Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE HYPERSENSITIVITY IS STRONGER ON NONINVOLVED SIDE THAN INVOLVED SIDE IN PATIENTS WITH HERPES ZOSTER

The difference between involved and noninvolved sides of the body in cell-mediated immunity was investigated in this work; tuberculin reactions in two forearms were assessed in men and women with herpes zoster. The tuberculin reaction was smaller on the involved side than in the noninvolved side of the body in total sample, men and women. The results suggested that the lower activity of cell-mediated immune system in one side of the body may be related to the unilateral involvement of the zona-zoster infection.
Improved Sensitivity of Nucleic Acid Amplification for Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis

ABSTRACT Early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is essential for a positive outcome; but present microbiological diagnostic techniques are insensitive, slow, or laborious. We evaluated the standard BDProbeTec ET strand displacement amplification method (the standard ProbeTec method) for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms in parallel with the ProbeTec method with a modified pretreatment procedure with 101 prospectively collected cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 94 patients with suspected TBM. By the modified method, the sample-washing step was omitted. A definitive diagnosis was attained by culture. Thirteen specimens from 12 patients were culture positive for M. tuberculosis complex organisms; three specimens (23%) were microscopy positive for acid-fast bacilli. Among the culture-positive specimens, the standard ProbeTec method was positive for 8 (61.5%) and the modified assay was positive for 10 (76.9%). The overall specificity by both procedures was 98.8% compared to the results of culture. After discrepancy analysis, conducted by reviewing the patients' previous laboratory data, the specificity increased to 100%. If the cutoff value for respiratory specimens was adjusted from the recommended value of 3,400 to 1,000, the sensitivity of the modified procedure increased to 84.7%, with unchanged specificity. Results were obtained in 3 to 4 h. The new pretreatment procedure with the ProbeTec assay described here provides a rapid, simple, and sensitive tool for the diagnosis of TBM.
Cloning of a new gap junction gene (Cx36) highly expressed in mammalian brain neurons

The connexins are the protein subunits of the gap junction intercellular channels. In the present study a new rat connexin was cloned by degenerate reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and its gene isolated from a mouse genomic library. The nucleotide sequence encodes a protein of 321 amino acids (called Cx36) with highly significant homology to the members of the connexin family. In situ hybridization analysis of rat brain and retina showed the strongest expression in neurons of the inferior olive, the olfactory bulb, the CA3/CA4 hippocampal subfields and several brain‐stem nuclei. An intense expression was also found in the pineal gland and in the retinal ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers. Experiments with neurotoxins, locally injected in the hippocampus or specifically acting on inferior olivary neurons, confirmed the neuronal localization of Cx36. It is the first connexin to be expressed predominantly in mammalian neurons and its identification paves the way for a molecular approach in the study of the role played by gap junctions in the physiology and the pathology of the mammalian brain.
Using Simulation Training Games to Create More Active and Student Centered Learning Environments for Software and Systems Engineering Education

This paper contends that many of the bottlenecks and difficulties facing faculty and students in traditional lecture and textbook approaches to classrooms can be effectively addressed through the creation and application of simulation based games. In addition to augmenting an active, student-centered learning environment, simulation games can also cultivate soft skills such as communication, teamwork and selfreflection. From a software engineering perspective, an AOP-based architecture approach to developing a simulation game allows for greater flexibility and an increased ability to tailor the simulation for particular institutional and pedagogical needs.
Global top-down smoke aerosol emissions estimation using satellite fire radiative power measurements

