Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Development of a LO-Editor for the Virtual Medical Campus Graz

At the medical faculty of Graz University a new curriculum has been developed for the studies of human medicine. This totally new approach is based on a Module-/Track-model and follows the basic principles of interdisciplinary, topic centered and patient oriented instruction. The Virtual Medical Campus general objective is the realization of an Information System to make the curriculum digitally accessible. The learning objects (LO) used within this campus are developed on the basis of Learning Object Metadata (LOM) for “trans-national education” as a basis for international networking. For easy-to-use manipulation of the metadata, a LOM-Editor is a necessity. Although there are some LOM-Editors available at present, we decided to develop an own Editor, due to two reasons: On the one hand we defined an LO as only being complete if pre-knowledge questions and self-evaluation questions are also included; thus we no longer handle only metadata with our editor but the whole LO. On the other hand, due to the fact that our users are medical teachers and students with low computing experience, we committed ourselves to the method of User Centered Design (UCD). Therefore we developed a totally new editor and speak of an LO-Editor instead of a LOMEditor. This paper describes the successful development of our LO-Editor from scratch under some external constraints and time restrictions. The development implies some interesting approaches. The LO-Editor is based on the new Microsoft . NET technology but it is not implemented as a web service. It is a server based application split up into two parts, the front end and the middleware. To achieve the most possible platform independence, the front end consists of simple active server pages (ASP) using dynamic HTML (DHTML) and handles the user interaction. The metadata standard is implemented into the middleware by mapping the standard into a class hierarchy. Using the built-in de-serialization and serialization functions of . NET a metadata description (XML-file) can be depicted as an object tree and the object tree may again be saved as a metadata description file. Thus a database is not needed to handle the metadata standard which induces a faster application.
Outcome of facial rejuvenation with polydioxanone thread for Asians

ABSTRACT Background: Techniques in rejuvenating the aging face have evolved, involving various types of threads. Facial rejuvenation with absorbable polydioxanone is popular in aesthetic clinics in Korea. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe our polydioxanone thread method and to evaluate the outcomes of facial rejuvenation. Patients/Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed over a 12-month period. Thirty-five Asian patients were included. All participants underwent thread-lifting using polydioxanone. On each side, five 360° spiral cog threads were used in the procedure. The results were evaluated using photography and patient satisfaction. Results: Thirty-three patients (94.3%) were satisfied with the outcomes. Objective outcomes using photography were categorized as very much improved (68.6%), much improved (25.7%), and improved (5.7%). Subjective outcomes using patients’ satisfaction were categorized as excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. The incidence of complications was low, and the complications resolved spontaneously without any surgical interventions. Asymmetry, however, was noted. Conclusions: Using our technique, we could achieve the desired facial rejuvenation. Our method demonstrated an excellent success rate in patients with moderate degree laxity. We believe that facial rejuvenation with polydioxanone thread for Asians is a safe and effective treatment method.
A new backpressure algorithm for joint rate control and routing with vanishing utility optimality gaps and finite queue lengths

The backpressure algorithm has been widely used as a distributed solution to the problem of joint rate control and routing in multi-hop data networks. By controlling a parameter V in the algorithm, the backpressure algorithm can achieve an arbitrarily small utility optimality gap. However, this in turn brings in a large queue length at each node and hence causes large network delay. This phenomenon is known as the fundamental utility-delay tradeoff. The best known utility-delay tradeoff for general networks is [O(1/V), O(V)] and is attained by a backpressure algorithm based on a drift-pluspenalty technique. This may suggest that to achieve an arbitrarily small utility optimality gap, the existing backpressure algorithms necessarily yield an arbitrarily large queue length. However, this paper proposes a new backpressure algorithm that has a vanishing utility optimality gap, so utility converges to exact optimality as the algorithm keeps running, while queue lengths are bounded throughout by a finite constant. The technique uses backpressure and drift concepts with a new method for convex programming.
Imaging individual neurons in the retinal ganglion cell layer of the living eye

Significance Retinal ganglion cells are the primary output neurons of the retina that process visual information and transmit it to the brain. We developed a method to reveal these cells in the living eye that does not require the fluorescent labels or high light levels that characterize more invasive methods. The death of these cells causes vision loss in glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The ability to image these cells in the living eye could accelerate our understanding of their role in normal vision and provide a diagnostic tool for evaluating new therapies for retinal disease. Although imaging of the living retina with adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) provides microscopic access to individual cells, such as photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and blood cells in the retinal vasculature, other important cell classes, such as retinal ganglion cells, have proven much more challenging to image. The near transparency of inner retinal cells is advantageous for vision, as light must pass through them to reach the photoreceptors, but it has prevented them from being directly imaged in vivo. Here we show that the individual somas of neurons within the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer can be imaged with a modification of confocal AOSLO, in both monkeys and humans. Human images of RGC layer neurons did not match the quality of monkey images for several reasons, including safety concerns that limited the light levels permissible for human imaging. We also show that the same technique applied to the photoreceptor layer can resolve ambiguity about cone survival in age-related macular degeneration. The capability to noninvasively image RGC layer neurons in the living eye may one day allow for a better understanding of diseases, such as glaucoma, and accelerate the development of therapeutic strategies that aim to protect these cells. This method may also prove useful for imaging other structures, such as neurons in the brain.
Multiobjective Optimal Control With Safety as a Priority

