and staff), impressions of the new hospital mirrored the design intentions relative to the former hospital and the comparison facility among patients and staff. Perceptions of improvement in mental health, self-efficacy in mobility, satisfaction, and interprofessional interactions were enhanced at the new hospital relative to the former hospital, whereas optimism, depressive symptoms, general well-being, burnout, and intention to quit did not vary. Interestingly, patients and staff with favorable impressions of the building design fared better on most well-being-related outcomes relative to those with less favorable impressions. Conclusions: Beyond the value of assessing the impact of the design intentions on outcomes, the approach used in this study would benefit evaluation strategies across a diversity of health and other public and large-scale buildings.
Regulation of postreceptor signaling in the pheromone response pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

alpha-Factor pheromone inhibits division of yeast a cells. After prolonged exposure to alpha-factor, the cells adapt to the stimulus and resume cell division. The sst2 mutation is known to inhibit adaptation. This report examines adaptation in scg1 (also designated gpa1) and STE4Hpl (Hpl indicates haploid lethal) mutants that exhibit constitutive activation of the pheromone response pathway. Recovery of the STE4Hpl mutant was blocked by the sst2-1 mutation, whereas recovery of the scg1-7 mutant was not completely blocked by sst2-1. These results indicate that both SST2-dependent and -independent mechanisms regulate postreceptor events in the pheromone response pathway. Down regulation of receptors in response to alpha-factor was independent of the signal that was generated in the scg1 mutant.
Electromagnetismlike Mechanism Descriptor with Fourier Transform for a Passive Copy-move Forgery Detection in Digital Image Forensics

Copy-move forgery is a special type of forgery that involves duplicating one region of an image by covering it with a copy of another region from the same image. This study develops a simple and powerful descriptor called Electromagnetismlike mechanism descriptor (EMag), for locating tampered areas in copy-move forgery on the basis of Fourier transform within a reasonable amount of time. EMag is based on the collective attraction-repulsion mechanism, which considers each images pixel as an electrical charge. The main component of EMag is the degree of the attraction-repulsion force between the current pixel and its neighbours. In the proposed algorithm, the image is divided into similar non-overlapping blocks, and then the final force for each block is evaluated and used to construct the tampered image features vector. The experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in terms of detection time and detection accuracy. The detection rate of the proposed algorithm is improved by reduction of false positive rate (FPR) and increment of true positive rate (TPR).
Analysis of lateral IGBT with a variation in lateral doping drift region in junction isolation technology

This brief demonstrates the measured and simulated performance of a high-voltage junction-isolated lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor (LIGBT) with a variation in lateral doping (VLD) drift region. Both experimental and simulation results show that significant advancements in breakdown voltages (BVs) and latch-up current densities can be obtained using this technology without compromising the forward voltage drop. The results validate that a VLD drift region can achieve the required BV with smaller drift region lengths, in comparison to conventional LIGBTs using uniform drift region technology, and that the VLD drift region technology enhances the safe operating area
Effect of Al-Anon attendance on family function and quality of life in women in Mashhad, Iran

Abstract Background: Al-Anon self-help group is the sole source of assistance for families whose members suffer from alcohol abuse problems in Iran. Objectives: To assess the effects of Al-Anon meeting attendance on family function and quality of life of women living with husbands with alcohol use disorders. Methods: The study was conducted among two groups of women first time participants in Al-Anon (n = 40) and participants who had attended Al-Anon for at least six months (n = 40) in Mashhad, Iran. Participants were administered the Quality of Life Short Form (QOL SF-36) and Family Assessment Device (FAD). Results: There was a significant group difference in the QOL SF-36 total as well as in the sub-scores of role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, pain, and social functioning sub-scores. No significant group differences were observed in FAD sub-scores, except for the subscale of problem solving. Conclusion: These findings suggest Al-Anon, when other structured therapeutic interventions are not available, may be of particular benefit for quality of life issues in women attendees.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor-Mediated Renal Epithelial Branching Morphogenesis Is Regulated by Glypican-4 Expression

ABSTRACT The glypican (Gpc) family of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans are expressed in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated fashion. To determine if individual Gpcs can modulate heparin-binding growth factor signaling, we examined hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-stimulated mitogenic, motogenic, and morphogenic responses of renal tubular cells expressing different Gpcs. Adult inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells were found to express primarily Gpc4 and to proliferate, migrate, and form tubules with HGF, correlating with sustained extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Embryonic IMCD cells expressing predominantly Gpc3 proliferated and migrated in response to HGF but activated ERK only transiently and failed to form tubules. Overexpressing Gpc-4 but not Gpc-3 or Gpc-1 led to sustained HGF-stimulated ERK activation and rescued the tubulogenic response in these cells. These results demonstrate that both signaling and phenotypic responses to HGF can be regulated by specific Gpc expression patterns.
Temperature , Aggregate Risk , and Expected Returns [ VERY PRELIMINARY VERSION . PLEASE DO NOT CIRCULATE

