Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Component-Based Software Architecture - Reconfigurable Software for Ambient Intelligent Networked Services Environments

When a transmitter sends information signals time multiplexed in a single channel over a coaxial cable to a receiver, the expense necessary for synchronizing the demultiplexing operations to the multiplexing operations at the transmitter and for supplying the current necessary to energize the receiver is reduced by impressing or interposing pulses on or into the multiplex signal at the transmitter for synchronization and current supply at the receiver. 12 V pulses are transmitted at low impedance either as frame pulses at the beginning or at the end of a signal pulse frame of the multiplex signal or supplementarily as clock pulses between successive signal samples in the multiplex signal.
What Goes Into a Decision? How Nursing Faculty Decide Which Best Practices to Use for Classroom Testing

AIM To explore the decision‐making process of BSN faculty when determining which best practices to use for classroom testing. METHOD A descriptive, correlational study was conducted with a national sample (N = 127) of full‐time BSN faculty. Participants completed a web‐based survey incorporating instruments that measured beliefs about evaluation, decisionmaking, and best practices for item analysis and constructing and revising classroom tests. RESULTS Study participants represented 31 states and were primarily middle‐aged white women. In multiple linear regression analyses, faculty beliefs, contextual factors for decision‐making, and decision‐making processes accounted for statistically significant amounts of the variance in item analysis and test construction and revision. Strong faculty beliefs that rules were important when evaluating students was a significant predictor of increased use of best practices. CONCLUSION Results support that understanding faculty beliefs around classroom testing is important in promoting the use of best practices.
Can We Assess Pulsus Paradoxus through Polysomnography in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Sleep-Disordered Breathing?

ABSTRACT Pulsus paradoxus (PP) is a decrease in systolic blood pressure greater than 10 mm Hg during inspiration that occurs in various medical conditions. Using polysomnography pulse oximetry signal, photoplethysmography variations of the amplitude of the pulse pressure within the respiratory cycle were observed. There is a proportional relationship between the changes of inspiratory waveform values and the generated PP. A 59-year-old male underwent polysomnography that showed sleep hypoxemia, obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (apnea hypopnea index [AHI] = 5.1and respiratory disturbance index [RDI] = 87.9), with variations of pulse pressure induced primarily by inspiration. The highest variations in the pulse wave were observed in NREM sleep during obstructive respiratory events and in biocalibration during nasal breathing. The lowest variations occurred after the correction of inspiratory obstructive events and during biocalibration when asked to hold his breath.
Accurate Analysis of Subharmonic Oscillations of $V^2$ and $V^2I_c$ Controls Applied to Buck Converter

V2Ic control provides very fast dynamic performance to the Buck converter both under load steps and under voltage reference steps. However, the design of this control is complex since it is prone to subharmonic oscillations and several parameters affect the stability of the system. This paper derives and validates a very accurate modeling and stability analysis of a closed-loop V2Ic control using the Floquet theory. This allows the derivation of sensitivity analysis to design a robust converter. The proposed methodology is validated on a 5-MHz Buck converter. The work is also extended to V2 control using the same methodology, showing high accuracy and robustness. The paper also demonstrates, on the V2 control, that even a low bandwidth-linear controller can affect the stability of a ripple-based control.
Bone Scan Index Is a Prognostic Factor for Breast Cancer Patients with Bone Metastasis Being Treated with Zoledronic Acid