This paper develops a lexicographic approach to multiobjective optimal control on models for cyber-physical systems, encompassing in particular stochasticity, limited access to model variables (partial observations), and possibly hybrid (continuous and discrete) dynamics (with the finite-state partially observable Markov decision process framework as a known special instance). The technique is showcased in two new case studies in the area of smart buildings. Technically, the main achievements of this paper are as follows: the application of the lexicographic framework to multiobjective optimization including quantitative probabilistic safety requirements, thus leading to a principled and scalable integration of correct-by-design synthesis for safety and optimal synthesis for performance, the novel extension of the lexicographic framework to partially observed stochastic models with continuous (possibly hybrid) dynamics, and the emphasis on computational aspects, including the use of compact and approximate representations of value functions combined with the quantification of error bounds on model abstractions.
Das GATE-System: Qualitätssteigerung durch Selbsttests für Studenten bei der Onlineabgabe von Übungsaufgaben?

Das selbstständige Bearbeiten von Übungsaufgaben ist ein essentieller Teil der universitären Lehre. Ohne praktische Übungen lassen sich in vielen Fachgebieten keine Kompetenzen erwerben. Das in diesem Artikel beschriebene GATE-System kombiniert verschiedene Ansätze, um sowohl Studenten als auch Tutoren beim Übungsbetrieb zu unterstützen und somit letztlich den Lernerfolg zu verbessern. Das webbasierte System wurde begleitend zum Übungsbetrieb bei einer Grundlagen-Programmiervorlesung für Wirtschaftswissenschaftler eingesetzt und evaluiert.
Regulation of Apoptosis, Invasion and Angiogenesis of Tumor Cells by Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester

© 2013 El-Refaei and Mady, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Regulation of Apoptosis, Invasion and Angiogenesis of Tumor Cells by Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester
The Impact of Antenatal Depression on Perinatal Outcomes in Australian Women

Background In Australia, there is limited evidence on the impact of antenatal depression on perinatal outcomes. This study investigates the association between maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and key perinatal outcomes, including birth weight, gestational age at birth, breastfeeding indicators and postnatal depressive symptoms. Method A retrospective cohort of mothers (N = 17,564) of all infants born in public health facilities within South Western Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Local Health District in 2014, in the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, was enumerated from routinely collected antenatal data to investigate the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes associated with maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Antenatal depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Logistic regression models that adjusted for confounders were conducted to determine associations between antenatal depressive symptoms and low birth weight, early gestational age at birth (<37 weeks), breast feeding indicators and postnatal depressive symptoms. Results The prevalence of maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy was 7.0% in the cohort, and was significantly associated with postnatal depressive symptoms [Adjusted Odd Ratios (AOR) = 6.4, 95% CI: 4.8–8.7, P<0.001]. Antenatal depressive symptoms was associated with a higher odds of low birth weight [AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2–2.3, P = 0.003] and a gestational age at birth of <37 weeks [AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7, P = 0.018] compared to women who reported lower EPDS scores in antenatal period. Antenatal depressive symptoms were not strongly associated with non-exclusive breast feeding in the early postnatal period. Conclusion Maternal depressive symptoms in the antenatal period are strongly associated with postnatal depressive symptoms and adverse perinatal outcomes in Australian infants. Early identification of antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms, and referral for appropriate management could benefit not only the mother’s mental health, but also the infant’s health and development.
Perioperative Pulmonary Medication Management.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common conditions that warrant special consideration in the perioperative period. When these patients undergo surgical interventions, they have risk of complications such as bronchospasm, hypoxia, and even postoperative respiratory failure that warrant unplanned intensive care unit admission. Thus, clinicians must be familiar with pulmonary medication regimens that are critical for maintaining stable homeostasis of these chronic conditions. OBJECTIVE To discuss the medications most commonly used to treat pulmonary conditions and to describe strategies for handling these treatment regimens in the perioperative period. METHOD We conducted an online search of studies and review articles through PubMed and Medline that addressed pharmacology and perioperative management of pulmonary medications, with an emphasis on those treating patients with asthma or COPD. RESULTS Long-term medications for pulmonary disease are used to slow the progression of these conditions and reduce the occurrence of acute exacerbations. As such, these medications should be continued in the perioperative period. If the medications include oral corticosteroids or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids, stress-dose corticosteroid supplementation may be warranted to avoid adrenal insufficiency. Inhaled medications can be delivered through the anesthetic circuit, and some agents may be used to treat exacerbations during surgery. CONCLUSION Patients with chronic pulmonary conditions have risk of perioperative complications. Their pulmonary treatment regimens should be maintained in the perioperative period to reduce the risk of such complications.
Structural insights into the LCIB protein family reveals a new group of β-carbonic anhydrases

