Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research in Urban Traffic Strategy Planning on the Background of Xiamen Special Economic Zones Dilatation to City Wide

On the background of ratifying Xiamen special economic zones dilatation to citywide by the State Council,and on the basis of analyzing Xiamen city status of traffic in recent years,and sustainable urban transportation development mode was built public transport as the main body,which rural and urban transportation strategic planning was planned closely surrounding the idea of "total Xiamen" and the construction of integrated traffic inside and outside island was actively promoted.
Maintenance of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus neuromuscular system is not influenced by physiological levels of glucocorticoids

The spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) neuromuscular system mediates sexual reflexes, and is highly sexually dimorphic in rats. While maintenance of this system in adulthood is mainly dependent on androgens, there is also evidence to suggest that glucocorticoids may have a catabolic effect. We conducted a series of studies to fully examine the influence of basal glucocorticoids on the size of the SNB motoneurons and the associated bulbocavernosus (BC) and levator ani (LA) muscles. Specifically, we examined whether the muscles and motoneurons of the SNB neuromuscular system are affected by: (1) blockade of endogenous glucocorticoids via delivery of the antagonist RU‐486 at doses ranging from low to high, (2) removal of endogenous glucocorticoids via adrenalectomy, or (3) restoration of physiological corticosterone levels via implants following adrenalectomy. In each study, we found that muscle and motoneuron size were unaffected by glucocorticoid manipulation. In contrast to previous results with supraphysiological levels of glucocorticoids, our results indicate that basal, nonstress levels of glucocorticoids do not influence the size of the BC/LA muscles or their associated SNB motoneurons. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2012
Universal newborn hearing screening in 2010

Purpose of reviewThe objectives of this review are to provide the reader with a current and concise review of the data and trends in universal newborn hearing screening. Within a relatively short period of time, the concept of screening all infants for hearing loss at the time of birth has evolved from a nascent process to a truly universal system in most developed countries. As a result, the focus and challenges of universal newborn hearing screening have shifted to topics of developing even more efficient and cost-effective approaches, and potentially melding physiologic hearing screenings with ancillary screening techniques. Recent findingsEnhancement of the universal newborn hearing screening process is likely to be accomplished by implementation of novel tools such as wideband reflectance technologies and intelligent incorporation of screening for common genetic and viral causes of congenital hearing loss. SummaryWith such a rapidly evolving process, it will be critical for clinicians to understand the benefits and limitations of various newborn hearing screening methodologies in order to determine the most appropriate management of children referred from their universal newborn hearing screening. This will entail a working knowledge of emerging audiologic tools as well as infectious and genetic causes of pediatric hearing loss.
A 98.7% efficient composite converter architecture with application-tailored efficiency characteristic

A DC-DC boost composite converter architecture is introduced that can lead to optimized efficiency over a range of operating points dictated by the application requirements. The composite converter system employs dissimilar modules to minimize the ac power losses in the indirect power conversion paths. It is composed of three converter modules: buck converter, boost converter, and a dual active bridge converter that operates as a DC Transformer (DCX). Each module processes partial power, with reduced voltage rating. With the same semiconductor area and same magnetics volume, substantial efficiency improvements and reductions in capacitor size are achieved relative to a conventional boost architecture. It is possible to design each module to optimize efficiency over a wide operating range, including passthrough modes that exhibit very low loss. A 10 kW boost composite converter is experimentally demonstrated having 98.7% efficiency at a critical partial power point, with similar very high efficiencies achieved over a wide operating range.
Shaping the Output of Lumbar Flexor Motoneurons by Sacral Neuronal Networks