Abstract. Fire emissions estimates have long been based on bottom-up approaches that are not only complex, but also fraught with compounding uncertainties. We present the development of a global gridded (1° × 1°) emission coefficients (Ce) product for smoke total particulate matter (TPM) based on a top-down approach using coincident measurements of fire radiative power (FRP) and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) sensors aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites. This new Fire Energetics and Emissions Research version 1.0 (FEER.v1) Ce product has now been released to the community and can be obtained from http://feer.gsfc. nasa.gov/ , along with the corresponding 1-to-1 mapping of their quality assurance (QA) flags that will enable the Ce values to be filtered by quality for use in various applications. The regional averages of Ce values for different ecosystem types were found to be in the ranges of 16–21 g MJ−1 for savanna and grasslands, 15–32 g MJ−1 for tropical forest, 9–12 g MJ−1 for North American boreal forest, and 18–26 g MJ−1 for Russian boreal forest, croplands and natural vegetation. The FEER.v1 Ce product was multiplied by time-integrated FRP data to calculate regional smoke TPM emissions, which were compared with equivalent emissions products from three existing inventories. FEER.v1 showed higher and more reasonable smoke TPM estimates than two other emissions inventories that are based on bottom-up approaches and already reported in the literature to be too low, but portrayed an overall reasonable agreement with another top-down approach. This suggests that top-down approaches may hold better promise and need to be further developed to accelerate the reduction of uncertainty associated with fire emissions estimation in air-quality and climate research and applications. Results of the analysis of FEER.v1 data for 2004–2011 show that 65–85 Tg yr−1 of TPM is emitted globally from open biomass burning, with a generally decreasing trend over this short time period. The FEER.v1 Ce product is the first global gridded product in the family of "emission factors", that is based essentially on satellite measurements, and requires only direct satellite FRP measurements of an actively burning fire anywhere to evaluate its emission rate in near-real time, which is essential for operational activities, such as the monitoring and forecasting of smoke emission impacts on air quality.
Secure*BPMN : a graphical extension for BPMN 2.0 based on a reference model of information assurance & security

The main contribution of this thesis is Secure*BPMN, a graphical security modelling extension for the de-facto industry standard business process modelling language BPMN 2.0. 1. Secure*BPMN enables a cognitively effective representation of security concerns in business process models. It facilitates the engagement of experts with different backgrounds, including non-security and nontechnical experts, in the discussion of security concerns and in security decision-making. The strength and novelty of Secure*BPMN lie in its comprehensive semantics based on a Reference Model of Information Assurance & Security (RMIAS) and in its cognitively effective syntax. The RMIAS, which was developed in this project, is a synthesis of the existing knowledge of the Information Assurance & Security domain. The RMIAS helps to build an agreed-upon understanding of Information Assurance & Security, which experts with different backgrounds require before they may proceed with the discussion of security issues. The development process of the RMIAS, which was made explicit, and the multiphase evaluation carried out confirmed the completeness and accuracy of the RMIAS, and its suitability as a foundation for the semantics of Secure*BPMN. The RMIAS, which has multiple implications for research, education and practice is a secondary contribution of this thesis, and is a contribution to the Information Assurance & Security domain in its own right. The syntax of Secure*BPMN complies with the BPMN extensibility rules and with the scientific principles of cognitively effective notation design. The analytical and empirical evaluations corroborated the ontological completeness, cognitive effectiveness, ease of use and usefulness of Secure*BPMN. It was verified that Secure*BPMN has a potential to be adopted in practice.
Social-Psychological Correlates of Physician Use by Economically Disadvantaged Negro Urban Residents

A longitudinal study evaluating the use of physicians was conducted using a sample of economically disadvantaged Negro urban residents. Groups differing in degree of physician contact were compared on a variety of sociopsychological measures. Initial results formed a theoretically consistent pattern and offered strong empirical support for a proposed sociopsychological model of health behavior. However, statistically controlling for age and sex had the effect of diminishing the strength of the association between use of physicians and sociopsychological measures. The need to analytically distinguish between these two sets of variables in investigations of use of facilities is emphasized.
Screening Current and Future Diagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders Using the Revised Drug Use Screening Inventory

