Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity and Cardiac Function

We studied 10 obese volunteers, mean age 36.5 ± 10.3 years, who weighed 123.56 ± 28.7 kg and were 69.96 ± 22.5 kg overweight. The subjects did not have diabetes, arterial hypertension or signs of cardiac and respiratory failure or disease and all underwent right- and left-heart catheterization. Cardiac output and stroke volume were high, according to increased oxygen consumption and to the degree of obesity. Ventricular end-diastolic and atrial pressures ranged from normal to high and correlated with body weight, signs of volume overloading and reduced left ventricular (LV) compliance. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was elevated and correlated well with weight, pulmonary resistance being normal; mean aortic pressure did not correlate with weight, and systemic arterial resistance tended to have a negative correlation. The LV function curve showed impaired ventricular function, particularly for the heaviest subjects, in whom Vmax, and the ratio of the stroke work index to LV end-diastolic pressure were reduced. These indexes correlated well with each other and both correlated negatively with the degree of obesity. In contrast, maximal dP/dt was normal and did not correlate with excess weight. These observations show that depressed LV function is already present in relatively young obese people, even if they are free from signs of cardiopathy and other associate diseases. The degree of impairment of heart function seems to parallel the degree of obesity.
Treatment of primary HIV infection

In this thesis we studied the treatment of PHI. Early cART transiently lowered the viral setpoint and deferred the need for restart of cART during chronic HIV infection, which was most likely caused by the effects of the CD4 gain during treatment and the transient lowering of the viral setpoint. Even though the exact mechanisms explaining the lowering of the viral setpoint after early cART remain unsolved, we observed a clear clinical benefit of temporary treatment during PHI. In case early cART is considered, it should be given for a duration of 24 weeks and contain a boosted PI, at least until resistance testing results are available.
Attending to students' learning needs using assessment (Review)

REVIEW ESSAY Internationally, the role of assessment in supporting and improving learning is impacting on current curriculum and policy developments. This shift in assessment frameworks from those that emphasize standardized, norm-referenced testing programmes to those that involve more classroom-based assessment re¯ect the understanding that assessment needs to align more with student-centred curriculum based on constructivist learning theories (Sera®ni, 2001). Countries such as Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong and European Countries, such as Malta and Latvia, that have undergone recent curriculum reform, are moving towards assessment frameworks that encourage the practice of assessment for learning. Factors that have contributed to this shift include the changing theories of learning and knowledge about their impact on curriculum and pedagogy to promote active student engagement with learning. As our understanding and design of curriculum and assessment have changed so too has our understanding of how learning takes place. Epistemologically the shift is from a static, passive view of knowledge transmission to a more active view of knowledge construction that is seen as an interactive, organic process of reorganization and restructuring by the learner (Gipps, 1998). Constructivist views of learning see the learner as an active interpreter and constructor of knowledge based on experiences and interactions with the environment (Klenowski, 2002). This view of learning has important implications for changing assessment practice and helps to explain current policy directions towards assessment for learning (OFSTED, 2003; QCA, 2003). The Black and Wiliam (1998a) review of research literature on formative assessment revealed that the predominant issues were: students' perceptions, peerand self-assessment, and the role of feedback in a pedagogy focused on learning. Black and Wiliam (2003) indicate that this ®nding refocused `formative assessment studies away from systems, with its emphasis on the formative-summative interface, and relocate[d] it on classroom processes' (p. 628, italics in original). The two books reviewed here focus on assessment for, and as learning, in the context of classroom processes. The authors are scholar-practitioners who have conducted research about the move towards assessment practice that improves learning and, in particular, emphasizes the skills, knowledge and attitudes regarded as most important rather than those that are easy to assess (Crooks, 1988). Both books will appeal to teachers, school leaders, academics and researchers who have an interest in assessment that attends to students' learning needs. There are ample practical examples in both books of how teachers are making assessment work to enhance student learning in their classroom contexts.
Acidic precursor revealed in human eosinophil granule major basic protein cDNA [published erratum appears in J Exp Med 1989 Sep 1;170(3):1057]

Eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP), a potent toxin for helminths and various cell types, is a 13.8-kD single polypeptide rich in arginine with a calculated isoelectric point (pI) of 10.9. A cDNA for human MBP was isolated from a gamma GT10 HL-60 cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the MBP cDNA indicates that MBP is translated as a 25.2-kD preproprotein. The 9.9-kD pro-portion of proMBP is rich in glutamic and aspartic acids and has a calculated pI of 3.9, while proMBP itself has a calculated pI of 6.2. We suggest that MBP is translated as a nontoxic precursor that protects the eosinophil from damage while the protein is processed through the endoplasmic reticulum to its sequestered site in the granule core toxic MBP, and we present results from the literature suggesting that other cationic toxins, which damage cell membranes, may also be processed from nontoxic precursors containing distinct anionic and cationic regions.
Target accurate positioning based on the point cloud created by stereo vision

