Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CONSONANTAL PERTURBATION OF F 0 CONTOURS OF CANTONESE TONES

A systematic study of F 0 perturbation by voiceless consonants in Cantonese is carried out. Apart from a voiceless interval introduced, a production asymmetry is found: F 0 contours are raised by prevocalic consonants but lowered by postvocalic consonants at the C-V and V-C transitions. Moreover, initial consonants are found to differ in the duration of the voiceless intervals they introduce. Based on the recent finding that F 0 production is synchronized with the syllable, we demonstrate that such durational differences need to be taken into consideration before accurate measurement of F 0 perturbations can be made.
Dielectric loss of multilayer coplanar waveguide using the single layer reduction (SLR) formulation

The single layer reduction (SLR) formulation is presented to compute the dielectric loss of a multilayer coplanar waveguide (CPW). The SLR computes the dielectric loss with good agreement against the computed results obtained with help of the method of moment (MoM) based software LINPAR. Accuracy of the SLR is comparable to the MoM. It is computationally faster than the MoM.
Modeling a Reverse Flow Reactor for Thermal Oxidation of Lean Methane

A full dynamic one-dimensional model of a reverse flow reactor for thermal oxidation of lean methane and a code for its solution are employed. The simulation concerning starting up of the reverse flow reactor is carried out. An electric heater at the end of the reactor is employed during starting up of the reactor. The influence of heating operation of the heater and the hot region moving from the end to central part during starting up of the reactor has been investigated in detail. The results show that the initial temperature profiles on the central part of the reactor can be obtained in two steps.
Estimation of the clock TIE state space model using a thinning unbiased FIR filtering algorithm

A thinning algorithm is proposed for real-time unbiased finite impulse response (FIR) estimation of the local clock time interval error (TIE) model (time error, fractional frequency offset, linear frequency drift rate, etc.) employing GPS-based sawtooth measurements. We show that the approach allows obtaining practically optimal estimates of the clock states, by large horizons (number of the points in the average). The algorithm is applied to the TIE measurements allowing for different time steps and averaging horizons for each of the clock states and compared to the three state Kalman filter. It is demonstrated that, in the presence of the sawtooth noise induced by the GPS receiver, the unbiased FIR estimates with thinning out fit the clock states better than the Kalman filter, in terms of the Allan deviation and precision time protocol deviation.
A Survey Salient Region Detection and Segmentation

Object detection is an aptitude related to PC vision and picture handling that arrangements with identifying events of significant objects of a classification, for example, people, structures, or autos in computerized pictures and recordings. Paper here depicts the diverse salient object detection strategies. Salient object detection is a picture segmentation system where we isolate the salient object from the picture foundation. It has applications in numerous regions of PC vision, including picture recovery and video surveillance. This paper investigates the scope of strategies for creatively extricating the objects from computerized pictures and in last clarifies the deficiencies of the current methods.
Does continuity of care with a family physician reduce hospitalizations among older adults?

Objective: To examine the relation between continuity of primary care and hospitalizations. Methods: Survey data from a representative sample of older adults aged 67 or over living in the province of Manitoba (n = 1863) were linked to administrative data, which provide complete records of physician visits and hospitalizations. A visit-based measure of continuity of care was derived using a majority-of-care definition, whereby individuals who made 75% of all their visits to family physicians (FPs) to the same FP were classified as having high continuity of care, and those with less than 75% of their visits to the same FP as having low continuity of care. Whether individuals were hospitalized (for either ambulatory care-sensitive conditions or all conditions) was also determined from administrative records. Results: High continuity of care was associated with reduced odds of ambulatory care-sensitive hospitalizations (adjusted odds ratio = 0.67, confidence interval 0.51–0.90) controlling for demographic and self-reported, health-related measures. It was not related to hospitalizations for all conditions, however. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of continuity of primary care in reducing potentially avoidable hospitalizations.
An efficacy analysis of olanzapine treatment data in schizophrenia patients with catatonic signs and symptoms.

