Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of the extracellular matrix on the proliferative response of human skin fibroblasts to serum and purified platelet‐derived growth factor

The culture of adult human skin fibroblasts on reconstituted bovine type I fibrillar collagen gels, ranging in concentration from 2.5–35.0 mg/ml, results in a reduction in proliferation rate by 40%–60% as measured by (3H) thymidine incorporation. The suppressive effect was noted when cells were cultured in both human and bovine serum. Drying the gels into thin films abolishes the suppressive effect of the fibrillar collagen on cell proliferation. Cell attachment studies showed that differences in the proliferation rate of cells on the various substrata were not simply due to differences in initial attachment. Studies with purified platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) demonstrated that the reduced responsiveness of cells to this factor, when cultured on collagen gels as compared to plastic, was largely responsible for the reduced proliferative activity of the cells when cultured in the presence of serum. The reduced proliferative activity of fibroblasts in response to PDGF, when cultured on collagen gels, was confirmed by total DNA determination. It was shown that the reduced responsiveness of cells to PDGF was not simply because the factor bound to the fibrillar collagen gel or was inaccessible to the cells. The data indicate that the reduced proliferation rate of fibroblasts cultured on collagen gels is a direct result of the influence of the extracellular matrix on the cells' ability to respond to a soluble mitogenic mediator.
National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2014

Routine immunization is recommended for adolescents aged 11-12 years by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for protection against diseases including pertussis, meningococcal disease, and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. To assess vaccination coverage among adolescents, CDC analyzed data collected regarding 20,827 adolescents through the 2014 National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen). From 2013 to 2014, coverage among adolescents aged 13-17 years increased for all routinely recommended vaccines: from 84.7% to 87.6% for ≥1 tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine dose, from 76.6% to 79.3% for ≥1 meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine dose, from 56.7% to 60.0% and from 33.6% to 41.7% for ≥1 HPV vaccine dose among females and males, respectively. † Coverage differed by state and local area. Despite overall progress in vaccination coverage among adolescents, HPV vaccination coverage continues to lag behind Tdap and MenACWY coverage at state and national levels. Seven public health jurisdictions achieved significant increases in ≥1- or ≥3-dose HPV vaccination coverage among females in 2014, demonstrating that substantial improvement in HPV vaccination coverage is feasible.
Dialogue Generation in an Assistive Conversation Skills Training System for Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer's Disease

We describe a proposed assistive conversational skills training system using artificial intelligence and natural language generation techniques to simulate spoken dialogue between two embodied agents, one character representing a caregiver and the other character a person with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The type of dialogue simulated is social conversation in which the caregiver encourages the person with AD to tell autobiographical stories. Intervention by the caregiver may be required at times to keep the conversation going due to linguistic or cognitive problems experienced by the storyteller. In our proposal, turn and topic management behavior for the storyteller character is implemented by combining rules representing normal pragmatic routines with linguisticallymotivated rules representing coping strategies.
Circadian rhythms affect electroretinogram, compound eye color, striking behavior and locomotion of the praying mantis Hierodula patellifera

Many behaviors and physiological processes oscillate with circadian rhythms that are synchronized to environmental cues (e.g. light onset), but persist with periods of ~24 h in the absence of such cues. We used a multilevel experimental approach to assess whether circadian rhythms modulate several aspects of the visual physiology and behavior of the praying mantis Hierodula patellifera. We used electroretinograms (ERGs) to assess compound eye sensitivity, colorimetric photographic analyses to assess compound eye color changes (screening pigment migration), behavioral assays of responsiveness to computer-generated prey-like visual stimuli and analyses of locomotor activity patterns on a modified treadmill apparatus. Our results indicate that circadian clocks control and/or modulate each of the target behaviors. Strong rhythms, persisting under constant conditions, with periods of ~24 h were evident in photoreceptor sensitivity to light, appetitive responsiveness to prey-like stimuli and gross locomotor activity. In the first two cases, responsiveness was highest during the subjective night and lowest during the subjective day. Locomotor activity was strongly clustered around the transition time from day to night. In addition, pigment migration and locomotor behavior responded strongly to light:dark cycles and anticipated the light–dark transition, suggesting that the circadian clocks modulating both were entrained to environmental light cues. Together, these data indicate that circadian rhythms operate at the cellular, cellular systems and organismal level in H. patellifera. Our results represent an intriguing first step in uncovering the complexities of circadian rhythms in the Mantodea.
What is a good result after clubfoot treatment? A Delphi-based consensus on success by regional clubfoot trainers from across Africa