To solve the problem of workpiece target accurate positioning in industrial environment, we proposed a method that used object's surface point cloud which created by stereo matching of binocular vision. Firstly, found out the ROI(Region Of Interest) of the stereo matching point cloud by template matching, and used an algorithm of noise reduction to gain a clean ROI point cloud. And then, extracted the perfect point cloud of object's surface from object's 3d-model, and used improved iterative closest point algorithm to do point cloud registration that can gain the accurate pose of object. Experiment shows that positioning accuracy is less than 1.5 mm(Euclidean Distance) which can meet the needs of industrial robot doing sorting or accurate grabing.
Cooperation in Public Goods Games: Stay, But Not for Too Long

Cooperation in repeated public goods game is hardly achieved, unless contingent behavior is present. Surely, if mechanisms promoting positive assortment between cooperators are present, then cooperators may beat defectors, because cooperators would collect greater payoffs. In the context of evolutionary game theory, individuals that always cooperate cannot win the competition against defectors in well-mixed populations. Here, we study the evolution of a population where fitness is obtained in repeated public goods games and players have a fixed probability of playing the next round. As a result, the group size decreases during the game. The population is well-mixed and there are only two available strategies: always cooperate (ALLC) or always defect (ALLD). Through numerical calculation and analytical approximations we show that cooperation can emerge if the players stay playing the game, but not for too long. The essential mechanism is the interaction between the transition from strong to weak altruism, as the group size decreases, and the existence of an upper limit to the number of rounds representing limited time availability.
Synthesis and characterization of non-fluorinated copolymer emulsions for hydrophobic finishing of cotton textiles

Non-flouro copolymers containing a hydrophobic alkyl acrylate monomer (butyl acrylate/2-ethylhexyl acrylate/ lauryl acrylate) and a reactive monomer (maleic anhydride) have been synthesized using emulsion polymerization technique. The copolymer emulsions have been applied on to cotton fabric by a pad-dry-cure process and the water repellency of the fabrics before and after vigorous washes compared. The effect of chain length of hydrophobic monomer on the water repellency has been compared and the comfort properties of the coated fabrics such as air permeability and bending length evaluated. It is observed that the copolymers prepared using long alkyl chain acrylates show promising alternatives to the repellent agents based on perfluoroalkyl chains for water repellency.
Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?

Study objectives: To investigate the strength of the relation between the amount of green space in people’s living environment and their perceived general health. This relation is analysed for different age and socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, it is analysed separately for urban and more rural areas, because the strength of the relation was expected to vary with urbanity. Design: The study includes 250 782 people registered with 104 general practices who filled in a self administered form on sociodemographic background and perceived general health. The percentage of green space (urban green space, agricultural space, natural green space) within a one kilometre and three kilometre radius around the postal code coordinates was calculated for each household. Methods: Multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed at three levels—that is, individual level, family level, and practice level—controlled for sociodemographic characteristics. Main results: The percentage of green space inside a one kilometre and a three kilometre radius had a significant relation to perceived general health. The relation was generally present at all degrees of urbanity. The overall relation is somewhat stronger for lower socioeconomic groups. Elderly, youth, and secondary educated people in large cities seem to benefit more from presence of green areas in their living environment than other groups in large cities. Conclusions: This research shows that the percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents. Green space seems to be more than just a luxury and consequently the development of green space should be allocated a more central position in spatial planning policy.
Immunochemical analysis of the gp120 surface glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1: probing the structure of the C4 and V4 domains and the interaction of the C4 domain with the V3 loop

We have probed the structure of the C4 and V3 domains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 by immunochemical techniques. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognizing an exposed gp120 sequence, (E/K)VGKAMYAPP, in C4 were differentially sensitive to denaturation of gp120, implying a conformational component to some of the epitopes. The MAbs recognizing conformation-sensitive C4 structures failed to bind to a gp120 mutant with an alteration in the sequence of the V3 loop, and their binding to gp120 was inhibited by both V3 and C4 MAbs. This implies an interaction between the V3 and C4 regions of gp120, which is supported by the observation that the binding of some MAbs to the V3 loop was often enhanced by amino acid changes in an around the C4 region.
NEUROMUSCULAR PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF OPEN‐WHEEL AND RALLY DRIVERS

