Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elasticity of soft tissues in simple elongation.

FUNG, Y. C. B. Elasticity of soft tissues in simple elongation. Am. J. Physiol. 213(6) : 1532-l 544. 1967 . -Elasticity of living soft tissues is strongly nonlinear. Based on experimental results on rabbits’ mesentery, a theoretical framework is presented in which the elastic properties of soft tissues can be described. It is shown that the mathematical formulation works well also in reducing published data on the series element of the heart and striated muscles, and the skin. In simple elongation the tensile stress is nearly an exponential function of the strain in the lower stress range. Based on this fact, it is shown that although we are dealing with the finite deformation of highly nonlinear materials, the elastic property of soft tissues in tension can be expressed quite simply in most cases. It is necessary, however, to give up the usual practice of trying to characterize the elasticity of a tissue by a representative Young’s modulus, because this modulus varies over a very wide range, which is often zero at vanishing stress, and increases linearly as the stress increases, and therefore is meaningless unless the exact stress level is specified. New physical constants recommended are : the slope and curvature at the origin of the curve of d T/dX vs. T, where T stands for tension and X stands for the extension ratio, and the tensile stress T*, (based on the original crosssectional area) at a specific value of the extension ratio A*.
The Redox Regulator Fnr Is Required for Fermentative Growth and Enterotoxin Synthesis in Bacillus cereus F4430/73

ABSTRACT Glucose-grown cells of Bacillus cereus respond to anaerobiosis and low extracellular oxidoreduction potentials (ORP), notably by enhancing enterotoxin production. This response involves the ResDE two-component system. We searched the B. cereus genome for other redox response regulators potentially involved in this adaptive process, and we identified one gene encoding a protein predicted to have an amino acid sequence 58% identical (80% similar) to that of the Bacillus subtilis Fnr redox regulator. The fnr gene of the food-borne pathogen B. cereus F4430/73 has been cloned and partially characterized. We showed that fnr was up-regulated during anaerobic fermentation, especially when fermentation occurred at low ORP (under highly reducing conditions). The expression of fnr was down-regulated in the presence of O2 and nitrate which, unlike fumarate, stimulated the respiratory pathways. The inactivation of B. cereus fnr abolished fermentative growth but only moderately affected aerobic and anaerobic nitrate respiratory growth. Analyses of glucose by-products and the transcription profiles of key catabolic genes confirmed the strong regulatory impact of Fnr on B. cereus fermentative pathways. More importantly, the fnr mutation strongly decreased the expression of PlcR-dependent hbl and nhe genes, leading to the absence of hemolysin BL (Hbl) and nonhemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe) secretion by the mutant. These data indicate that fnr is essential for both fermentation and toxinogenesis. The results also suggest that both Fnr and the ResDE two-component system belong to a redox regulatory pathway that functions at least partially independently of the pleiotropic virulence gene regulator PlcR to regulate enterotoxin gene expression.
Culture, strategy and teamwork: The keys to organizational change (Культура, стратегия и работа команды: ключи к организационному изменению)

Suggests that adopting fashionable activity-centred programmes such as TQM or re-engineering, to parts of the entire organization without a general strategy tying them to long-term corporate goals, seldom leads to desirable results. Indicates how an organization can build a climate which fosters creativity, harmony and teamwork, where continuous improvement becomes a way of life. Describes an integrated organizational development programme and its application in Bangor Hydro-Electric Company. Shows how the company changed its culture, structure and operating procedures in order to to meet the demands of its rapidly changing environment.
Subjective daytime sleepiness: dimensions and correlates in the general population.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Discrepancies between several widely used assessment tools suggest that subjective daytime sleepiness is not a unitary phenomenon. Most research, however, has been based on patients. The aim of this study was to examine whether qualitatively different facets of subjective daytime sleepiness exist in the general population and to assess how different aspects of subjective sleepiness varied by age, gender, education status, body mass index, sleep debt, Stanford Sleepiness Scale, and objectively measured sleepiness (Multiple Sleep Latency Test). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Population-based sample of 1562 women and 1351 men, mean age of 46.6 +/- 7.9 years, including a subset of 145 participants who underwent an Multiple Sleep Latency Test. MEASUREMENTS Self-reported sleepiness problems, Epworth Sleepiness Scale items, sleep habits, Multiple Sleep Latency Test, and Stanford Sleepiness Scale. RESULTS Principal-axis factor analysis of 13 self-reported daytime-sleepiness measures yielded 3 factors, labeled perceived daytime sleepiness (Cronbach's alpha = 0.74), subjective sleep propensity in active situations (alpha = 0.82), and subjective sleep propensity in passive situations (alpha = 0.63). The factor-based scores were all related to increased body mass index and lower education status, but the associations of scores for perceived and subjective propensity factors differed with gender, age, sleep debt, MSLT, and Stanford Sleepiness Scale. Worse perceived sleepiness factor-based score was significantly related to female gender, younger age, higher sleep debt, and worse Stanford Sleepiness Scale scores. Worse factor-based scores for subjective sleep propensity in both active and passive situations were significantly associated with male gender, older age, and worse Multiple Sleep Latency Test scores. CONCLUSION Findings from the present analysis on a general population sample support the hypothesis that subjective daytime sleepiness has multiple dimensions.
Two Brains, One Game: Design and Evaluation of a Multiuser BCI Video Game Based on Motor Imagery