Background Congenital talipes equino-varus (CTEV), also known as clubfoot, is one of the most common congenital musculoskeletal malformations. Despite this, considerable variation exists in the measurement of deformity correction and outcome evaluation. This study aims to determine the criteria for successful clubfoot correction using the Ponseti technique in low resource settings through Africa. Methods Using the Delphi method, 18 experienced clubfoot practitioners and trainers from ten countries in Africa ranked the importance of 22 criteria to define an ‘acceptable or good clubfoot correction’ at the end of bracing with the Ponseti technique. A 10cm visual analogue scale was used. They repeated the rating with the results of the mean scores and standard deviation of the first test provided. The consistency among trainers was determined with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). From the original 22 criteria, ten criteria with a mean score >7 and SD <2 were identified and were rated through a second Delphi round by 17 different clubfoot treatment trainers from 11 countries in Africa. The final definition consisted of all statements that achieved strong agreement, a mean score of >9 and SD<1.5. Results The consensus definition of a successfully treated clubfoot includes: (1) a plantigrade foot, (2) the ability to wear a normal shoe, (3) no pain, and (4) the parent is satisfied. Participants demonstrated good consistency in rating these final criteria (ICC 0.88; 0.74,0.97). Conclusions The consistency of Ponseti technique trainers from Africa in rating criteria for a successful outcome of clubfoot management was good. The consensus definition includes basic physical assessment, footwear use, pain and parent satisfaction.
Mining Real-Estate Listings Based on Decision Systems over Ontological Graphs

In the paper, we describe the process of mining real-estate listings based on decision systems over ontological graphs. Such decision systems have been proposed to deal with data in the form of concepts linked by different semantic relations. A special attention is focused on preprocessing steps transforming advertisements in the textual form into decision systems (decision tables) defined over ontological graphs.
An investigation into premium and marginal pavement aggregates from New Zealand

Aggregates used in pavement construction in New Zealand are classified as either premium or marginal depending on their quality. Using marginal materials in a pavement may cause significant problems, such as fatigue cracking, rutting and swelling. One likely reason for these problems can be the mineralogical composition of the aggregates, particularly if they contain swelling minerals. The present paper investigates how swelling minerals can affect the properties of New Zealand aggregates. Standard engineering tests were conducted on five New Zealand materials, two of which are regarded as meeting the local NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency) M4 premium specification and three regarded as marginal. The geological properties and mineralogical compositions of all aggregates were also determined by petrographic examination and X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD), and the swelling potential identified using a one-dimensional swelling test. It was found that clay minerals generally exist in all five aggregates and swelling minerals in the three marginal aggregates and a premium aggregate; the last mentioned also proved to have a high swelling potential. It is concluded that the test methods specified by the NZ standard and currently used to distinguish between and categorize premium and marginal aggregates appear insufficient when they are water saturated. Additional test methods (XRD and a swelling test) are suggested to complement the standard test methods.
Systemic hypertension produces pericyte changes in retinal capillaries.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine retinal capillaries and their pericytes that previous research suggests to be contractile. A contractile role regulating capillary blood flow may be more apparent when the vasculature is subjected to the stress of systemic hypertension. METHODS Using ultrastructural morphometry and the myosin subfragment-1 technique, retinal capillaries of normal and hypertensive rats were measured at three different time points, early, intermediate, and late (24, 44, and 68 wk). RESULTS Hypertensive capillaries seemed to dilate at the early time point (P = 0.002), were constricted at the intermediate time point (P < 0.001), and did not redilate later. Wall thickness was enlarged at all times, pericyte coverage (the ratio of plasma membrane length in contact with the vascular circumference to the outer circumference of the endothelial tube) was greater at early and intermediate time points, and the total area of viable cytoplasm relative to the vessel wall area was increased at the intermediate time (all P < 0.001). Also, at the intermediate time, the circumferential coverage of the endothelial tube by actin filament bundles within pericytes and the actin area relative to the vessel wall area had increased (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that the effects of systemic hypertension extend into the retinal capillary bed, causing pericyte change with actin increase and capillary constriction. They represent the first in vivo indirect evidence by morphologic criteria for pericyte contractility in retinal vascular disease.
Preliminary Design of ADMS±: A Workstation-Mainframe Integrated Architecture for Database Management Systems

This paper presents a new architecture that fully integrates local and global database management in a transparent for the user fashion. The architecture utilizes the workstation’s local processing and uses the global mainframe for sharing and maintenance of consistency. Two access path distribution protocols distribute data and processing by localizing uncommon paths to their requesting workstations while avoiding repetition of globally shared paths in workstations. A new concurrency control protocol is used which has its foundation on the deferred update strategy, the concept of differential files, and a new lock for derived objects.
Notes on Formalizing Context