The purpose of the present study was to investigate neuromuscular performance characteristics in open-wheel and rally drivers using the cross-sectional study design. The subjects (N = 28) consisted of experienced international-level open-wheel drivers (n = 9), experienced international-level rally drivers (n = 9) and a physically active nondriving male control group (n = 10). In 3 separate test sessions, speed, muscle strength, and endurance tests were performed. The rally drivers had higher (p < 0.05) grip, shoulder flexion, and ankle plantar flexion strength, as compared to the control group. The open-wheel drivers showed higher strengths (p < 0.05) than the controls in neck forces, grip, shoulder flexion, and leg extension. The rally drivers were stronger (p < 0.05) than the open-wheel drivers in grip, plantar flexion, and trunk extension forces, whereas the open-wheel drivers were stronger (p < 0.01) than the rally drivers in neck lateral flexions and extension forces. Thus, competitive long-term open-wheel and rally drivers differ specifically in neuromuscular performance. For practice, these findings suggest that rally drivers should concentrate on training hand, ankle, and trunk muscles, whereas open-wheel drivers should train neck muscles, especially, and all other muscle groups rather equally.
Structure-Function Analysis of the Bestrophin Family of Anion Channels*

The bestrophins are a newly described family of anion channels unrelated in primary sequence to any previously characterized channel proteins. The human genome codes for four bestrophins, each of which confers a distinctive plasma membrane conductance on transfected 293 cells. Extracellular treatment with methanethiosulfonate ethyltrimethylammonium (MTSET) of a series of substitution mutants that eliminate one or more cysteines from human bestrophin1 demonstrates that cysteine 69 is the single endogenous cysteine responsible for MTSET inhibition of whole-cell current. Cysteines introduced between positions 78–99 and 223–226 are also accessible to external MTSET, with MTSET modification at positions 79, 80, 83, and 90 producing a 2–6-fold increase in whole-cell current. The latter set of four cysteine-substitution mutants define a region that appears to mediate allosteric control of channel activity. Mapping of transmembrane topography by insertion of N-linked glycosylation sites and tobacco etch virus protease cleavage sites provides evidence for cytosolic N and C termini and an unexpected transmembrane topography with at least three extracellular loops that include positions 60–63, 212–227, and 261–267. These experiments provide the first structural analysis of the bestrophin channel family.
Cosmic Rays below Z = 30 in a Diffusion Model: New Constraints on Propagation Parameters

Cosmic-ray nuclei fluxes are expected to be measured with high precision in the near future. For instance, high-quality data on the antiproton component could give important clues about the nature of the astronomical dark matter. A very good understanding of the different aspects of cosmic-ray propagation is therefore necessary. In this paper, we use cosmic-ray nuclei data to give constraints on the diffusion parameters. Propagation is studied with semianalytical solutions of a diffusion model, and we give new analytical solutions for radioactively produced species. Our model includes convection and reacceleration, as well as the standard energy losses. We perform a χ2 analysis over B/C data for a large number of configurations obtained by varying the relevant parameters of the diffusion model. A very good agreement with B/C data arises for a number of configurations, all of which are compatible with sub-Fe/Fe data. Different source spectra Q(E) and diffusion coefficients K(E) have been tried, but for both parameters only one form gives a good fit. Another important result is that models without convection or without reacceleration are excluded. We find that the various parameters, i.e., the diffusion coefficient normalization K0 and spectral index δ, the halo thickness L, the Alfvén velocity VA, and the convection velocity Vc are strongly correlated. We obtain limits on the spectral index δ of the diffusion coefficient, and in particular we exclude a Kolmogorov spectrum (δ = ).
Rapid Crown Root Development Confers Tolerance to Zinc Deficiency in Rice

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the leading nutrient disorders in rice (Oryza sativa). Many studies have identified Zn-efficient rice genotypes, but causal mechanisms for Zn deficiency tolerance remain poorly understood. Here, we report a detailed study of the impact of Zn deficiency on crown root development of rice genotypes, differing in their tolerance to this stress. Zn deficiency delayed crown root development and plant biomass accumulation in both Zn-efficient and inefficient genotypes, with the effects being much stronger in the latter. Zn-efficient genotypes had developed new crown roots as early as 3 days after transplanting (DAT) to a Zn deficient field and that was followed by a significant increase in total biomass by 7 DAT. Zn-inefficient genotypes developed few new crown roots and did not increase biomass during the first 7 days following transplanting. This correlated with Zn-efficient genotypes retranslocating a higher proportion of shoot-Zn to their roots, compared to Zn-inefficient genotypes. These latter genotypes were furthermore not efficient in utilizing the limited Zn for root development. Histological analyses indicated no anomalies in crown tissue of Zn-efficient or inefficient genotypes that would have suggested crown root emergence was impeded. We therefore conclude that the rate of crown root initiation was differentially affected by Zn deficiency between genotypes. Rapid crown root development, following transplanting, was identified as a main causative trait for tolerance to Zn deficiency and better Zn retranslocation from shoot to root was a key attribute of Zn-efficient genotypes.
A formative analysis of mobile devices and gestures to control a multimedia application from the distance