Bone scan index (BSI) has been used to quantify the spread of bone metastasis and be a prognostic indicator in prostate cancer with bone metastases. However, the utility of BSI in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis has not been yet established. We retrospectively reviewed 57 female breast cancer patients with osteoblastic/lytic combined type bone metastases and treated with zoledronic acid after bone metastasis was identified. Serial bone scintigrams were taken at the time of bone metastasis detection and during the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The scintigrams were analyzed by BONE NAVITM version 1 and the BSI value was calculated. Additionally, serum cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured. The patients were divided in 2 distinct groups—group A representing all follow-up BSI values ≤ initial BSI values and group B representing all follow-up BSI values ≥ initial BSI values. The interval changes of CA15-3 and CEA were divided in the same fashion. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test revealed that the overall survival rate was significantly greater in group A than those of group B after 6 months (p = 0.011) and 12 months (p = 0.016). Univariate analysis revealed that the overall survival rate was significantly greater in group A than those of group B, after a 6 month period (Hazard Ratio [HR] 5.841; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.248 - 27.34; p = 0.025) and 12 month period (HR: 4.22; 95% CI 1.17615.15; p = 0.027). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that BSI changes after 6 and 12 months trended toward significance regarding parameters affecting survival rate (age and CA15-3) with a HR = 12.760 (95%CI 1.8110 - 89.850) at 6 months with a p = 0.010 and a HR = 5.0640 (95%CI 1.0590 - 24.220) at 12 months with a p = 0.042. BSI changes after 6 and 12 months appear to be a prognostic factor in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis treated with zoledronic acid.
A spherical volumetric parameterization approach based on large-scale distortion harmonic energy

Spherical volumetric parameterization is a basic and important problem in the fields of digital geometry processing and computer graphics. It is beneficial to the texture mapping and reconstruction of volume mesh. But some methods of spherical volumetric parameterization cannot guarantee the triangles and tetrahedrons without distortion after parameterization. Therefore, this paper presents an efficient algorithm to solve the problem of large-scale distortion spherical mappings of the tetrahedral mesh, the algorithm is based on harmonic energy. We first take the tetrahedral mesh as input data and map it to a solid sphere, which may generate lots of distortion. Then we project the simplicial map onto the space of the bounded-distortion map. In this way, we find a closet mapping that is bijective and reaches to non-distortion approximately. The resulting map is approximately non-distortion.
A Versatile Setup to Test and Program an Incremental Analog-to-Digital Converter

Incremental analog-to-digital converters are particularly well suited for instrumentation and measurement systems. This is due to their good accuracy, low offset and noise performance, and conversion times much shorter than conventional dual-slope ADCs. To test these ADCs an automatic setup is mandatory since it requires processing the ADC data in a statistic way to find their characteristic parameters. In this paper a versatile setup based on a microcontroller is presented. The set-up allows to test static and dynamic performances and to program different algorithms in a novel first order incremental ADC. The basic building blocks of the ADC are based on super class-AB amplifiers featuring high slew rate and efficient power consumption. Measurement results from a 0.5 mum prototype are provided to corroborate the proper operation of circuits and techniques proposed.
Adeno-Associated Virus Vector–Based Gene Therapy for Monogenetic Metabolic Diseases of the Liver

ABSTRACT Liver-based metabolic diseases account for a substantial burden of childhood diseases. In most patients, treatment is often limited to supportive measures and liver transplantation is ultimately required. Even despite the excellent long-term outcome of liver transplantation, the procedure is associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. Gene therapy, in contrast, has great potential to save lives, improve the quality of life, and offer few risks and adverse effects compared with present therapies including liver transplantation. The most promising results to date in liver gene transfer have been achieved with adeno-associated virus. Although safety issues, such as immunogenicity of vector and/or transgene product, remain an important concern, gene therapy is ready for clinical trials in adults and adolescents. Developing and testing safe approaches for efficient and long-term stable applications in newborns and small children, such as targeted integration and gene correction, is one of the remaining future challenges.
Induction of soluble antitumoral mediators by synthetic analogues of bacterial lipoprotein in bone marrow‐derived macrophages from LPS‐responder and ‐nonresponder mice