The ability to improve motor function in spinal cord injury patients by reactivating spinal central pattern generators (CPGs) requires the elucidation of neurons and pathways involved in activation and modulation of spinal networks in accessible experimental models. Previously we reported on adrenoceptor-dependent sacral control of lumbar flexor motoneuron firing in newborn rats. The current work focuses on clarification of the circuitry and connectivity involved in this unique modulation and its potential use. Using surgical manipulations of the spinal gray and white matter, electrophysiological recordings, and confocal microscopy mapping, we found that methoxamine (METH) activation of sacral networks within the ventral aspect of S2 segments was sufficient to produce alternating rhythmic bursting (0.15–1 Hz) in lumbar flexor motoneurons. This lumbar rhythm depended on continuity of the ventral funiculus (VF) along the S2–L2 segments. Interrupting the VF abolished the rhythm and replaced it by slow unstable bursting. Calcium imaging of S1–S2 neurons, back-labeled via the VF, revealed that ∼40% responded to METH, mostly by rhythmic firing. All uncrossed projecting METH responders and ∼70% of crossed projecting METH responders fired with the concurrent ipsilateral motor output, while the rest (∼30%) fired with the contralateral motor output. We suggest that METH-activated sacral CPGs excite ventral clusters of sacral VF neurons to deliver the ascending drive required for direct rhythmic activation of lumbar flexor motoneurons. The capacity of noradrenergic-activated sacral CPGs to modulate the activity of lumbar networks via sacral VF neurons provides a novel way to recruit rostral lumbar motoneurons and modulate the output required to execute various motor behaviors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Spinal central pattern generators (CPGs) produce the rhythmic output required for coordinating stepping and stabilizing the body axis during movements. Electrical stimulation and exogenous drugs can reactivate the spinal CPGs and improve the motor function in the absence of descending supraspinal control. Since the body-stabilizing sacral networks can activate and modulate the limb-moving lumbar circuitry, it is important to clarify the functional organization of sacral and lumbar networks and their linking pathways. Here we decipher the ascending circuitry linking adrenoceptor-activated sacral CPGs and lumbar flexor motoneurons, thereby providing novel insights into mechanisms by which sacral circuitry recruits lumbar flexors, and enhances the motor output during lumbar afferent-induced locomotor rhythms. Moreover, our findings might help to improve drug/electrical stimulation-based therapy to accelerate locomotor-based rehabilitation.
Pediatric Obesity in Early Childhood

Obesity is a public health crisis and continues to affect youth of increasingly younger ages. With significant medical and psychosocial comorbidities, it is critical that front-line providers feel confident in their abilities to assess, and appropriately refer, children and families to subspecialties to aid in weight management treatment. This article describes the development and utility of a 1-page screening tool for pediatricians and other providers. Utilizing research, clinical experience, and consensus opinion, a brief tool was developed that could be incorporated into medical visits to facilitate medical care decisions and management of pediatric obesity.
The receptor for complement component C3a mediates protection from intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injuries by inhibiting neutrophil mobilization

C3a is a key complement activation fragment, yet its neutrophil-expressed receptor (C3aR) still has no clearly defined role. In this study, we used a neutrophil-dependent mouse model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury to explore the role of C3aR in acute tissue injuries. C3aR deficiency worsened intestinal injury, which corresponded with increased numbers of tissue-infiltrating neutrophils. Circulating neutrophils were significantly increased in C3aR−/− mice after intestinal ischemia, and C3aR−/− mice also mobilized more circulating neutrophils after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor infusion compared with WT mice, indicating a specific role for C3aR in constraining neutrophil mobilization in response to intestinal injury. In support of this role, C3aR−/− mice reconstituted with WT bone marrow reversed IR pathology back to WT levels. Complement C5a receptor (C5aR) antagonism in C3aR−/− mice also rectified the worsened pathology after intestinal IR injury but had no effect on circulating neutrophils, highlighting the opposing roles of C3a and C5a in disease pathogenesis. Finally, we found that using a potent C3a agonist to activate C3aR in vivo reduced neutrophil mobilization and ameliorated intestinal IR pathology in WT, but not C3aR−/−, mice. This study identifies a role for C3aR in regulating neutrophil mobilization after acute intestinal injury and highlights C3aR agonism as a potential treatment option for acute, neutrophil-driven pathologies.
Novel voltage-mode control for DCM/CCM boundary PFC boost converters achieves high efficiency and low THD