Thirty-five patients suffering from schizophrenia, as diagnosed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, were preselected from 7 clinical trials according to a priori criteria of catatonic signs and symptoms based on 3 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) items: scores for PANSS item 19 (mannerism and posturing) and either item 4 (excitement) or item 21 (motor retardation) had to exceed or equal 4 at baseline. This particular patient population represents a severely psychotic sample: mean +/- SD PANSS total scores at baseline were 129.26 +/- 19.76. After I week of olanzapine treatment, mean PANSS total score was decreased significantly (-13.14; p < .001), as was mean PANSS total score after 6 weeks of olanzapine treatment (-45.16; p < .001); additionally, the positive subscale, negative subscale, and mood scores improved significantly. A significant improvement in the catatonic signs and symptoms composite score was also observed at week 6 (-4.96; p < .001). The mean +/- SD daily dose of olanzapine was 18.00 +/- 2.89 mg after 6 weeks of treatment. The present data analysis suggests the efficacy of olanzapine in the treatment of severely ill schizophrenic patients with nonspecified catatonic signs and symptoms.
Awareness of Wireless Sensor Network Potential in Healthcare Industry: A Second UTAUT Study

This study concentrates on investigating the degree of awareness, future adoption and uptake of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) (in particular Motes) in the Health Monitoring arena via the use of our second Weo-based survey. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) has been applied to determine how viable this technology will be for health monitoring in healthcare institutions and patients' her-es. Results from our study show positive support for th e acceptance of the technology yet reveal some real concerns about the issues of security, privacy, ethics and safety.
Effects of cigarette smoke and nicotine on cell viability, migration and myofibroblastic differentiation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Several studies have analysed the role of nicotine as a prominent agent affecting wound repair in smokers. However, tobacco smoke contains several components that may alter gingival wound healing. The present study aimed to analyse the roles of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and nicotine on cell viability, cell migration/invasion and myofibroblastic differentiation using primary cultures of human gingival fibroblasts. MATERIAL AND METHODS To compare the effects of CSC and nicotine, gingival fibroblasts were stimulated with CSC (0.4–500 lg/mL) and the corresponding nicotine concentrations (0.025–32 lg/mL) present in research cigarettes (1R3F). Cell viability was evaluated through the MTS assay. Cell migration and invasion were assessed through scratch wound assays, collagen nested matrices and trans well migration. a-Smooth muscle actin production was evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS Cigarette smoke condensate at 50 lg/mL induced a moderate increase in cell viability, whereas the corresponding nicotine concentration (3.2 lg/mL) did not produce this response. Cigarette smoke condensate at 250 lg/mL, but not nicotine at 16 lg/mL (the corresponding nicotine concentration), induced cell death. Both nicotine and CSC stimulated cell migration (50 lg/mL CSC; 3.2 lg/mL nicotine). At 150 lg/mL, CSC inhibited cell migration; however, the corresponding concentration of nicotine (9.6 lg/mL), did not have this effect. Although both nicotine and CSC inhibited a-smooth muscle actin production, only the latter induced a statistically significant effect on this response. CONCLUSION Cigarette smoke condensate may stimulate cell survival and migration at low concentrations and inhibit these cell responses at higher levels of exposure. Moreover, CSC may interfere in myofibroblastic differentiation.These results show that cigarette smoke, but not nicotine, may significantly alter cell viability, cell migration and myofibroblastic differentiation in gingival mesenchymal cells.
Cytomegalovirus in immunocompromised children