The revised Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI-R) is a valid and reliable self-report questionnaire used for quantifying problems that frequently precede and co-occur with substance abuse. The present investigation determined whether the DUSI-R's items can be aggregated into scales that implicate current and future psychiatric disorders. Scales were derived to screen for attention deficit, conduct, antisocial, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders in a longitudinally tracked cohort of 328 boys. Evaluations were conducted when the boys were 12–14, 16, 19, and 22 years of age. All of the scales identified youths qualifying for current DSM-IV diagnosis with excellent accuracy. Predictive validity of the scales ranged from good to excellent. Accordingly cut-off scores were determined for each scale for use in practical settings to identify youths who require comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. Thus in addition to its utility for detecting problems that precede and correlate with substance abuse, the DUSI-R is cost-efficient for screening youths for mental disorders.
Mercuric reductase activity of multiple heavy metal‐resistant Lysinibacillus sphaericus G1

A culture was isolated from an industrial mercuric salt‐contaminated soil, which could tolerate Cd, Co, Zn, Cr, and Hg up to 190, 525, 350, 935, and 370 μM, respectively. The isolate was identified as Lysinibacillus sphaericus by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. It bioaccumulated Cd, Co, and Zn, and reductively detoxified Cr and Hg. Chromate reductase and mercuric reductase (MerA) activities in the cell extract were 2.4 and 0.13 units mg−1 protein, respectively. The study also describes designing of broad‐specificity primers based on firmicute merA genes. These primers were successfully used to amplify a 440 bp merA fragment from the current isolate. Based on the partial sequence, complete merA ORF of 1641 bp was amplified. It showed 99% similarity to a putative merA gene from distantly related Streptococcus agalactiae, but only 72% identity with the well‐characterized merA from a more closely related Bacillus cereus RC607. The gene sequence possessed all the features required for the functioning of MerA enzyme, and its function was confirmed by recombinant expression in E. coli. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of full length merA gene from L. sphaericus.
ABCA2 is a marker of neural progenitors and neuronal subsets in the adult rodent brain

The notion that the ATP‐binding cassette transporter‐A2 (ABCA2) may be involved in brain sterol homeostasis and is associated with early onset Alzheimer's disease led us to explore its neural expression. Our data support and extend the previous reports on ABCA2 expression by oligodendrocytes. They evidence that ABCA2 (i) is located in intracellular vesicles, identified in transfected cells as lysosome‐related organelles only partially overlapping with classical endolysosomes; (ii) is a marker of neural progenitors as it is expressed in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation, sites of continual neurogenesis in the adult brain, and in nestin+ cells differentiated in vitro from embryonic stem cells; (iii) persists, in the adult rodent brain, in a subset of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. Considering that the latter are targets of Alzheimer's lesions, these data provide a new rationale to explore the neuropathological consequences of ABCA2 functional dysregulations.
DIEL VARIATIONS IN OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF IMANTONIA ROTUNDA (HAPTOPHYCEAE) AND THALASSIOSIRA PSEUDONANA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT IRRADIANCE LEVELS 1

Diel variations of cellular optical properties were examined for cultures of the haptophyte Imantonia rotunda N. Reynolds and the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hust.) Hasle et Heimdal grown under a 14:10 light:dark (L:D) cycle and transferred from 100 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1 to higher irradiances of 250 and 500 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1. Cell volume and abundance, phytoplankton absorption coefficients, flow‐cytometric light scattering and chl fluorescence, and pigment composition were measured every 2 h over a 24 h period. Results showed that cell division was more synchronous for I. rotunda than for T. pseudonana. Several variables exhibited diel variability with an amplitude >100%, notably mean cell volume for the haptophyte and photoprotective carotenoids for both species, while optical properties such as flow‐cytometric scattering and chl a–specific phytoplankton absorption generally showed <50% diel variability. Increased irradiance induced changes in pigments (both species) and mean cell volume (for the diatom) and amplified diel variability for most variables. This increase in amplitude is larger for pigments (factor of 2 or more, notably for cellular photoprotective carotenoid content in I. rotunda and for photosynthetic pigments in T. pseudonana) than for optical properties (a factor of 1.5 for chl a–specific absorption, at 440 nm, in I. rotunda and a factor of 2 for the absorption cross‐section and the chl a–specific scattering in T. pseudonana). Consequently, diel changes in optical properties and pigmentation associated with the L:D cycle and amplified by concurrent changes in irradiance likely contribute significantly to the variability in optical properties observed in biooptical field studies.
The Bone Conduction Implant—First Implantation, Surgical and Audiologic Aspects