Macrophage‐dependent antitumoral activity is partly mediated by soluble factors including cytokines, reactive‐oxygen intermediates (ROIs), and reactive‐nitrogen intermediates (RNIs). Activation of macrophages for tumor cytotoxicity can be achieved with various bacterial compounds, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), muramyl‐dipeptides, and lipopeptides. We studied the production and release of oxygen radicals, nitric oxide, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) by bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) of different mouse inbred strains after they were stimulated with the lipopeptide P3CSK4, a water‐soluble synthetic analogue of the lipidated N terminus of bacterial lipoprotein. The lipopeptide was able to induce a strong, long lasting release of oxygen radicals in BALB/c mouse macrophages. Furthermore, it induced nitric oxide release from BMDMs of several mouse strains (BALB/c, C57Bl/6, C57Bl/10ScSn, Sv129, NMRI, and LPS‐nonresponder C57Bl/10ScCr). Stimulation with P3CSK4 also resulted in comparable production of TNF‐α in LPS‐responder and nonresponder BMDMs from C57Bl/10ScSn mice and C57Bl/10ScCr mice, respectively. All three antitumoral mediators reached functional levels or concentrations as shown by the strong cytostatic/cytotoxic activity of lipopeptide‐activated macrophages for the cell lines Abelson 8‐1, M12.5/P815, and L929, which are sensitive to ROIs, nitric oxide, and TNF‐α, respectively. We found that synthetic lipopeptides can induce the secretion of effective levels of soluble tumor‐cytotoxic/cytostatic mediators in BMDMs of LPS‐responsive and, of particular interest, also of LPS‐unresponsive mice. This result could indicate that the highly effective bacterial‐macrophage activators P3CSK4 and LPS use different receptors and/or different intracellular signal transduction pathways.
Health information technology and physician-patient interactions: impact of computers on communication during outpatient primary care visits.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of introducing health information technology (HIT) on physician-patient interactions during outpatient visits. DESIGN This was a longitudinal pre-post study: two months before and one and seven months after introduction of examination room computers. Patient questionnaires (n = 313) after primary care visits with physicians (n = 8) within an integrated delivery system. There were three patient satisfaction domains: (1) satisfaction with visit components, (2) comprehension of the visit, and (3) perceptions of the physician's use of the computer. RESULTS Patients reported that physicians used computers in 82.3% of visits. Compared with baseline, overall patient satisfaction with visits increased seven months after the introduction of computers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.22), as did satisfaction with physicians' familiarity with patients (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.01-2.52), communication about medical issues (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.05-2.47), and comprehension of decisions made during the visit (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.06-2.50). In contrast, there were no significant changes in patient satisfaction with comprehension of self-care responsibilities, communication about psychosocial issues, or available visit time. Seven months post-introduction, patients were more likely to report that the computer helped the visit run in a more timely manner (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.28-2.42) compared with the first month after introduction. There were no other significant changes in patient perceptions of the computer use over time. CONCLUSION The examination room computers appeared to have positive effects on physician-patient interactions related to medical communication without significant negative effects on other areas such as time available for patient concerns. Further study is needed to better understand HIT use during outpatient visits.
The Pleckstrin Homology Domain of Diacylglycerol Kinase η Strongly and Selectively Binds to Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate*