How can we connect two brains to a video game by means of a brain-computer interface (BCI), and what will happen when we do so? How will the two users behave, and how will they perceive this novel common experience? In this paper, we are concerned with the design and evaluation of multiuser BCI applications. We created a multiuser videogame called BrainArena in which two users can play a simple football game by means of two BCIs. They can score goals on the left or right side of the screen by simply imagining left or right hand movements. To add another interesting element, the gamers can play in a collaborative manner (their two mental activities are combined to score in the same goal), or in a competitive manner (the gamers must push the ball in opposite directions). Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance and subjective experience of users in the different conditions. In the first experiment, we compared a single-user situation with one multiuser situation: the collaborative task. Experiment 1 showed that multiuser conditions are significantly preferred, in terms of fun and motivation, compared to the single-user condition. The performance of some users was even significantly improved in the multiuser condition. A subset of well-performing subjects was involved in the second experiment, where we added the competitive task. Experiment 2 suggested that competitive and collaborative conditions may lead to similar performances and motivations. However, the corresponding gaming experiences can be perceived differently among the participants. Taken together our results suggest that multiuser BCI applications can be operational, effective, and more engaging for participants.
Building domain-specific Web collections for scientific digital libraries: a meta-search enhanced focused crawling method

Collecting domain-specific documents from the Web using focused crawlers has been considered one of the most important strategies to build digital libraries that serve the scientific community. However, because most focused crawlers use local search algorithms to traverse the Web space, they could be easily trapped within a limited sub-graph of the Web that surrounds the starting URLs and build domain-specific collections that are not comprehensive and diverse enough to scientists and researchers. We investigated the problems of traditional focused crawlers caused by local search algorithms and proposed a new crawling approach, meta-search enhanced focused crawling, to address the problems. We conducted two user evaluation experiments to examine the performance of our proposed approach and the results showed that our approach could build domain-specific collections with higher quality than traditional focused crawling techniques.
Perivascular fat, AMP‐activated protein kinase and vascular diseases

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is an active endocrine and paracrine organ that modulates vascular function, with implications for the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adipocytes and stromal cells contained within PVAT produce mediators (adipokines, cytokines, reactive oxygen species and gaseous compounds) with a range of paracrine effects modulating vascular smooth muscle cell contraction, proliferation and migration. However, the modulatory effect of PVAT on the vascular system in diseases, such as obesity, hypertension and atherosclerosis, remains poorly characterized. AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates adipocyte metabolism, adipose biology and vascular function, and hence may be a potential therapeutic target for metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the vascular complications associated with obesity and T2DM. The role of AMPK in PVAT or the actions of PVAT have yet to be established, however. Activation of AMPK by pharmacological agents, such as metformin and thiazolidinediones, may modulate the activity of PVAT surrounding blood vessels and thereby contribute to their beneficial effect in cardiometabolic diseases. This review will provide a current perspective on how PVAT may influence vascular function via AMPK. We will also attempt to demonstrate how modulating AMPK activity using pharmacological agents could be exploited therapeutically to treat cardiometabolic diseases.
External Validation of Pooled Cohort Risk Equations to Predict 1-Year Clinical Outcome in Ischemic Stroke Patients