This paper presents a novel control methodology that enables DCM/CCM Boundary PFC Boost converter operating in voltage mode to draw ideally a sinusoidal current from the power line also when techniques that maximize system efficiency especially at medium-light load are implemented (e.g. “valley skipping” operation to limit the converter switching frequency). It is a well-known fact that in these systems the switching frequency is inversely proportional to the load [1]-[2] and that limiting the switching frequency the input current distortion increases [3]. This results in a trade-off between efficiency and total harmonic distortion (THD), especially at medium-light load. The novel control method aims to overcome this issue.
Profitable trading strategies based on price multiple information: evidence from India

In this paper we examine if price multiples information can be used to develop profitable trading strategies. Data is employed for BSE 500 companies in India from July 2001 to April 2013. We find that, in general, low P/E, P/B and P/S stocks outperform high P/E, P/B and P/S stocks. Based on standalone price multiples, low P/B stock portfolio provide the highest return of 2.4% per month on risk adjusted basis. We observe that a combination of price multiples and their key value drivers does not provide trading strategies that outperform those based on standalone price multiples. Standard risk models like capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and Fama-French model are not able to explain cross-section of returns for price multiple sorted portfolios. Our findings are pertinent for market regulators’, investment analysis as well as for academia. The study contributes to the equity valuation and asset pricing literature for emerging markets.
Open source multispectral camera array for vegetation analysis

Vegetation indices calculated on multispectral images have been used for quantify the health and status of vegetation. Images used for these studies were been obtained with Landsat 8 satellite, these images represent high cost for low and middle budget organization. This work present the methodology for develop an open source multispectral camera array for vegetation analysis. This system has been built in base of open source devices such as Raspberry Pi Linux Computer on Module, and open source libraries like OpenCV. Also, the entire code, schematics and diagrams have been released with open source licenses.
Integrin-linked Kinase (ILK) Binding to Paxillin LD1 Motif Regulates ILK Localization to Focal Adhesions*

Paxillin is a focal adhesion adapter protein involved in integrin signaling. Paxillin LD motifs bind several focal adhesion proteins including the focal adhesion kinase, vinculin, the Arf-GTPase-activating protein paxillin-kinase linker, and the newly identified actin-binding protein actopaxin. Microsequencing of peptides derived from a 50-kDa paxillin LD1 motif-binding protein revealed 100% identity with integrin-linked kinase (ILK)-1, a serine/threonine kinase that has been implicated in integrin, growth factor, and Wnt signaling pathways. Cloning of ILK from rat smooth muscle cells generated a cDNA that exhibited 99.6% identity at the amino acid level with human ILK-1. A monoclonal antibody raised against a region of the carboxyl terminus of ILK, which is identical in rat and human ILK-1 protein, recognized a 50-kDa protein in all cultured cells and tissues examined. Binding experiments showed that ILK binds directly to the paxillin LD1 motif in vitro. Co-immunoprecipitation from fibroblasts confirmed that the association between paxillin and ILK occurs in vivo in both adherent cells and cells in suspension. Immunofluorescence microscopy of fibroblasts demonstrated that endogenous ILK as well as transfected green fluorescent protein-ILK co-localizes with paxillin in focal adhesions. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of ILK identified a paxillin-binding subdomain in the carboxyl terminus of ILK. In contrast to wild-type ILK, paxillin-binding subdomain mutants of ILK were unable to bind to the paxillin LD1 motif in vitro and failed to localize to focal adhesions. Thus, paxillin binding is necessary for efficient focal adhesion targeting of ILK and may therefore impact the role of ILK in integrin-mediated signal transduction events.
In vitro–in vivo correlations: general concepts, methodologies and regulatory applications

