Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erythrocyte Parameters in the Elderly: An Argument Against New Geriatric Normal Values *

Erythrocyte parameters in 292 unselected geriatric patients were studied retrospectively. Statistically significant mean decreases compared to the laboratories' normal mean values were found in the red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin level, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; there also was a slight increase in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. However, when 17 patients with a hemoglobin level less than 10 gm/dl or a hematocrit reading less than 35 percent were excluded, all of the mean values for erythrocyte parameters fell within the normal range. In 71 percent of these 17 patients the etiology of the anemia was documented. Although one cannot definitely exclude a slight change in erythrocyte parameters with aging, it is concluded that the establishment of so‐called new geriatric norms is premature, as the population studied included patients with various diseases. Good medical practice dictates continued evaluation and monitoring of patients in whom erythrocyte values are outside the established normal ranges.
Touch-Enabled Input Devices for Controlling Virtual Environments

Abstract The benefits of using virtual environment display technology is the familiarity of the user with the modalities of that environment providing a very intuitive access to models or data sets represented by using this technology. Various different styles of input devices are typically used for such virtual environments, ranging from standard game-pads to high-end commercial devices like an A.R. T. flystick2. These devices work great for operations such as selection or navigating the scene. Whenever more sophisticated dialog-based input is required, these devices typically rely on traditional 2D metaphors projected into the virtual environment. The use of tablet devices can provide a significantly more natural input-paradigm under these circumstances. This paper describes the deployment of a standard Android tablet device that interfaces with a virtual environment over the wireless network. The tablet device was tested using traditional CAVE-type display configurations and wall-type display systems using various different 3D stereoscopic technology including active stereo and passive stereo.
Extinction, survival or recovery of large predatory fishes

Large predatory fishes have long played an important role in marine ecosystems and fisheries. Overexploitation, however, is gradually diminishing this role. Recent estimates indicate that exploitation has depleted large predatory fish communities worldwide by at least 90% over the past 50–100 years. We demonstrate that these declines are general, independent of methodology, and even higher for sensitive species such as sharks. We also attempt to predict the future prospects of large predatory fishes. (i) An analysis of maximum reproductive rates predicts the collapse and extinction of sensitive species under current levels of fishing mortality. Sensitive species occur in marine habitats worldwide and have to be considered in most management situations. (ii) We show that to ensure the survival of sensitive species in the northwest Atlantic fishing mortality has to be reduced by 40–80%. (iii) We show that rapid recovery of community biomass and diversity usually occurs when fishing mortality is reduced. However, recovery is more variable for single species, often because of the influence of species interactions. We conclude that management of multi–species fisheries needs to be tailored to the most sensitive, rather than the more robust species. This requires reductions in fishing effort, reduction in bycatch mortality and protection of key areas to initiate recovery of severely depleted communities.
Investigating the Effect of Service Quality on Customer Loyalty in the Hotel Industry: The Mediating Role of Customer Satisfaction and the Moderating Roles of Service Recovery and Perceived Value

This empirical study seeks to contribute to a conceptual model that, reflecting the mediating role of customer satisfaction and the moderating roles of service recovery and perceived value, indicates the effect of service quality on customer loyalty in the hotel industry. Although previous studies have addressed the importance of these variables, the understanding of the moderating effect of service recovery and perceived value still remains a key issue in the existing literature. Based on the findings, the implications and future research directions are discussed.
Traumatic brain injury in veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Communication disorders stratified by severity of brain injury

Abstract Objective: To describe the prevalence of communication disorders in veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: Retrospective study of the prevalence of aphasia, fluency and voice disorders among veterans with different severity levels of TBI. Data was obtained from the VA National repository for OEF/OIF/OND veterans who received VA care in Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011. Results: Among the 303 716 veterans in this study, 1848 were diagnosed with a communication disorder; 40% of these were also diagnosed with a TBI. Voice disorders were the most prevalent diagnosis (3.5 per 1000) followed by aphasia (1.9 per 1000) and fluency disorder (0.7 per 1000). Individuals with a TBI diagnosis were more likely to have a diagnosis of aphasia, followed by fluency and then voice disorder. The odds ratio (OR) of aphasia with TBI was 11.09–252.75 (95% CI = 8.78–441.52, p < 0.01). OR for fluency disorders with TBI was 3.58–10.41 (95% CI = 2.56–42.40, p < 0.01) and association of voice disorders with TBI was significant for all levels of TBI severity (OR = 1.5–6.61, 95% CI = 1.24–14.05, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Veterans who sustained a TBI were more likely to have a diagnosis of a communication disorder, regardless of TBI severity. Those with TBI, including mild TBI, should be screened and evaluated for communication disorders.
The complex classrooms of three award-winning Ontario high school physics teachers