Purpose of review The purpose of this study is to explore the latest developments in the risk factors, prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompromised children, including those with congenital immunodeficiency or iatrogenic immune suppression related to solid organ transplantation (SOT) or haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Recent findings CMV viral load measurements now have international standards, allowing for more reliable comparison across sites and within individuals. Preemptive and prophylactic therapy with routine CMV monitoring in transplant patients has yielded significant reduction in CMV morbidity and mortality in these patients. The majority of U.S. states have adopted routine newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Viral infections, including CMV, are a major obstacle preventing optimal curative transplantation in these patients. Several new antiviral agents are currently being investigated for CMV infection in immunocompromised patients. Knowledge on CMV drug resistance in children is emerging and requires further study. Summary Conditions that diminish cell-mediated immunity impact the development of CMV infection and disease. These conditions include certain congenital immunodeficiencies and SOT and HCT. Infants identified as having SCID should be screened for CMV risk factors. A preemptive or prophylactic strategy should be chosen for CMV management in children who are high risk posttransplantation. In those who develop disease, viral loads should be monitored and resistance testing considered if response is not deemed adequate. Oral valganciclovir is being used as an alternative to ganciclovir in children, although pharmacokinetic data are limited. Other oral antiviral agents under development are promising future options for paediatric CMV therapy.
l,l-diaminopimelate aminotransferase, a trans-kingdom enzyme shared by Chlamydia and plants for synthesis of diaminopimelate/lysine

The synthesis of meso-diaminopimelic acid (m-DAP) in bacteria is essential for both peptidoglycan and lysine biosynthesis. From genome sequencing data, it was unclear how bacteria of the Chlamydiales order would synthesize m-DAP in the absence of dapD, dapC, and dapE, which are missing from the genome. Here, we assessed the biochemical capacity of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 to synthesize m-DAP. Expression of the chlamydial asd, dapB, and dapF genes in the respective Escherichia coli m-DAP auxotrophic mutants restored the mutants to DAP prototrophy. Screening of a C. trachomatis genomic library in an E. coli ΔdapD DAP auxotroph identified ct390 as encoding an enzyme that restored growth to the Escherichia coli mutant. ct390 also was able to complement an E. coli ΔdapD ΔdapE, but not a ΔdapD ΔdapF mutant, providing genetic evidence that it encodes an aminotransferase that may directly convert tetrahydrodipicolinate to l,l-diaminopimelic acid. This hypothesis was supported by in vitro kinetic analysis of the CT390 protein and the fact that similar properties were demonstrated for the Protochlamydia amoebophila homologue, PC0685. In vivo, the C. trachomatis m-DAP synthesis genes are expressed as early as 8 h after infection. An aminotransferase activity analogous to CT390 recently has been characterized in plants and cyanobacteria. This previously undescribed pathway for m-DAP synthesis supports an evolutionary relationship among the chlamydiae, cyanobacteria, and plants and strengthens the argument that chlamydiae synthesize a cell wall despite the inability of efforts to date to detect peptidoglycan in these organisms.
Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility study of kaolinite matrix subjected to biaxial tests