The use of mobile and handheld devices is a desirable option for implementation of user interaction with remote services from a distance. Another prominent option to operate a remote application is the use of gestures performed in the air. This paper describes the design and realization of a system to enable mobile devices and gesture recognition tools to have control on a remote movie-player application. A small qualitative user study verified the use of mobile phones, switching between three input modalities, and the opportunity of another three methods of performing gestures in the air.
Carcinogen treatment in mouse selectively expressing activated N‐RasQ61K in melanocytes recapitulates metastatic cutaneous melanoma development

The incidence of melanoma has significantly increased, and a better understanding of its pathogenesis and development of new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Here, we describe a murine model of metastatic cutaneous melanoma using C57BL/6 mice expressing a mutated human N‐Ras gene under the control of a tyrosinase promoter (TyrRas). These mice were topically exposed to 7,12‐ dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) for brief exposure periods. Cutaneous melanoma developed at the site of exposure on average by 19 weeks of age and in 80% of mice. Importantly, as in humans, melanoma development was associated with subsequent metastasis to tumor‐draining lymph nodes. Critically, such metastatic behavior is transplantable, as intradermal inoculation of melanoma cells from TyrRas‐DMBA mice into non‐transgenic mice led to the growth of melanoma and, again, metastasis to skin‐draining lymph nodes. This metastatic melanoma model closely mimics human pathology and should be a useful tool for studying melanoma pathogenesis and developing new therapies.
Providing consistent and exhaustive relevance assessments for XML retrieval evaluation

Comparing retrieval approaches requires test collections, which consist of documents, queries and relevance assessments. Obtaining consistent and exhaustive relevance assessments is crucial for the appropriate comparison of retrieval approaches. Whereas the evaluation methodology for flat text retrieval approaches is well established, the evaluation of XML retrieval approaches is a research issue. This is because XML documents are composed of nested components that cannot be considered independent in terms of relevance. This paper describes the methodology adopted in INEX (the INitiative for the Evaluation of XML Retrieval) to ensure consistent and exhaustive relevance assessments.
Employment entitlements and casual status: Lessons from two Queensland cases

"Casual status is commonly understood to exclude the entitlements associated with ongoing employment relationships. In Australia, however, the definition of casual employment has never been precise, and a high proportion of ‘casual’ positions are, in effect, regular forms of employment. Recent strategies to improve working conditions have thus sought to move beyond the typical Australian approach of applying a pay loading to compensate (partially) for lack of entitlements, towards attempts to extend some of the benefits of permanent status to more regular forms of casual employment. In this paper we examine two recent cases in Queensland that exemplify these contrasting strategies, highlighting the essential conflict between them, and the way it is compounded by the imprecise delineation of casuals in the Australian system. We note that both strategies are limited by the industrial relations context in which they are situated, and that additional entitlements may not be readily accessible in practice. "
On Energy-Efficient Trap Coverage in Wireless Sensor Networks

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), trap coverage has recently been proposed to tradeoff between the availability of sensor nodes and sensing performance. It offers an efficient framework to tackle the challenge of limited resources in large scale sensor networks. Currently, existing works only studied the theoretical foundation of how to decide the deployment density of sensors to ensure the desired degree of trap coverage. However, the practical issues such as how to efficiently schedule sensor node to guarantee trap coverage under an arbitrary deployment is still left untouched. In this paper, we formally formulate the Minimum Weight Trap Cover Problem and prove it is an NP-hard problem. To solve the problem, we introduce a bounded approximation algorithm, called Trap Cover Optimization (TCO) to schedule the activation of sensors while satisfying specified trap coverage requirement. The performance of Minimum Weight Trap Coverage we find is proved to be at most O(\rho) times of the optimal solution, where $\rho$ is the density of sensor nodes in the region. To evaluate our design, we perform extensive simulations to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm and show that our algorithm achieves at least 14% better energy efficiency than the state-of-the-art solution.