Abstract The major objective of in vitro–in vivo correlations is to be able to use in vitro data to predict in vivo performance serving as a surrogate for an in vivo bioavailability test and to support biowaivers. Therefore, the aims of this review are: (i) to clarify the factors involved during bio-predictive dissolution method development; and (ii) the elements that may affect the mathematical analysis in order to exploit all information available. This article covers the basic aspects of dissolution media and apparatus used in the development of in vivo predictive dissolution methods, including the latest proposals in this field as well as the summary of the mathematical methods for establishing the in vitro–in vivo relationship and their scope and limitations. The incorporation of physiological relevant factors in the in vitro dissolution method is essential to get accurate in vivo predictions. Standard quality control dissolution methods do not necessarily reflect the in vivo behavior, so they rarely are useful for predicting in vivo performance. The combination of physiological based dissolution methods with physiological-based pharmacokinetics models incorporating gastrointestinal variables will lead to robust tools for drug and formulation development, nevertheless their regulatory use for biowaiver application still require harmonization of the mathematical methods proposed and more detailed recommendations about the procedures for setting up dissolution specifications.
Understanding International Benchmarks on Student Engagement: Awareness and Research Alignment from a Computer Science Perspective

There is an increasing trend to use national survey instruments to measure student engagement. Unfortunately, Computer Science (CS) rates poorly on a number of measures in these surveys, even when compared to related STEM disciplines. Initial research suggests reasons for this poor performance may include a lack of awareness by CS academics of these instruments and the student engagement measures on which they are based, and a misalignment between these measures and the research focus (and teaching practice) of CS educators. This working group carried out an investigation of major engagement instruments to examine the measures they embody and track the achievement of CS with respect to the major international benchmarks. A comprehensive research mapping exercise was then conducted to examine the focus of current CS education research and its alignment to student engagement measures on which the instruments are based. The process enabled identification of examples of best practice in student engagement research in CS education. In order to better understand CS academics' perspectives on engagement a series of interviews were also conducted with CS staff. Our findings indicate that CS engagement results are, if anything, declining further. Analysis of CS education research literature shows that many authors refer to ``engagement'' (and their aim to increase it) but few attach a clear meaning to the term or offer evidence to support a link to improved engagement. Further, many initiatives reported would be unlikely to tick the boxes of the narrow, behaviourally-focussed measures covered by the major instruments. Staff interviews revealed a wide variety of beliefs about what student engagement means and what should be done to promote it in CS, including the view that many activities measured in the instruments are counter-productive for CS. This work aims to promote a greater awareness of the international benchmarks and the aspects of student engagement they measure. The results reported here can be used by CS educators to inform decisions on strategies to improve engagement and how these might relate to existing survey measures.
Assessing disordered speech and voice in Parkinson's disease: a telerehabilitation application.