Background The present study aimed to validate the pooled cohort risk (PCR) equations in a Chinese ischemic stroke population and to explore its prognostic value in predicting stroke recurrence, coronary heart disease, and vascular death. Material/Method Patients were selected from the China National Stroke Registry. The C statistic was used to examine the clinical prediction of the scores. To analyze the relevant risk factors, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. Results Out of a total of 22 216 patients, 8287 patients (including 7652 acute ischemic stroke [AIS] and 635 transient ischemic attack [TIA] patients) were selected and enrolled in the study. At 1-year follow-up, for stroke recurrence rate, the C statistic value was 0.584 in AIS patients and 0.573 in all patients. For non-fatal myocardial infarction, the C statistic value was 0.533 in AIS patients and 0.493 in all patients. For vascular death, the C statistic value was 0.592 in AIS patients and 0.592 in all patients. For all events, the C statistic value was 0.582 in AIS patients and 0.575 in all patients. For AIS patients, the 12-month cumulative rates for recurrent stroke, vascular death, and combined vascular events were higher in the high-PCR group (PCR ≥20%). Conclusions Pooled cohort risk equations may serve as potential tools to predict and stratify the 1-year risk of recurrent stroke and combined vascular events in AIS/TIA patients in China.
Hydrothermal Plumes and the Delivery of Iron to Banded Iron Formation

Most of the iron in banded iron formation (BIF) was deposited during the period 2.7-1.8 Ga. Within this period, Fe deposition rates were at least as high as $$10^{12} gm/y$$. According to new age models for the largest BIFs, peak deposition occurred between 2.4-2.3 Ga. It is likely that such high deposition rates would not be met by a solely continental source of iron unless significant quantities were remobilized in marine sediment. Estimates of global heat loss for the Late Archean-Early Proterozoic suggest a hydrothermal cycling rate approximately three times greater than at present, so hydrothermal water-rock exchanges were a more important source of Fe to the oceans than today. Hydro-thermal plumes, depleted in $$O_{2}$$ and enriched in Fe, were generated at mid-ocean ridge crests with substantially shallower depths than present. Assuming hydrothermal effluent dilution factors of $$10^{4}$$, plumes transported iron which had a dominantly hydrothermal source into the upper water column and transferred it to margins where BIFs accumulated. However, unless the quantity of iron liberated during hydrothermal cycling was significantly greater per unit volume of water than today, then either $$\approx 10\%$$ of all hydrothermal iron accumulated in the five very large class BIFs, or they also received Fe from continental sources.
Multivariate Granger causality and generalized variance.

Granger causality analysis is a popular method for inference on directed interactions in complex systems of many variables. A shortcoming of the standard framework for Granger causality is that it only allows for examination of interactions between single (univariate) variables within a system, perhaps conditioned on other variables. However, interactions do not necessarily take place between single variables but may occur among groups or "ensembles" of variables. In this study we establish a principled framework for Granger causality in the context of causal interactions among two or more multivariate sets of variables. Building on Geweke's seminal 1982 work, we offer additional justifications for one particular form of multivariate Granger causality based on the generalized variances of residual errors. Taken together, our results support a comprehensive and theoretically consistent extension of Granger causality to the multivariate case. Treated individually, they highlight several specific advantages of the generalized variance measure, which we illustrate using applications in neuroscience as an example. We further show how the measure can be used to define "partial" Granger causality in the multivariate context and we also motivate reformulations of "causal density" and "Granger autonomy. " Our results are directly applicable to experimental data and promise to reveal new types of functional relations in complex systems, neural and otherwise.
Max-min surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithm for robust design

Solving design optimization problems using evolutionary algorithms has always been perceived as finding the optimal solution over the entire search space. However, the global optima may not always be the most desirable solution in many real-world engineering design problems. In practice, if the global optimal solution is very sensitive to uncertainties, for example, small changes in design variables or operating conditions, then it may not be appropriate to use this highly sensitive solution. In this paper, we focus on combining evolutionary algorithms with function approximation techniques for robust design. In particular, we investigate the application of robust genetic algorithms to problems with high dimensions. Subsequently, we present a novel evolutionary algorithm based on the combination of a max-min optimization strategy with a Baldwinian trust-region framework employing local surrogate models for reducing the computational cost associated with robust design problems. Empirical results are presented for synthetic test functions and aerodynamic shape design problems to demonstrate that the proposed algorithm converges to robust optimum designs on a limited computational budget
Universal decoding for channels with memory

We show the existence and structure of a universal decoder, which is independent of the channel yet attains the same random coding error exponent as can be attained by the best decoder tuned to the channel. This result hold for general parametric families of channels, and requires only relatively mild conditions of continuity of the channel law with respect to the parameter indexing the family.
Research on value-based state-owned capital management budget system