Complexity theory investigates complex systems and how parts of a system give rise to collective behaviours. My thesis focuses upon the nature of the complex systems emerging within the classrooms of three award-winning high school physics teachers in Ontario. Using vignettes for each teacher and their classroom system, I have highlighted themes related to the emergence of collective behaviours. My interpretations found the first classroom collective agreeing to work towards academic excellence with the intention of achieving success in university. The second classroom collective was invested in relationshipbuilding and used the resulting emphasis on teamwork and group-oriented learning to further physics understanding. The final classroom system was in the process of learning to grapple with discovering physics through following and contending with the results of their instincts. From a complex systems perspective, differences amongst teachers and students and different sets of interactions result in unique systems. Therefore, a single prescription for the emergence of certain collective behaviours is unlikely. The journal/commentary format traces my changing understandings of complexity thinking in education and how those understandings made an impact on the way I approached and reflected upon the observations of the study. As such, the thesis also documents shifts in perspectives highlighting the tensions felt between reductionist and complexivist thinking. Ultimately, complexity thinking illuminated how important it was to consider the teacher as part of the system instead of separated from it. Further issues relating to complex emergence and physics education that lead to greater pedagogical awareness are discussed.
Fault ride-through capability improvement of wind farms using doubly fed induction generator

This paper presents a doubly fed induction generator in a sample distribution network. Grid consist of two distributed generation (DG) units. DG1 is a 5MVA synchronous generator with its excited and governor systems. DG2 is a doubly fed induction generator wind turbine which encompasses a wound rotor induction generator and a partial scale power electronic converter as grid side and rotor side converter. Simulation is performed in PSCAD/EMTDC software. The objective is to keep DFIG connected to the grid in abnormal conditions which is called fault ride-through capability. An active diode bridge crowbar switch is proposed and effects of its parameters in dynamic response of DFIG are investigated. Simulation results show well defined parameters of crowbar maintain stability of DFIG and improve its fault ride-through capability.
IS‐pro: high‐throughput molecular fingerprinting of the intestinal microbiota

The human intestinal microbiota is known to play an important role in human health and disease, and with the advent of novel molecular techniques, disease‐specific variations in its composition have been found. However, analysis of the intestinal microbiota has not yet been applicable in large‐scale clinical research or routine diagnostics because of the complex and expensive nature of the techniques needed. Here, we describe a new PCR‐based profiling technique for high‐throughput analysis of the human intestinal microbiota, which we have termed IS‐pro. This technique combines bacterial species differentiation by the length of the 16S–23S rDNA interspace region with instant taxonomic classification by phylum‐specific fluorescent labeling of PCR primers. We validated IS‐pro in silico, in vitro, and in vivo, on human colonic biopsies and feces, and introduced a standardized protocol for data analysis. IS‐pro is easy to implement in general clinical microbiological laboratories with access to capillary gel electrophoresis, and the high‐throughput nature of the test makes analysis of large numbers of samples feasible. This combination renders IS‐pro ideally suited for use in clinical research and routine diagnostics. —Budding, A. E. , Grasman, M. E. , Lin, F. , Bogaards, J. A. , Soeltan‐Kaersenhout, D. J., Vandenbroucke‐Grauls, C. M. J. E. , van Bodegraven, A. A. , Savelkoul, P. H. M. IS‐pro: high‐throughput molecular fingerprinting of the intestinal microbiota. FASEB J. 24, 4556–4564 (2010). www.fasebj. org
Critically Analysis the Globalizing Standard of Patent Protection in the WTO Law and Its Impact on the Availability of Pharmaceutical Drugs in Bangladesh