Objective To report on preoperative assessment, surgery, and audiologic outcome of the first patient implanted with the bone conduction implant (BCI). Background The BCI is a bone conduction hearing device with an intact skin solution where the transducer is implanted close to the ear canal opening. By avoiding a percutaneous screw attachment to the skull, the BCI is anticipated to reduce complications associated with the Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) solution. Methods The first patient to receive a BCI was a 42-year-old woman with a unilateral mixed hearing loss due to tympanosclerosis. Preoperative and postoperative cone beam computed tomography and a virtual planning tool for 3D reconstruction were used to optimize and control the position of the BCI in the mastoid. The transducer was placed in a 5-mm deep seating in the mastoid and secured with a titanium bar. Free field tone and speech audiometry were conducted to evaluate the audiologic outcome at baseline (1 month postoperatively) and 1 month after baseline. Results The BCI was placed in the position according to the preoperative 3D planning. On average, the tone thresholds improved by 30 dB, speech reception thresholds by 25.5 dB and speech signal-to-noise ratio by 9.7 dB. The surgical procedure was considered simple and safe. Conclusion The BCI can be implanted by a safe and easy surgical procedure. 3D preoperative planning can be helpful to optimize the BCI position. The BCI is a realistic alternative to the BAHA.
Inhibition of glomerular cell apoptosis by heparin.

BACKGROUND Heparin, the multifunctional glycosaminoglycan, has been considered a therapeutic agent for glomerular diseases. Although a number of biological properties are postulated to explain its therapeutic utility, it is unknown whether heparin affects cell survival in the glomerulus. In this report, we investigated the effect of heparin on apoptosis of glomerular cells. METHODS Cultured rat mesangial cells were pretreated with heparin or heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) and were exposed to proapoptotic stimuli. To examine an effect of heparin on spontaneous apoptosis that occurs in explanted glomeruli, isolated rat glomeruli were incubated in the presence or absence of heparin. Apoptosis was evaluated by Hoechst 33258 staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling, and agarose gel electrophoresis to detect DNA fragmentation. The effect of heparin on activator protein 1 (AP-1), a crucial mediator for oxidant-induced apoptosis, was examined by Northern blot analysis and a reporter assay. RESULTS Heparin and HSPG inhibited apoptosis of mesangial cells triggered by hydrogen peroxide. It was associated with blunted expression of c-fos/c-jun mRNAs and suppression of AP-1 activation. The cytoprotective effect of heparin was also observed in other cell types and in apoptosis triggered by different stimuli. That is, (a) heparin inhibited mesangial cell apoptosis induced by staurosporine, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, and ultraviolet light, and (b) heparin suppressed oxidant-induced apoptosis of NRK49F fibroblasts and Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells. Furthermore, heparin attenuated spontaneous apoptosis of podocytes in explanted glomeruli. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate the novel potential of heparin as an inhibitor of apoptosis in several cell types, including glomerular cells.
Intelligent controller design for PM DC motor position control using evolutionary programming

This paper is concerned with the optimum proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller design for a PM dc motor position control. Since the evolutionary programming (EP) algorithm has been considered as a useful technique for finding global optimization solutions for certain complicated functions in recent years. In this paper, we attempt to combine the EP algorithm with the PID control design to solve the positioning control problem of a PM dc motor, such that a performance index of integrated-absolute error (IAE) is minimized. Last, a SYL-5 PM dc motor position control system is used to verify the superiority of the proposed method. It can be easily seen from the simulation results that the proposed method will have better performance than those presented in other studies.
HighSim : Highly Effective Similarity Measurement in Large Heterogeneous Information Networks