Significance Many aquatic microorganisms have evolved CO2-concentration mechanisms (CCMs) to boost photosynthesis. The green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has the best-characterized eukaryotic CCM model. Mutants lacking the limiting CO2-inducible B protein (LCIB) protein are unable to survive in air. To investigate the molecular underpinnings of this effect, we biochemically and structurally characterized a number of LCIB homologues from diverse organisms, including constitutively carbonic anhydrase (CA)-active proteins. We discovered that LCIB proteins structurally resemble β-CAs in both overall fold and active site architecture. Our results provide insight into the molecular mechanism of the LCIB family involved in microalgal CCMs. Aquatic microalgae have evolved diverse CO2-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to saturate the carboxylase with its substrate, to compensate for the slow kinetics and competing oxygenation reaction of the key photosynthetic CO2-fixing enzyme rubisco. The limiting CO2-inducible B protein (LCIB) is known to be essential for CCM function in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. To assign a function to this previously uncharacterized protein family, we purified and characterized a phylogenetically diverse set of LCIB homologs. Three of the six homologs are functional carbonic anhydrases (CAs). We determined the crystal structures of LCIB and limiting CO2-inducible C protein (LCIC) from C. reinhardtii and a CA-functional homolog from Phaeodactylum tricornutum, all of which harbor motifs bearing close resemblance to the active site of canonical β-CAs. Our results identify the LCIB family as a previously unidentified group of β-CAs, and provide a biochemical foundation for their function in the microalgal CCMs.
A SIMULATION BENCHMARK FOR AIRCRAFT SURVIVABILITY ASSESSMENT

Reconfigurable flight control, or “Intelligent Flight Control”, is aimed to prevent aircraft loss due to multiple failures when the aircraft is still flyable given the available control power. From 2004-2008, a research group on Fault Tolerant Control, comprising a collaboration of thirteen European partners from industry, universities and research institutions, was established within the framework of the Group for Aeronautical Research and Technology in Europe (GARTEUR) co-operation program. The aim of the research group, Flight Mechanics Action Group FM-AG(16), is to demonstrate the capability and potential of innovative reconfigurable flight control algorithms to improve aircraft survivability. A large transport aircraft simulation benchmark (REconfigurable COntrol for Vehicle Emergency Return RECOVER) has been developed within the GARTEUR framework for the integrated evaluation of fault detection and identification (FDI) and reconfigurable flight control strategies. The benchmark includes a suitable set of assessment criteria and failure cases based on reconstructed accident scenarios. The potential of the developed fault tolerant flight control (FTFC) methods to improve aircraft survivability, for both manual and automatic flight, has been demonstrated in 2007 and 2008 during a piloted assessment in the SIMONA research flight simulator of the Delft University of Technology.
A pr 2 01 3 INTEGRAL TRANSFORMS OF FUNCTIONS TO BE IN THE PASCU CLASS USING DUALITY TECHNIQUES

Let A denote the class of all functions f analytic in the open unit disc D = {z ∈ C : |z| < 1} with the normalization f(0) = f (0) − 1 = 0 and S be the class of functions f ∈ A that are univalent in D. A function f ∈ S is said to be starlike (S) or convex (C), if f maps D conformally onto the domains, respectively, starlike with respect to origin and convex. Note that in D, if f ∈ C ⇐⇒ zf ′ ∈ S follows from the well-known Alexander theorem (see [5] for details). An useful generalization of the class S is the class S(σ) that has the analytic characterisation S(σ) = {
Community forestry and REDD+ in Cameroon: what future?