It is now a debatable matter and attention also increasingly been focused on the relationship between the patents and affordability and accessibility of essentials drugs. In fact after the introduction of the TRIPS it has been one of the most controversial WTO Agreement. Though it could bring some benefit for the developed countries but developing countries and LDCs would be net losers since they would be forced to pay higher prices for patent protected drugs. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have an extension until 1st January 2016 to implement the pharmaceutical patent provision. This is very near to the end. Therefore the question is now arising in the global access to medicines debate, how far as a LDCs Bangladesh pharmaceutical industry can gradually evolve to provide low cost generics of important patented drugs to the people of Bangladesh and other Developing and LDCs if they implement TRIPS obligations. At present there is a clear tension between stakeholders like Pharmaceutical Companies, Government officials, Public health experts, and intellectual property academics regarding this issue. The aim of this article is to contribute to the debate on ratification of the impact of patent protection system on pharmaceuticals after highlighting relevant arguments on both sides for and against and finally there will be an analysis what could be the consequences if Bangladesh implement patent protection system on pharmaceuticals into its national legislation.
Ectopic expression of human mTOR increases viability, robustness, cell size, proliferation, and antibody production of chinese hamster ovary cells

Engineering of mammalian production cell lines to improve titer and quality of biopharmaceuticals is a top priority of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry providing protein therapeutics to patients worldwide. While many engineering strategies have been successful in the past decade they were often based on the over‐expression of a single transgene and therefore limited to addressing a single bottleneck in the cell's production capacity. We provide evidence that ectopic expression of the global metabolic sensor and processing protein mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), simultaneously improves key bioprocess‐relevant characteristics of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell‐derived production cell lines such as cell growth (increased cell size and protein content), proliferation (increased cell‐cycle progression), viability (decreased apoptosis), robustness (decreased sensitivity to sub‐optimal growth factor and oxygen supplies) and specific productivity of secreted human glycoproteins. Cultivation of mTOR‐transgenic CHO‐derived cell lines engineered for secretion of a therapeutic IgG resulted in antibody titers of up to 50 pg/cell/day, which represents a four‐fold increase compared to the parental production cell line. mTOR‐based engineering of mammalian production cell lines may therefore have a promising future in biopharmaceutical manufacturing of human therapeutic proteins. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:853–866. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A GUTLESS ADENOVIRAL VECTOR EXPRESSING FULL‐LENGTH ANTI‐Her2 ANTIBODY

1 Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are increasingly being used in clinical cancer treatment, but their complex technology and high cost limit their use. Helper‐dependent (HD) adenoviruses are among the most efficient and safe gene therapy vectors capable of mediating long‐term expression. 2 Using Gateway (Invitrogen, San Diego, CA, USA) cloning technology, we constructed an HD–trastuzumab (TAb) plasmid carrying the full‐length anti‐HER2 antibody gene. Using an efficient recombinase, namely in vitro‐evolved Flippase‐expressing recombinase, to excise the helper virus packaging signal in producer cells, we developed a scalable HD vector production method. Antibody expression of HD‐TAb in vitro was detected by ELISA and western blot. 3 The full‐length antibody gene delivery system allowed for continuous production of a full‐length antibody at a high concentration. Bioactive antibody macromolecules were generated via gene transfer in vitro. 4 In conclusion, HD adenoviral vectors can stably express a full‐length antibody for prolonged periods without the difficulties associated with sophisticated antibody manufacture techniques and at a much lower cost. As a promising tool for gene therapy, this novel system can shorten the duration and reduce the expense of antibody development.
Seasonal Variation in Children’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Time

ABSTRACT Purpose Understanding seasonal variation in physical activity is important for informing public health surveillance and intervention design. The aim of the current study was to describe seasonal variation in children’s objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time. Methods Data are from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Participants were invited to wear an accelerometer for 7 d on five occasions between November 2008 and January 2010. Outcome variables were sedentary time (<100 counts per minute, min·d−1) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (>2241 counts per minute, min·d−1). The season was characterized using a categorical variable (spring, summer, autumn, or winter) and a continuous function of day of the year. Cross-classified linear regression models were used to estimate the association of each of these constructs with the outcome variables. Modification of the seasonal variation by sex, weight status, urban/rural location, parental income, and day of the week (weekday/weekend) was examined using interaction terms in regression models. Results At least one wave of valid accelerometer data was obtained from 704 participants (47% male; baseline age, 7.6 (0.3) yr). MVPA was lower in autumn and winter relative to spring, with the magnitude of this difference varying by weekday/weekend, sex, weight status, urban/rural location, and family income (P for interaction <0.05 in all cases). Total sedentary time was greater in autumn and winter compared with spring; the seasonal effect was stronger during the weekend than during the weekday (P for interaction <0.01). Conclusions Lower levels of MVPA and elevated sedentary time support the implementation of intervention programs during autumn and winter. Evidence of greater seasonal variation in weekend behavior and among certain sociodemographic subgroups highlights targets for tailored intervention programs.
Structural Damage Detection Using Sensors Optimally Located