As the state-owned enterprises are making further reforms and all levels of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council have been established, there is the need to set up a set of state-owned capital management budget, to better reflect the investment and utility of state-owned capital and realize the value preservation and increment. This essay first makes clear the target, main body and composing elements of state-owned capital management budget. The realization of the target of state-owned capital management budget in essence depends on ldquovalue creationrdquo, around which this essay raises the value-based state-owned capital management budget system. Researches discover that economic profit is closely related to ldquovalue creationrdquo, and has great advantage in measuring the value preservation and increment. On this basis, this essay raises the controlling variants and standards of state-owned capital management budget, to form a complete budget control system. Meanwhile, it analyzes the relations between state-owned capital management budget, governmental financial budget and enterprisespsila management budget.
Impact of aortic stiffness on survival in end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND Damage to large arteries is a major factor in the high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Increased arterial stiffness and intima-media thickness, together with increased pulse pressure, are the principal arterial alterations. Whether increased aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV), a classic marker of increased arterial stiffness, may predict all-cause and/or cardiovascular mortality has never been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS A cohort of 241 patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis was studied between April 1987 and April 1998. The mean duration of follow-up was 72+/-41 months (mean+/-SD). Mean age at entry was 51.5+/-16.3 years. Seventy-three deaths occurred, including 48 cardiovascular and 25 noncardiovascular fatal events. At entry, together with standard clinical and biochemical analyses, patients underwent echocardiography and aortic PWV measured by Doppler ultrasonography. On the basis of Cox analyses, 2 factors emerged as predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: age and aortic PWV. Hemoglobin and low diastolic pressure interfered to a smaller extent. After adjustment for all the confounding factors, an OR for PWV >12. 0 versus <9.4 m/s was 5.4 (95% CI, 2.4 to 11.9) for all-cause mortality and 5.9 (95% CI, 2.3 to 15.5) for cardiovascular mortality. For each PWV increase of 1 m/s in our study population, all-cause mortality-adjusted OR was 1.39 (95% CI, 1.19 to 1.62). CONCLUSIONS These results provide the first direct evidence that in patients with ESRD, increased aortic stiffness determined by measurement of aortic PWV is a strong independent predictor of all-cause and mainly cardiovascular mortality.
Synchronous Triple Primary Lung Cancers: A Case Report

Synchronous primary lung cancers are relatively rare. The accurate diagnosis remains challenging, despite of the routine use of bronchoscopy and computed tomography (CT) of the chest. Herein we report a case of synchronous triple primary cancers of the right lung in a 72-year-old male patient in whom each tumor presented distinct CT imaging findings.
Role of the unperturbed limb and arms in the reactive recovery response to an unexpected slip during locomotion.

Understanding reactive recovery responses to slipping is fundamental in falls research and prevention. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the unperturbed limb and arms in the reactive recovery response to an unexpected slip. Ten healthy, young adults participated in this experiment in which an unexpected slip was induced by a set of steel free-wheeling rollers. Surface electromyography (EMG) data were collected from the unperturbed limb (i.e., the swing limb) rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and the medial head of gastrocnemius, and bilateral gluteus medius, erector spinae, and deltoids. Kinematic data were also collected by an optical imaging system to monitor limb trajectories. The first slip response was significantly different from the subsequent recovery responses to the unexpected slips, with an identifiable reactive recovery response and no proactive changes in EMG patterns. The muscles of the unperturbed limb, upper body, and arms were recruited at the same latency as those previously found for the perturbed limb. The arm elevation strategies assisted in shifting the center of mass forward after it was posteriorly displaced with the slip, while the unperturbed limb musculature demonstrated an extensor strategy supporting the observed lowering of the limb to briefly touch the ground to widen the base of support and to increase stability. Evidently a dynamic multilimb coordinated strategy is employed by the CNS to control and coordinate the upper and lower limbs in reactive recovery responses to unexpected slips during locomotion.
Application of redirected walking in room-scale VR

Redirected walking (RDW) promises to allow near-natural walking in an infinitely large virtual environment (VE) by subtle manipulations of the virtual camera. Previous experiments showed that a physical radius of at least 22 meters is required for undetectable RDW. However, we found that it is possible to decrease this radius and to apply RDW to room-scale VR, i. e. , up to approximately 5m × 5m. This is done by using curved paths in the Ve instead of straight paths, and by coupling them together in a way that enables continuous walking. Furthermore, the corresponding paths in the real world are laid out in a way that fits perfectly into room-scale VR. In this research demo, users can experience RDW in a room-scale head-mounted display VR setup and explore a VE of approximately 25m × 25m.