In this paper we argue that temperature is a source of aggregate economic risk that influences financial markets. Our argument is based on evidence from global capital markets, which shows that the covariance between country equity returns and temperature contains information about the cross-country risk premium; countries closer to the equator (with higher temperatures) carry positive temperature risk premium which decreases as one moves farther away from the equator. We show that world GDP growth is negatively related to temperature. Moreover, countries close to the equator have larger negative temperature exposure which becomes more positive far from the equator. The differences in temperature betas mirror exposures to aggregate growth rate risk. That is portfolios with larger exposure to risk from aggregate growth also have larger temperature betas and hence larger risk-premium. We provide a Long-Run Risks based model that accounts for differences in country betas and its links to expected returns, and the connection between aggregate growth and temperature risks.
History of vacuum circuit breakers and recent developments in Japan

Vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) have been developed and widely applied in Japan to meet the requirements of increasing energy consumption and also in national security of various areas. As a result, for example, a 168 kV two break porcelain type and a 100 kA one break VCB have already appeared in the Japanese market and they are currently being exported to world-wide markets. VCBs interrupt currents in vacuum, and this means they do not exhaust dissolved gases which are sometimes harmful to the human body or cause effects on the environment. Therefore, by its nature, the recycling of materials and safety to the human body have been realized, and also no global warming effects would be expected. Energy is extremely essential and important in human daily life, and many types of circuit breakers play important roles in electrical power transmission and distribution systems to maintain the systems reliability and safety by switching the systems under several conditions. Since vacuum circuit breakers possess a lot of advantages such as high current interrupting capabilities, small size, and low cost, they will be used much more in the future, and at this moment, we believe it is very worthy to discuss and consider thoroughly future trends of VCBs. In this paper, the results of the developments in Japan will be reviewed, the reflection of the results will be stated, and the subjects of engineering in the 21st century will be discussed. These will include recycling, safeguards to the human body and the fireless nature of VCBs; and it will be demonstrated that the developmental works of VCBs are being wonderfully explored in Japan now and in the future.
A comparative survey of the phagocytosis of different species of bacteria by Kupffer cells; perfusion studies with the isolated rat liver.

A TECHNIQUE has been described recently for measuring the phagocytosis of viable bacteria by Kupffer cells during perfusion of the isolated rat liver (Howard and Wardlaw, 1958). An opsonic effect of normal serum in this system was demonstrated by the increased rate of phagocytosis of Bacterium coli when suspended in serum as compared with Ringer-Locke, both suspensions being passed successively through the same liver. The serum factors which promoted phagocytosis appeared to be specific antibody, complement and another heat-labile factor which was absorbed by zymosan. The identity of the latter opsonin with properdin was suggested but not established satisfactorily, primarily because of the superimposed effect of antibody in most of the sera tested. We have be and heated and unheated serum obtained.
Chondral lesions of the knee: A new localization method and correlation with associated pathology.

PURPOSE We report a new method of describing and recording chondral lesions of the knee at arthroscopy in order to permit a more accurate and meaningful analysis of patterns of articular cartilage damage. TYPE OF STUDY Case series study. METHODS Data were collected prospectively at 1,000 consecutive arthroscopies by the senior author and chondral lesions were recorded on anatomic articular maps divided into different functional zones. Ten zones on the femur were determined by tibiofemoral weight-bearing and flexion horizons (namely the 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 120 degrees horizons as they pass the anterior meniscosynovial junction). Ten zones were determined on the tibia, principally by meniscal relations, and 6 zones on the patella. This allowed the size, Outerbridge grade, and location to be analyzed in relation to mechanism, chronicity, and associated intra-articular pathologies. The recording methods were tested for interobserver reproducibility in 50 subsequent cases at the same arthroscopy by 2 independent observers. The results were analyzed by a third person, and showed a relatively small interobserver error of 7.2% for size for a set of grade 3 and 4 lesions and only a 3% error for site. The Fisher exact test was used. The data sheets were entered onto a computer spreadsheet database using standard software (Excel; Microsoft, Redmond, WA) to permit analysis of the data. RESULTS There were 1,553 chondral lesions in 853 patients correlated with associated lesions, including 356 meniscal lesions, 230 ligamentous injuries, 440 synovial lesions, and other pathologies. High degrees of correlation have been found between specific lesions and their opposing surfaces and the progression of these with time. CONCLUSIONS The problem of precision of localization of articular lesions in the knee has been recently acknowledged by the International Cartilage Research Society (ICRS). However, such recording ought to take into account both function and contact with other structures. This would appear essential in the assessment of prognosis and comparisons between different treatment regimes.
In vivo measurement of 5-hydroxytryptamine turnover rate in the rat brain from the conversion of C14-tryptophan to C14-5-hydroxytryptamine.