The Cameroonian Readiness Preparation Proposal recognizes community forests (CFs) as one strategy for implementing REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries). However, there has been little analysis of the extent to which CFs can help achieve REDD+ objectives in Cameroon. We explore options for REDD+ within CFs, as well as challenges and possible ways forward. Cocoa agroforestry in deforested or highly degraded CFs is currently the most competitive option for implementing REDD+ while delivering ecological, economic, and social cobenefits. Reduced-impact logging and conservation or natural regeneration are technically sound options for emissions reductions within CFs, but are unlikely to compete with other more profitable activities at the current low carbon market prices of approximately USD $5/tonne of carbon. However, these options could potentially compete under a social cost of carbon estimated at $43/tonne of carbon. The current CF architecture presents a set of factors that could favor REDD+ implementation, including: good legal and institutional frameworks and practices compatible with REDD+ safeguards, experience and knowledge in related payments for ecosystem services and performance-based finance pilots, and social capital in a community of practice. The CF architecture also features potentially inhibiting factors such as poor governance (notably, elite capture and corruption), unclear carbon rights, and financing challenges. We identify a set of enabling actions for delivery of REDD+ within CFs in Cameroon, which include: clarifying carbon rights; establishing a benefit-sharing mechanism from the national to the local level with clear rules for rewarding emission reductions in CFs; and building monitoring, reporting, and verification infrastructure for REDD+ within CFs. More importantly, adopting an integrated approach in which CFs serve multiple objectives, including ecosystembased adaptation, REDD+, and the original community forestry objectives could enable drawing from both adaptation and mitigation finance, technical support, and provide long-term sustainable development benefits.
Convergence of DNA methylation and phosphorothioation epigenetics in bacterial genomes

Significance New technologies have fostered renewed interest in bacterial epigenetics, with DNA modifications defending against other microbes and controlling gene expression. Here, we describe how two diverse modifications, adenine methylation (6mA) and phosphorothioation (PT), have evolved to occupy the same genomic sites in bacteria. Using mass spectrometry, single-molecule real-time sequencing, and genetic engineering, we discovered coincident PT and 6mA in GPS6mAAC and GPS6mATC, representing PT consensus sequences, a GA-containing consensus for an unknown methyltransferase, and the GATC consensus for Dam methyltransferase. 6mA was found in all GPSATC sites in vivo, with 6mA substituting for PT in preventing DNA cleavage by PT restriction enzymes. These findings show how different DNA modification systems have evolved to avoid conflict. Explosive growth in the study of microbial epigenetics has revealed a diversity of chemical structures and biological functions of DNA modifications in restriction–modification (R-M) and basic genetic processes. Here, we describe the discovery of shared consensus sequences for two seemingly unrelated DNA modification systems, 6mA methylation and phosphorothioation (PT), in which sulfur replaces a nonbridging oxygen in the DNA backbone. Mass spectrometric analysis of DNA from Escherichia coli B7A and Salmonella enterica serovar Cerro 87, strains possessing PT-based R-M genes, revealed d(GPS6mA) dinucleotides in the GPS6mAAC consensus representing ∼5% of the 1,100 to 1,300 PT-modified d(GPSA) motifs per genome, with 6mA arising from a yet-to-be-identified methyltransferase. To further explore PT and 6mA in another consensus sequence, GPS6mATC, we engineered a strain of E. coli HST04 to express Dnd genes from Hahella chejuensis KCTC2396 (PT in GPSATC) and Dam methyltransferase from E. coli DH10B (6mA in G6mATC). Based on this model, in vitro studies revealed reduced Dam activity in GPSATC-containing oligonucleotides whereas single-molecule real-time sequencing of HST04 DNA revealed 6mA in all 2,058 GPSATC sites (5% of 37,698 total GATC sites). This model system also revealed temperature-sensitive restriction by DndFGH in KCTC2396 and B7A, which was exploited to discover that 6mA can substitute for PT to confer resistance to restriction by the DndFGH system. These results point to complex but unappreciated interactions between DNA modification systems and raise the possibility of coevolution of interacting systems to facilitate the function of each.
Clinical quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM): Biometal imaging and its emerging roles in patient care

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) has enabled magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tissue magnetic susceptibility to advance from simple qualitative detection of hypointense blooming artifacts to precise quantitative measurement of spatial biodistributions. QSM technology may be regarded to be sufficiently developed and validated to warrant wide dissemination for clinical applications of imaging isotropic susceptibility, which is dominated by metals in tissue, including iron and calcium. These biometals are highly regulated as vital participants in normal cellular biochemistry, and their dysregulations are manifested in a variety of pathologic processes. Therefore, QSM can be used to assess important tissue functions and disease. To facilitate QSM clinical translation, this review aims to organize pertinent information for implementing a robust automated QSM technique in routine MRI practice and to summarize available knowledge on diseases for which QSM can be used to improve patient care. In brief, QSM can be generated with postprocessing whenever gradient echo MRI is performed. QSM can be useful for diseases that involve neurodegeneration, inflammation, hemorrhage, abnormal oxygen consumption, substantial alterations in highly paramagnetic cellular iron, bone mineralization, or pathologic calcification; and for all disorders in which MRI diagnosis or surveillance requires contrast agent injection. Clinicians may consider integrating QSM into their routine imaging practices by including gradient echo sequences in all relevant MRI protocols.