BACKGROUND Patients with Parkinson's disease face numerous access barriers to speech pathology services for appropriate assessment and treatment. Telerehabilitation is a possible solution to this problem, whereby rehabilitation services may be delivered to the patient at a distance, via telecommunication and information technologies. A number of studies have demonstrated the capacity of telerehabilitation to provide reliable and valid assessments of speech, voice and language. However, no studies have specifically focused on assessing patients with Parkinson's disease. AIMS To investigate the validity and reliability of a telerehabilitation application for assessing the speech and voice disorder associated with Parkinson's disease. METHODS & PROCEDURES Sixty-one participants with Parkinson's disease and hypokinetic dysarthria were simultaneously assessed in an online and face-to-face environment by two speech-language pathologists. The assessment protocol included perceptual measures of voice and oromotor function, articulatory precision, speech intelligibility, and acoustic measures of vocal sound pressure level, phonation time and pitch range. Online assessments were conducted via a personal computer-based videoconferencing system with store-and-forward capabilities, operating on a 128 kbit/s Internet connection. The level of agreement between the online and face-to-face ratings was determined using several different analyses, depending on the parameter. These included per cent close agreement, quadratic weighted Kappa, and the Bland and Altman limits of agreement. OUTCOMES & RESULTS Per cent close agreement between the two environments was within a predetermined clinical criterion of 80% agreement for all voice and oromotor parameters, articulatory precision and speech intelligibility in conversation. Levels of agreement between the environments, based on quadratic weighted Kappa, ranged from poor to good for vocal parameters and from fair to very good for oromotor parameters. Bland and Altman limits of agreement analyses revealed comparability between online and face-to-face environments for vocal sound pressure level, phonation time, pitch range, sentence intelligibility and communication efficiency in reading. Intra- and inter-rater reliability scores for all tasks were comparable between the online and face-to-face environments. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS For the majority of parameters, comparable levels of agreement were achieved between the two environments. Online assessment of disordered speech and voice in Parkinson's disease appears to be valid and reliable. The telerehabilitation application described in this study provides evidence for the delivery of online assessment for the dysarthric speech disorder associated with Parkinson's disease.
Postsynaptic modulation of synaptic efficacy at mixed synapses on the Mauthner cell

Extracellular application of dopamine in the synaptic bed of the lateral dendrite of the goldfish Mauthner (M-) cell enhances both the electrical and chemical components of the mixed excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) evoked by ipsilateral eighth nerve stimulation (Pereda et. al., 1992). We describe here results of experiments designed to determine the locus of action of dopamine and the underlying cellular mechanisms. This amine acts independently on the two modes of transmission, since (1) the percentage increases in the two were not correlated, (2) the time courses of their modifications were independent, and (3) the observed increases in synaptic responses cannot be attributed to a generalized effect on M-cell input conductance, which was increased by dopamine, a change that would rather be expected to shunt the synaptic potentials. Also, dopamine does not produce presynaptic spike broadening and does not modify paired-pulse facilitation, two indications that it acts postsynaptically. The alterations in the mixed EPSP are presumably due to activation of a postsynaptic cAMP-dependent phosphorylation pathway. Specifically, they did not occur if the cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor PKI5–24 was injected intradendritically prior to dopamine application, and they could, on the other hand, be mimicked by injections of the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PKACAT. In contrast, neither manipulation altered the M-cell input conductance directly or affected the dopamine-induced increase in conductance, suggesting this effect of dopamine is cAMP independent. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Contributions to and review of dicrocoeliosis, with special reference to the intermediate hosts of Dicrocoelium dendriticum

An epidemiological study on dicrocoeliosis caused by Dicrocoelium dendriticum was carried out on sheep, molluscs and ants in the mountains of León province (NW Spain) between 1987–1991. The results concerning the intermediate hosts and a review of some aspects of dicrocoeliosis are summarized. Mollusc collection for the helminthological study was random throughout the study area at fortnightly intervals. Twenty-nine Gastropoda species were identified. D. dendriticum infection was only detected in 2·98% of the 2084 Helicella itala examined and in 1·06% of 852 H. corderoi. The highest infection prevalence was detected in H. itala in September and in H. corderoi in February. Daughter sporocysts with well-developed cercariae predominated in spring and autumn. Infection prevalence increased with mollusc age and size. Ants were collected from anthills or plants to which they were attached. The behaviour of ants in tetania was followed. Twenty-one Formicidae species were identified, but only the following harboured D. dendriticum: Formica cunicularia (1158 examined specimens, 0·69% infection prevalence, 2–56 metacercariae per ant); F. sanguinea (234, 1·28%, 2–63); F. nigricans (1770, 4·97%, 1–186); F. rufibarbis (288, 6·59%, 2–107). In a flat area close to León town, 95·39% of the 2085 F. rufibarbis specimens collected in tetania contained metacercariae (1–240) in the abdomen. These were used for parasite characterization by isoelectric focusing and to infect lambs and hamsters. Only one brainworm per ant was found.