Type II diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) isozymes (δ, η, and κ) have a pleckstrin homology domain (PH) at their N termini. Here, we investigated the lipid binding properties of the PHs of type II DGK isozymes using protein-lipid overlay and liposome binding assays. The PH of DGKη showed the most pronounced binding activity to phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) among the various glycero- and sphingolipids including PI 3,4,5-trisphosphate, PI 3,4-bisphosphate, PI 3-phosphate, PI 4-phosphate, and PI 5-phosphate. Moreover, the PI(4,5)P2 binding activity of the DGKη-PH was significantly stronger than that of other type II DGK isozymes. Notably, compared with the PH of phospholipase C (PLC) δ1, which is generally utilized as a cellular PI(4,5)P2- probe, the DGKη-PH is equal to or superior than the PLCδ1-PH in terms of affinity and selectivity for PI(4,5)P2. Furthermore, in COS-7 cells, GFP-fused wild-type DGKη1 and its PH partly translocated from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane where the PLCδ1-PH was co-localized in response to hyperosmotic stress in an inositol 5-phosphatase-sensitive manner, whereas a PH deletion mutant did not. Moreover, K74A and R85A mutants of DGKη-PH, which lack the conserved basic amino acids thought to ligate PI(4,5)P2, were indeed unable to bind to PI(4,5)P2 and co-localize with the PLCδ1-PH even in osmotically shocked cells. Overexpression of wild-type DGKη1 enhanced EGF-dependent phosphorylation of ERK, whereas either K74A or R85A mutant did not. Taken together, these results indicate that the DGKη-PH preferentially interacts with PI(4,5)P2 and has crucial roles in regulating the subcellular localization and physiological function of DGKη. Moreover, the DGKη-PH could serve as an excellent cellular sensor for PI(4,5)P2.
Study on the diffusion performance of standard e-government information systems

Standard e-government information system (SEIS) including mobile-government applications are playing more and more important roles in the establishing of national e-government framework. It can be beneficial not only for avoiding redundant e-government IS development but also for improving collaboration among government agencies. Two research questions were explored: what are the factors influencing the performance of SEIS? Will mandatory SEIS create a better performance than non-mandatory SEIS? Specifically, the use of five categories of IS aspects-information system quality, online service quality, offline service quality, diffusion modes and standard network size-is proposed to understand the performance of SEIS through applying both survey study and simulation study. The results show that information system quality and online service quality of SEIS have strong effects on users' expectation and users' satisfaction, which thereafter promotes the performance of SEIS. Government agencies' offline service quality shows a significant effect on users' satisfaction while not on users' expectation. Furthermore, the diffusion speed of SEIS in non-mandatory and mandatory modes and the standard network size also have great influence on the utility of SEIS.
On Some Non-linear Decreasing Inertia Weight Strategies in Particle Swarm Optimization

Inspired by analyzing principle of PSO, some non-linear strategies for decreasing inertia weight (DIW) are proposed based on the existing linear DIW (LDIW), in this paper. Then a power function is designed to unify them. Four benchmark functions are used to evaluate these strategies on the PSO performance and select the best one. The experimental results show that for most continuous optimization problems, the best one gains an advantage over the linear strategy and others. It has more varieties of the swarm at the early stages so can escape from local minimum more easily, and also can speed up the convergence of particles at the later stages to improve the performance of PSO.
Highly Sensitive Protein Translation Assay for Trichothecene Toxicity in Airborne Particulates: Comparison with Cytotoxicity Assays

ABSTRACT Screening assays for environmental mycotoxins in bulk samples currently use cytotoxicity in cell cultures, but their application to air particulate samples often lacks sensitivity and specificity for fungal spores. An assay based on inhibition of protein synthesis using translation of firefly luciferase in a rabbit reticulocyte system has been developed for the detection of trichothecene mycotoxins found in the spores of toxigenic fungi. Ethanol extracts of air particulates trapped on polycarbonate filters are ultrafiltered and applied at several dilutions to a translation reaction mixture. The activity of translated luciferase is measured directly in a luminometer, eliminating the need for radioisotopes and time-consuming sample processing. Parallel standard curves using a commercially available trichothecene provide for expression of the results in T-2 toxin equivalents per cubic meter of air. The assay can be completed in 2 h and is readily applicable to multiple samples. Comparison to the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cytotoxicity assay indicates a 400-fold increase in sensitivity of trichothecene detection in addition to a much higher specificity for these toxins. Initial field testing indicates a strong correlation between the measured level of toxicity and the presence of toxigenic fungi detected with microbiological methods. In conclusion, this luciferase translation assay offers a rapid and highly sensitive and specific method for quantitative detection of trichothecene mycotoxin activity in air particulate samples.
Transient correction of genetic defects in cultured animal cells by introduction of functional proteins