These notes discuss formalizing contexts as first class objects. The basic relation is ist(c,p). It asserts that the proposition p is true in the context c. The most important formulas relate the propositions true in different contexts. Introducing contexts as formal objects will permit axiomatizations in limited contexts to be expanded to transcend the original limitations. This seems necessary to provide AI programs using logic with certain capabilities that human fact representation and human reasoning possess. Fully implementing transcendence seems to require further extensions to mathematical logic, i.e. beyond the nonmonotonic inference methods first invented in AI and now studied as a new domain of logic. Various notations are considered, but. these notes are tentative in not, proposing a single language with all the desired capabilities.
Patellar Tendon–Trochlear Groove Angle Measurement

Background: The tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) is used as the gold standard for patellofemoral malalignment. Purpose: To assess 3 patellar tendon–trochlear groove (PT-TG) angle measurement techniques and the PT-TG distance measurement (tendinous cartilaginous TT-TG) as predictors of patellar instability. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Three PT-TG angle measurements and the PT-TG distance were measured in 82 participants with patellar instability and 100 controls using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Measurement landmarks were the line tangent to the posterior femoral condyles, the deepest point of the trochlea, the transepicondylar line, and the patellar tendon center. All measurements were recorded once by 1 examiner, and the measurements were recorded twice by 2 examiners in a random group of 100 knees. Mean values and standard deviations (SDs) were obtained. Normality cutoff values were defined as 2 and 3 SDs above the mean in the control group. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood ratio (LR+) were calculated. Inter- and intrarater reliability were assessed based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The measurements from the patellar instability and control groups, respectively, for angle 1 (16.4° and 8.4°), angle 2 (31° and 15.6°), angle 3 (30.8° and 15.7°), PT-TG distance (14.5 and 8.4 mm), and patellar tilt (21.1° and 7.5°) were significantly different (P < .05). The angle measurements showed greater sensitivity, specificity, and LR+ than the PT-TG distance. Inter- and intrarater ICC values were >0.95 for all measurements. Conclusion: The PT-TG angle and the PT-TG distance are reliable and are different between the patellar instability and control groups. PT-TG angles are more closely associated with patellar instability than PT-TG distance. Clinical Relevance: PT-TG angle measurements show high reliability and association with patellar instability and can aid in the assessment of extensor mechanism malalignment. A more sensitive and specific evaluation of extensor mechanism malalignment can improve patient care by preventing both redislocation and abnormal tracking of overlooked malalignment and complications of unnecessary tibial tuberosity medialization.
Neuroanatomical Correlates of the Income-Achievement Gap

In the United States, the difference in academic achievement between higher- and lower-income students (i.e., the income-achievement gap) is substantial and growing. In the research reported here, we investigated neuroanatomical correlates of this gap in adolescents (N = 58) in whom academic achievement was measured by statewide standardized testing. Cortical gray-matter volume was significantly greater in students from higher-income backgrounds (n = 35) than in students from lower-income backgrounds (n = 23), but cortical white-matter volume and total cortical surface area did not differ significantly between groups. Cortical thickness in all lobes of the brain was greater in students from higher-income than lower-income backgrounds. Greater cortical thickness, particularly in temporal and occipital lobes, was associated with better test performance. These results represent the first evidence that cortical thickness in higher- and lower-income students differs across broad swaths of the brain and that cortical thickness is related to scores on academic-achievement tests.
A Workload-Aware Energy Model for Virtual Machine Migration

Energy consumption has become a significant issue for data centres. Assessing their consumption requires precise and detailed models. In the latter years, many models have been proposed, but most of them either do not consider energy consumption related to virtual machine migration or do not consider the variation of the workload on (1) the virtual machines (VM) and (2) the physical machines hosting the VMs. In this paper, we show that omitting migration and workload variation from the models could lead to misleading consumption estimates. Then, we propose a new model for data centre energy consumption that takes into account the previously omitted model parameters and provides accurate energy consumption predictions for paravirtualised virtual machines running on homogeneous hosts. The new model's accuracy is evaluated with a comprehensive set of operational scenarios. With the use of these scenarios we present a comparative analysis of our model with similar state-of-the-art models for energy consumption of VM Migration, showing an improvement up to 24% in accuracy of prediction.
Behavioral adaptation to climate change in wildfire‐prone forests