During a constant rate infusion of C 14 -tryptophan, the specific activity of plasma tryptophan and brain 5- hydroxytryptamine increased curvilinearly with time. Since the steady-state concentration of plasma tryptophan (TP) and brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) remained unchanged during the infusion, the fractional rate constant for TP ( k TP ) and brain 5-HT ( k 5-HT ) could be calculated by applying concepts of steady-state kinetics. The product of k 5-HT and the brain 5-HT concentration is a measure of the turnover rate of brain 5-HT. The values calculated with this method approximate the turnover rate values obtained with nonisotopic methods.
Parameters of prostate cancer at contrast-enhanced ultrasound: correlation with prostate cancer risk.

OBJECTIVE to investigate the correlation between the parameters of prostate cancer (PCa) at contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with PCa risk. METHODS 84 patients (68 ± 8 years; range, 33-79 years) who had undergone CEUS were included. All the images were offline analyzed. Parameters (maximum intensity (IMAX), rise time (RT), time to peak (TTP) and mean transit time (mTT)) were recorded and compared with PSA level, Gleason score, clinical stages and PCa risk. RESULTS Age was correlated significantly with PCa risk. RT and mTT of outer gland were associated with PCa risk. No significant correlation was found between PSA and CEUS enhancement parameters. Furthermore, with the exception of IMAX of inner gland and IMAX of outer gland, there were no significant differences of enhancement parameters in Gleason score groups and clinical stages groups. CONCLUSION The enhancement parameters of PCa at CEUS may be used to predict PCa risk. And it is helpful for the choice of therapeutic options.
Immunolocalization of Collagen Types II and III in Single Fibrils of Human Articular Cartilage

Type II and III fibrillar collagens were localized by immunogold electron microscopy in resin sections of human femoral articular cartilage taken from the upper radial zone in specimens from patients with osteoarthritis. Tissue samples stabilized by high-pressure cryofixation were processed by freeze-substitution, either in acetone containing osmium or in methanol without chemical fixatives, before embedding in epoxy or Lowicryl resin, respectively. Ultrastructural preservation was superior with osmium-acetone, although it was not possible to localize collagens by this method. In contrast, in tissue prepared by low-temperature methods without chemical fixation, collagens were successfully localized with mono- or polyclonal antibodies to the helical (Types II and III) and amino-propeptide (Type III procollagen) domains of the molecule. Dual localization using secondary antibodies labeled with 5- or 10-nm gold particles demonstrated the presence of Types II and III collagen associated within single periodic banded fibrils. Collagen fibrils in articular cartilage are understood to be heteropolymers mainly of Types II, IX, and XI collagen. Our observations provide further evidence for the complexity of these assemblies, with the potential for interactions between at least 11 distinct collagen types as well as several non-collagenous components of the extracellular matrix.
A test for Y‐linked additive and epistatic effects on surviving bacterial infections in Drosophila melanogaster

Y‐ and W‐chromosomes offer a theoretically powerful way for sexual dimorphism to evolve. Consistent with this possibility, Drosophila melanogaster Y‐chromosomes can influence gene regulation throughout the genome; particularly immune‐related genes. In order for Y‐linked regulatory variation (YRV) to contribute to adaptive evolution it must be comprised of additive genetic variance, such that variable Ys induce consistent phenotypic effects within the local gene pool. We assessed the potential for Y‐chromosomes to adaptively shape gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacterial defence by introgressing Ys across multiple genetic haplotypes from the same population. We found no Y‐linked additive effects on immune phenotypes, suggesting a restricted role for the Y to facilitate dimorphic evolution. We did find, however, a large magnitude Y by background interaction that induced rank order reversals of Y‐effects across the backgrounds (i.e. sign epistasis). Thus, Y‐chromosome effects appeared consistent within backgrounds, but highly variable among backgrounds. This large sign epistatic effect could constrain monomorphic selection in both sexes, considering that autosomal alleles under selection must spend half of their time in a male background where relative fitness values are altered. If the pattern described here is consistent for other traits or within other XY (or ZW) systems, then YRV may represent a universal constraint to autosomal trait evolution.
A mechanistic view on the evolutionary origin for centrin‐based control of centriole duplication