Heterogeneous information networks consist of rich information with many typed-links and typed-objects. Nowadays, finding useful knowledge from large information networks has attracted the attention of a large number of researchers. Some famous ranking algorithms like P-PageRank, PathSim and SimRank have been proposed to find the Top-K similar objects. However, SimRank has very high computational complexity while PathSim only does similarity measurement based on a single meta path. In this paper, we develop a novel HighSim algorithm, which integrates the PathSim algorithm and the basic methodology in LINE algorithm, to leverage the similarity ranking by considering both the research topics and the venues of published papers of different authors. In specific, we use PathSim based on the meta path Author-Paper-Venue-Paper-Author (AVPVA) to find the similarity of the venues of published papers. And LINE is used to find the similar research topics of different authors through their cited papers, i.e. references. Then we use the dataset in bibliographic networks extracted from DBLP to evaluate the performance of our new algorithm. The results show the effectiveness and flexibility of our proposed algorithm.
The pervasiveness of Mobile Data Services: Do usage and attitudinal divides exist in Asia and North America?

Mobile Data Services (MDSs) are a wide array of applications provided via the mobile network and platform, where industry players are keenly exploring innovations to launch the next big thing, especially with the rapid increase and saturation of mobile voice subscriptions. This study investigates mobile user behavioural intentions towards MDS based on an adaptation of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Data was collected in a survey of over 1600 mobile users in Singapore and Los Angeles (LA). The study found that LA-based mobile users have a far more positive disposition than Singaporean users towards MDS adoption, and that differences on account of prior experience were also more distinct amongst LA users than their Singapore counterparts. It is hoped that these findings will serve as design rules for mobile service providers in more sophisticated markets.
ESBC: An enhanced modular multilevel converter with H-bridge front end

This paper presents the Enhanced Series Bridge Converter (ESBC), a hybrid modular multilevel converter with H-bridge front end suitable for high power grid applications. It retains the advantages of other modular multilevel topologies while offering compact structure, making it attractive for offshore stations, back-back HVDC stations, and city centre infeeds. The structure, operating principles and energy management of the converter are discussed. Simulation results from a scaled down medium voltage demonstrator are presented to validate the concept.
Electromagnetic Vibration Power Generator

This paper shows an alternative for supplying wireless sensors with energy: electrical power is generated from an ambient mechanical vibration by use of a vibration power generator. As the generator is excited by ambient mechanical vibration, its construction produces a relative movement of a magnetic circuit. This movement induces a current into an electrical coil due to Faraday's law. For aeronautical applications like e.g. helicopters, the generated power of around 5 mW provides enough energy to supply a wireless sensor.
Antioxidant Enzymatic Defences during Embryogenesis of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792)

In this study antioxidant enzymes activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were investigated in unfertilized and fertilized eggs, 12, 22 and 32 day embryos of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792). Vitamin E, lipid peroxidation products and fatty acids levels were also determined. A significant decrease in vitamin E level was found in fertilized eggs of O. mykiss. In contrast, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was very high in fertilised eggs and 12 day embryo. The PUFA contents in fertilized eggs and 12 day embryo were found to be lower than in the other embryonic stages. Measurable amounts of all the SOD, CAT, GSHpx, GR and GST enzymes activities were present in O. mykiss eggs and embryos. The most intense decrease was detected in the activities of SOD, GR and GST in fertilized eggs, whereas the most intense increase in the CAT activity was detected in the same stage of O. mykiss. GSHpx activity showed a significant increase in fertilized eggs and in 32 day embryos before hatching. GST activity showed the most significant increase in 22 day embryos of eyed eggs stage.