Material was introduced into cultures of cells by using the method of scrape loading, in which cells are simply rubbed from the surface of a plastic tissue culture dish by a rubber-tipped rod in the presence of a macromolecule of interest. The volume of solution introduced into cells was comparable to that generally injected in the direct microinjection method with glass capillaries, that is, about 50 to 100 fl per cell. Genetic defects (lack of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and thymidine kinase) in several cell lines were transiently corrected by scraping the cells in the presence of crude cell extracts prepared from wild-type cells.
Influenza A virus lacking the NS1 gene replicates in interferon-deficient systems.

The NS1 protein is the only nonstructural protein encoded by influenza A virus. It has been proposed that the NS1 performs several regulatory functions during the viral replication cycle, including the regulation of synthesis, transport, splicing, and translation of mRNAs. Through the use of reverse genetics, a viable transfectant influenza A virus (delNS1) which lacks the NS1 gene has been generated. Our results indicate that the NS1 of influenza A virus is an auxiliary (virulence) factor which plays a crucial role in inhibiting interferon-mediated antiviral responses of the host.
Micromorphological characterization and lithification of microbial mats from the Ebro Delta (Spain).

The structural organization of microbial mats from the Ebro Delta (Spain) and their accretion and partial lithification processes were explored using scanning electron microscopy in back-scattered electron mode and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Two differentiated zones were distinguished in a transverse section of a fragment taken from the mat at a depth of 2.5 mm. The first consisted of an upper layer in which the dominant microorganisms, Microcoleus spp. , actively grew in an embedded slack matrix of exopolysaccharides. Microcoleus filaments were oriented parallel to the surface and to each other, with filaments below arranged perpendicularly to one another but without crossing. Most of the minerals present were allochthonous grains of calcium phosphate biocorroded by cyanobacteria. The second zone was below a depth of 1 mm and made up of accretion layers with large deposits of calcium carbonate and smaller amounts of calcium phosphate of biological origin. The predominance of a particular type of mineral precipitation with a characteristic external shape and/or texture within a zone, e.g., sponge-like deposits of calcium phosphate, appears to depend on the taxa of the prevailing microorganisms.
Excitatory Synapses on Dendritic Shafts of the Amygdala Exhibit Elevated Levels of GABA A Receptor α 4 Subunits Following the Induction of Activity-Based Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by self-imposed severe starvation, excessive exercise, and anxiety. The onset of AN is most often at puberty, suggesting that gonadal hormonal fluctuations may contribute to AN vulnerability. Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is an animal model that reproduces some of the behavioral phenotypes of AN, including the paradoxical increase in voluntary exercise following food restriction. The basal amygdala as well as the GABAergic system regulate trait anxiety. We therefore examined the subcellular distribution of GABA receptors (GABARs) in the basal amygdala of female pubertal rats and specifically of their α4 subunits, because expression of α4-containing GABARs is regulated by gonadal hormone fluctuations. Moreover, because these GABARs reduce neuronal excitability through shunting of EPSPs, we quantified the frequency of occurrence of these GABARs adjacent to excitatory synapses. Electron microscopic immunoctychemistry revealed no change in the frequency of association of α4 subunits with excitatory synapses on dendritic spines, whether in the anterior (Bregma −2.8 mm) or caudal (Bregma −3.8 mm) portion of the basal amygdala. Sholl analysis of golgi-stained neurons also revealed no change in the extent of dendritic branching by these densely spiny, pyramidal-like neurons. However, there was an increase of membranous α4 subunits near excitatory synapses on dendritic shafts, specifically in the amygdala, and this was accompanied by a rise of α4 subunits intracellularly. Because most dendritic shafts exhibiting excitatory synapses are GABAergic interneurons, the results predict disinhibition, which would increase excitability of the amygdaloid network, in turn augmenting ABA animals’ anxiety.