Mounting evidence implicates the protein centrin as a key regulator of centriole duplication, yet it remains to be determined just how centrin functions in this process. Recent studies suggest that centrin exerts both spatial and temporal control over centriole duplication through its role as a component of centriole precursor structures and through periodic cell‐cycle specific changes in its abundance. Here, an overview of centrin and its role in centrosome dynamics is presented. Finally, a speculative model for just how centrin may operate to control centriole duplication is proposed with the intention to stimulate future advances in this area. This model provides an evolutionary basis for the preservation of essential features of the yeast spindle pole body (SPB) with the origin of the complex structure of the mammalian centriole. J. Cell. Physiol. 213: 420–428, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Survey on Privacy-Preservation in Data Mining Using Slicing Strategy

: Privacy-preserving data mining is used to safeguard sensitive information from unsanctioned disclosure. Privacy is an important issue in data publishing years because of the increasing ability to store personal data about users. A number of techniques such as bucketization, generalization have been proposed perform privacy-preserving data mining. Recent work has shown that generalization not support for high-dimensional data. Bucketization cannot prevent membership disclosure and does not apply for data that do not have a clear separation between quasi-identifying attributes and sensitive attributes. A new technique is introduced that is known as slicing, which partitions the data both horizontally and vertically. Slicing provides better data utility than generalization and can be used for membership disclosure protection. Slicing can handle high-dimensional data. Also slicing can be used for attribute disclosure protection and develop an efficient algorithm for computing the sliced data that obey the l-diversity requirement. Slicing is more effective than bucketization in workloads involving the sensitive attribute. Another advantage of slicing can be used to prevent membership disclosure.
Immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera (L.)

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the ef fect of some selected medicinal plants on immunomod ulatory activity that comprises of screening to identify th e activity of ethanolic extract of medicinal plants on humoral and cell mediated immunity (specific immune response). Experiments were conducted in vivo in Swiss albino mice. Withania somnifera (WS) ethanolic extract was found to enhance humoral immune response on 7 th day by 12 % as compared to the standard control cyclophosphamide t hat exhibited 54% humoral immune response, where as cell mediated immune response was observed with an enhan cement in the values (19.27%) in comparison with co ntrol cyclosporine (37.63%).
Activation of Natural Killer Cells by Newcastle Disease Virus Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase

ABSTRACT The avian paramyxovirus Newcastle disease virus (NDV) selectively replicates in tumor cells and is known to stimulate T-cell-, macrophage-, and NK cell-mediated responses. The mechanisms of NK cell activation by NDV are poorly understood so far. We studied the expression of ligand structures for activating NK cell receptors on NDV-infected tumor cells. Upon infection with the nonlytic NDV strain Ulster and the lytic strain MTH-68/H, human carcinoma and melanoma cells showed enhanced expression of ligands for the natural cytotoxicity receptors NKp44 and NKp46, but not NKp30. Ligands for the activating receptor NKG2D were partially downregulated. Soluble NKp44-Fc and NKp46-Fc, but not NKp30-Fc, chimeric proteins bound specifically to NDV-infected tumor cells and to NDV particle-coated plates. Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) of the virus serves as a ligand structure for NKp44 and NKp46, as indicated by the blockade of binding to NDV-infected cells and viral particles in the presence of anti-HN antibodies and by binding to cells transfected with HN cDNA. Consistent with the recognition of sialic acid moieties by the viral lectin HN, the binding of NKp44-Fc and NKp46-Fc was lost after desialylation. NKp44- and NKp46-CD3ζ lacZ-inducible reporter cells were activated by NDV-infected cells. NDV-infected tumor cells stimulated NK cells to produce increased amounts of the effector lymphokines gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Primary NK cells and the NK line NK-92 lysed NDV-infected tumor cells with enhanced efficiency, an effect that was eliminated by the treatment of target cells with the neuraminidase inhibitor Neu5Ac2en. These results suggest that direct activation of NK cells contributes to the antitumor effects of NDV.
Notice of Violation of IEEE Publication PrinciplesSecuring Java-Based Mobile Agents through Byte Code Obfuscation Techniques

Mobile agents have the ability to relocate computation and then carry communication with their peers locally. The design and implementation of mechanism to relocate computations requires a careful assessment of security issues. If these issues are not addressed properly, mobile agent technology cannot be used to implement real-world applications. To address such issues this paper proposes two code obfuscation techniques (Memon at el., 2006) for Java-based mobile agents that are compiled into a platform independent byte code format. These techniques involve applying obfuscating transformations to the mobile agent's byte code in order to protect them against malicious attacks. Consequently these techniques prevent automatic software analysis tools, De-compilers, from generating correct source code by introducing syntax and semantic errors in the generated source code. The proposed techniques are applied on sample mobile agent's class files to examine the effectiveness of the techniques in impeding reverse engineering. After obtaining the results, we will reveal the erroneous codes generated by the tested de-compilers