: The measured data obtained from sensors in continuous monitoring of civil structures are mainly used for modal identification and damage detection. Therefore when modal identification analysis is carried out the quality in the identification of the modes will highly influence the damage detection results. It is also widely recognized that the usefulness of the measured data used for modal identification and damage detection is significantly influenced by the number and locations of sensors. The objective of this study is the numerical implementation of two widely known optimum sensor placement methods in beam-like structures
Shigella hacks host immune responses by reprogramming the host epigenome

Bacterial pathogens alter host transcriptional programs to promote infection. Shigella OspF is an essential virulence protein with a unique phosphothreonine lyase activity. A new study in The EMBO Journal (Harouz et al, ) reveals a novel function of OspF: targeting of heterochromatin protein 1γ (HP1γ) and downregulation of a subset of immune genes. These results illustrate how bacterial pathogens exploit epigenetic modifications to counteract host immune responses.
Developing the Future: An Exploratory Study of Youth Unemployment in Kampala, Uganda

Youth unemployment is a global concern that can threaten the development and success of any nation. The purpose of this study is to explore the situation of youth unemployment in Uganda and assess the effectiveness of current policies and interventions in terms of addressing the needs of the youth. While there is existing research on the youth bulge and the main causes of youth unemployment in Uganda, there is little academic analysis on the policies in place. As this study is meant to explore the youth situation in Uganda, the participants in this research were representatives from three major groups: the government, the civil society, and the youth themselves. The research methods used were semi-structured interviews, naturalistic and participatory observation, a focus group, and primary and secondary source study. These methods gave the researcher insight into the opinions, policies, and interventions surrounding the issue of youth unemployment and allowed the researcher to learn about these challenges from the youth and other key actors themselves. The main findings of the research suggest that while government policies are comprehensive and impressive, many of the actual programs that are implemented appear to fail to meet the stated policy goals and are limited in scale and capacity. Furthermore, many of these programs fail to provide the softer capacity building skills and interpersonal skills that the youth and other professionals think are necessary for sustainability and personal development. Civil society organizations appear to do a better job of meeting the needs of the youth, but these efforts often face financial and political restrictions that reduce their capacities. This study finds that the main causes of unemployment are expansive and multifaceted, which in turn calls for comprehensive solutions. The researcher presents recommendations that focus mainly on emphasizing capacity building, creating jobs, prioritizing the voice of the youth in policy implementation, improving governance, and reducing corruption. Developing the Future 5
Admixture Mapping in Lupus Identifies Multiple Functional Variants within IFIH1 Associated with Apoptosis, Inflammation, and Autoantibody Production

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease with a strong genetic component. African-Americans (AA) are at increased risk of SLE, but the genetic basis of this risk is largely unknown. To identify causal variants in SLE loci in AA, we performed admixture mapping followed by fine mapping in AA and European-Americans (EA). Through genome-wide admixture mapping in AA, we identified a strong SLE susceptibility locus at 2q22–24 (LOD = 6.28), and the admixture signal is associated with the European ancestry (ancestry risk ratio ∼1.5). Large-scale genotypic analysis on 19,726 individuals of African and European ancestry revealed three independently associated variants in the IFIH1 gene: an intronic variant, rs13023380 [Pmeta = 5.20×10−14; odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 0.82 (0.78–0.87)], and two missense variants, rs1990760 (Ala946Thr) [Pmeta = 3.08×10−7; 0.88 (0.84–0.93)] and rs10930046 (Arg460His) [Pdom = 1.16×10−8; 0.70 (0.62–0.79)]. Both missense variants produced dramatic phenotypic changes in apoptosis and inflammation-related gene expression. We experimentally validated function of the intronic SNP by DNA electrophoresis, protein identification, and in vitro protein binding assays. DNA carrying the intronic risk allele rs13023380 showed reduced binding efficiency to a cellular protein complex including nucleolin and lupus autoantigen Ku70/80, and showed reduced transcriptional activity in vivo. Thus, in SLE patients, genetic susceptibility could create a biochemical imbalance that dysregulates nucleolin, Ku70/80, or other nucleic acid regulatory proteins. This could promote antibody hypermutation and auto-antibody generation, further destabilizing the cellular network. Together with molecular modeling, our results establish a distinct role for IFIH1 in apoptosis, inflammation, and autoantibody production, and explain the molecular basis of these three risk alleles for SLE pathogenesis.