The potential for structural failure of consolidated clay materials, which is of great importance in many applications, typically are assessed by measuring the localized strain bands that develop under anisotropic load stress. Most methods are precluded from providing a full understanding of the strain anisotropy because they only give two-dimensional information about the stressed clay blocks. The purpose of the present study was to investigate three-dimensional strain localization in a kaolinite matrix, caused by strain anisotropy due to a biaxial plane-strain test, using a relatively new method known as Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS). This method involves induction of magnetism in an oriented sample in different directions and measurement of the induced magnetization in each direction. The AMS analyses were performed on core samples from different parts of the deformed kaolinite matrix. The degree of magnetic anisotropy (P′), which is a measure of the intensity of magnetic fabric and a gauge of strain intensity, was shown to be greater in cores containing shear bands than in those containing none. A threshold value for P′ for the deformed kaolinite matrix was identified, above which shear bands may develop. The comparison of the shape parameter (T), obtained from undeformed and deformed samples, illustrated a superimposition of prolate strain over the original oblate fabric of the kaolinite matrix. The orientation of the principal strain axis revealed that reorientation or rotation of the principal axis occurred along the shear bands.
Family income in early childhood and subsequent attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND Studies have found negative associations between socioeconomic position and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but it remains unclear if this association is causal. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which the association between family income in early childhood and subsequent ADHD depends on measured and unmeasured selection factors. METHODS A total of 811,803 individuals born in Sweden between 1992 and 2000 were included in this nationwide population-based cohort study. Diagnosis of ADHD was assessed via the Swedish national Patient Register and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Annual family income during offspring's first 5 years in life was collected prospectively from the Swedish Integrated Database for Labour Market Research and divided into quartiles by (lower) family disposable income. We predicted ADHD from family income while controlling for covariates and also comparing differently exposed cousins and siblings to control for unmeasured familial confounding. RESULTS The crude analyses suggested that children exposed to lower income levels were at increased risk for ADHD (HRQ uartile1 = 2.52; 95% CI, 2.42-2.63; HRQ uartile2 = 1.52; 95% CI, 1.45-1.58; HRQ uartile3 = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.14-1.15). This dose-dependent association decreased after adjustment for measured covariates (HRQ uartile1 = 2.09; 95% CI, 2.00-2.19; HRQ uartile2 = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.30-1.42; HRQ uartile3 = 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.18). Although the association was attenuated in cousin comparisons (HRQ uartile1 = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.40-1.84; HRQ uartile2 = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.45; HRQ uartile3 = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01-1.28) and sibling comparison models (HRQ uartile1 = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07-1.75; HRQ uartile2 = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.12-1.68; HRQ uartile3 = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.04-1.45), it remained statistically significant across all levels of decreased disposable family income. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated that low family income in early childhood was associated with increased likelihood of ADHD. The link remained even after controlling for unmeasured selection factors, highlighting family income in early childhood as a marker of causal factors for ADHD.
Efficiently illuminated broadside-directed 1D and 2D tapered Fabry-Perot leaky-wave antennas

The study of Fabry-Perot leaky-wave antennas which are properly tapered to optimize their directivity at broadside, is presented in this work. For this purpose, a careful synthesis of the complex aperture illumination (amplitude and phase) induced by the radiating leaky mode is for the first time employed in the synthesis of this type of antennas. The study commences from the one-dimensional (1D) fan-beam Fabry-Perot antennas and extends to two-dimensional (2D) pencil-beam Fabry-Perot antennas. Theoretical and simulated results are reported, illustrating an increase in the antenna directivity at broadside direction in the order of 2dBs for the 1D case, and of 4dBs for the 2D case.
Serum Amyloid P Component Binding to C4b-binding Protein (*)

Human C4b-binding protein (C4BP), which is a regulator of the classical complement pathway C3 convertase, forms high affinity complexes with anticoagulant protein S and with the pentraxin serum amyloid P component (SAP). SAP is a plasma protein present in all amyloid deposits. Recently, SAP was shown to inhibit the complement regulatory functions of C4BP. In this investigation, we have studied the structural requirements for the C4BP-SAP interaction. C4BP was subjected to chymotrypsin digestion, which yielded two major fragments corresponding to the central core (160 kDa) and to the cleaved-off tentacles (48 kDa). SAP-Sepharose specifically bound the 160-kDa fragment, suggesting that the central core of C4BP contains the binding site for SAP. In a quantitative affinity chromatography assay, the dissociation constants for binding of intact C4BP and of the 160-kDa central core fragment to SAP were found to be 30 and 70 nM, respectively. Recombinant C4BP composed of only α-chains bound SAP with similar affinity (K= 22 nM), whereas nonglycosylated recombinant α-chain C4BP (synthesized in the presence of tunicamycin) bound SAP with lower affinity (K = 126 nM). This suggests that the carbohydrate moiety of the central core of C4BP is important for binding of C4BP to SAP in contrast to the C4BP β-chain, which is not required. EDTA, heparin, and phosphorylethanolamine as well as a peptide comprising amino acids 27-39 of SAP were found to completely displace C4BP from the SAP matrix. Moreover, the immobilized SAP peptide bound C4BP in a reaction that, in contrast to the C4BP-SAP interaction, was not dependent on calcium.
LEBR: A Localized Energy Balancing Routing Algorithm in Wireless Sensor Networks