The link between climate change and increased wildfire risk highlights the need for adaptation in wildfire‐prone landscapes. While extensive research has focused on adaptation at the levels of communities, policies, and governance systems, there is limited understanding of adaptation at the level of individual behavioral responses. Individuals not only directly experience the adverse effects of wildfires but also shape their own exposure to wildfire through risk mitigation practices. Without knowledge of whether these behaviors are adaptive, decision makers are limited in their ability to design and assess climate change adaptation policies that improve outcomes in wildfire‐prone regions. Likewise, greater understanding of the processes by which behavioral adaptation occurs can improve theories of behavior under risk, and specifically how psychological and social factors mediate the effects of hazard conditions on behavior. This paper reviews scholarship on biophysical, psychological, and social factors that shape behavioral adaptation to climate change in wildfire‐prone forests. Our review highlights opportunities to improve theory and assist risk mitigation policy interventions by focusing greater attention on dynamic feedbacks involving hazards, behavior, and outcomes, as well as accounting for variation in behavior and wildfire hazard conditions.
Tools for the development of application-specific virtual memory management

The operating system''s virtual memory management policy is increasingly important to application performance because gains in processing speed are far outstripping improvements in disk latency. Indeed, large applications can gain large performance benefits from using a virtual memory policy tuned to their specific memory access patterns rather than a general policy provided by the operating system. As a result, a number of schemes have been proposed to allow for application-specific extensions to virtual memory management. These schemes have the potential to improve performance; however, to realize this performance gain, application developers must implement their own virtual memory module, a non-trivial programming task. Current operating systems and programming tools are inadequate for developing application-specific policies. Our work combines (I) an extensible user-level virtual memory system based on a metaobject protocol with (ii) an innovative graphical performance monitor to make the task of implementing a new application-specific page replacement policy considerably simpler. The techniques presented for opening up operating system virtual memory policy to user control are general; they could be used to build application-specific implementations of other operating system policies.
THE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF FLUID FROM SINGLE NEPHRONS OF THE MAMMALIAN KIDNEY

Methods have been developed for the collection of fluid from single glomeruli and tubules of the mammalian kidney (1). The amounts of fluid which can thus be collected, though small (from 0.03 to 0.70 c.mm.), were sufficient for quantitative analysis by ultramicro methods (2), and such analyses have been performed in a series of 92 experiments upon rats, guinea pigs and opossums. It was the design of the experiments to learn some of the changes which occur as fluid descends a tubule from the glomerulus toward the ureter and to establish the site of these changes, the same type of experimentation which has yielded considerable information in the amphibian kidney (3). In the present instance it has confirmed existing ideas of glomerular function, established the site of glucose reabsorption, and shed some light on the extent and type of fluid reabsorption which occurs in the proximal tubule. Methods of anal@. The analytical methods, excepting that for sodium, were devised in connection with the experiments upon amphibia and are fully described in the publications to which reference will be made. They were carried out in small glass capillary tubes. Changes in the original techniques and details pertinent to the present investigation are summarized in the following paragraphs.
Genetic variation in genes of folate metabolism and neural-tube defect risk*

Neural-tube defects (NTD) are common congenital malformations that can lead to severe disability or even death. Periconceptional supplementation with the B-vitamin folic acid has been demonstrated to prevent 50–70% of NTD cases. Since the identification of the first genetic risk factor of NTD, the C677T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and the observation that elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with NTD, research has focused on genetic variation in genes encoding for enzymes of folate metabolism and the closely-related homocysteine metabolism. In the present review relevant SNP in genes that code for enzymes involved in folate transport and uptake, the folate cycles and homocysteine metabolism are summarised and the importance of these SNP discussed in relation to NTD risk.
Design, fabrication, and evaluation of a new haptic device using a parallel mechanism

This paper presents design, fabrication, and evaluation of a new 6-DOF haptic device for interfacing with virtual reality by using a parallel mechanism. The mechanism is composed of three pantograph mechanisms that are driven by ground-fixed servomotors, three spherical joints between the top of the pantograph mechanisms and the connecting bars, and three revolute joints between the connecting bars and a mobile joystick handle. Forward and inverse kinematic analyses are performed and the Jacobian matrix is derived. Performance indexes such as global payload index, global conditioning index, translation and orientation workspaces, and sensitivity are evaluated to find optimal parameters in the design stage. The proposed haptic mechanism has better load capability than those of the pre-existing haptic mechanisms due to the fact that the motors are fixed at the base. It has also a wider orientation workspace mainly due to a RRR-type spherical joint. A control method is presented with gravity compensation and force feedback by a force/torque sensor to compensate for the effects of unmodeled dynamics such as friction and inertia. Also, the dynamic performance is evaluated for force characteristics. Virtual wall simulation with the developed haptic device is demonstrated.