Energy balancing routing (EBR) is an efficient strategy to prolong the lifetime of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In this paper, the network lifetime of minimum energy routing (MER) and energy balancing routing of multi- hop multi-to-one WSN is analyzed. A localized energy balancing routing (LEBR) algorithm is proposed. LEBR combines power control with routing based on geographical location information. LEBR utilizes local energy balancing to achieve global energy balancing, and it is a distributed and localized energy balancing strategy. The performance of LEBR is simulated and analyzed, and is compared with MER. The result shows that the performance of LEBR is better than MER, and it prolongs network lifetime efficiently.
Electromyography during pedaling on upright and recumbent ergometer.

BACKGROUND Ergometers are used during rehabilitation and fitness to restore range of motion, muscular strength, and cardiovascular fitness. The primary difference between upright and recumbent ergometers is that the seat and crank spindle are aligned nearly vertically on upright bicycles and nearly horizontally on recumbent ergometers. In addition, recumbent ergometers are characterized by large seats with backrests to provide support for the upper body and are low to the ground, permitting easier access for wheelchair users and individuals with mobility impairments. Despite the great utility of the recumbent bike, it has not been studied with regard to energy costs or muscular output. This is the first study to investigate the differences between two commercial ergometers by analyzing of lower limb EMG in participants who are not habitual cyclers. METHODS Ten non-cyclist males with no history of musculoskeletal lower limb injury pedaled on standard recumbent and upright ergometers. EMG data were recorded from the volunteers' lower limb muscles (rectus femoris, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius muscles). EMG signals were normalized to the highest EMG signals recorded for the maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC). The peak normalized EMG value of the studied muscles over the average of the 10 pedal cycles was analyzed. RESULTS The differences in average peak muscle activity were not statistically significant for any of the four muscles tested. Pedaling a recumbent ergometer resulted in greater activity in two (semitendinosus and tibialis anterior) of the four muscles studied. Only the rectus femoris muscle demonstrated greater activity during upright pedaling. CONCLUSION There were no differences in the EMG activity of the muscles studied during pedaling on a standard recumbent and an upright stationary exercise ergometer at moderate workload. This increased understanding of muscle activity during pedaling may be useful in the development of new exercise protocols and therapeutic approaches. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2c.
Cortical actin regulation modulates vascular contractility and compliance in veins

Most cardiovascular research focuses on arterial mechanisms of disease, largely ignoring venous mechanisms. Here we examine ex vivo venous stiffness, spanning tissue to molecular levels, using biomechanics and magnetic microneedle technology, and show for the first time that venous stiffness is regulated by a molecular actin switch within the vascular smooth muscle cell in the wall of the vein. This switch connects the contractile apparatus within the cell to adhesion structures and facilitates stiffening of the vessel wall, regulating blood flow return to the heart. These studies also demonstrate that passive stiffness, the component of total stiffness not attributable to vascular smooth muscle activation, is severalfold lower in venous tissue than in arterial tissue. We show here that the activity of the smooth muscle cells plays a dominant role in determining total venous stiffness and regulating venous return.
The matrix protein pp65341‐350: a peptide that induces ex vivo stimulation and in vitro expansion of CMV‐specific CD8+ T cells in subjects bearing either HLA‐A*2402 or A*0101 allele

BACKGROUND: The stimulation of PBMNCs with HLA Class I restricted synthetic peptides derived from CMV phosphorylated matrix protein 65 (pp65) evokes CMV‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, a necessary condition for initiating adoptive immunotherapy against CMV‐related diseases in immune‐compromised patients. It was previously demonstrated that the CMV decamer (10‐mer) peptide pp65341‐350, QYDPVAALFF, was able to induce CMV‐specific CTLs in HLA‐A*2402 CMV‐seropositive individuals.