Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aging experiences of older immigrant women in Québec (Canada): From deskilling to liberation

abstract This article examines experiences of aging of older immigrant women. The data are based on qualitative research that was conducted in Québec, Canada with 83 elderly women from different ethnocultural backgrounds (Arab, African, Haitian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Romanian, etc.). The results on how such immigrant women deal with material conditions of existence such as deskilling, aging alone, being more economically independent, and the combined effects of liberation from social and family norms associated with age and gender in the light of the migration route, will be presented. For the majority, migration opened up possibilities for personal development and self-affirmation. The findings demonstrated the relevance of the intersectional approach in understanding the complexity and social conditionings of women’s experiences of aging.
Foundational extensible corecursion: a proof assistant perspective

This paper presents a formalized framework for defining corecursive functions safely in a total setting, based on corecursion up-to and relational parametricity. The end product is a general corecursor that allows corecursive (and even recursive) calls under "friendly" operations, including constructors. Friendly corecursive functions can be registered as such, thereby increasing the corecursor's expressiveness. The metatheory is formalized in the Isabelle proof assistant and forms the core of a prototype tool. The corecursor is derived from first principles, without requiring new axioms or extensions of the logic.
Plasma granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels correlate with clinical outcomes in patients with acute lung injury*

Objectives: To evaluate the association between plasma granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels and clinical outcomes including mortality in patients with acute lung injury (ALI), and to determine whether lower tidal volume ventilation was associated with a more rapid decrease in plasma G-CSF over time in patients with ALI. Design: Retrospective measurement of G-CSF levels in plasma samples that were collected prospectively as part of a large multicenter clinical trial. Setting: Intensive care units in ten university centers. Patients: The study included 645 patients enrolled in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Clinical Network trial of lower tidal volumes compared with traditional tidal volumes for ALI. Measurements and Main Results: Baseline plasma levels of G-CSF were associated with an increased risk of death and a decrease in ventilator-free days and organ failure-free days in multivariate analyses controlling for ventilation strategy, age, and sex (Odds ratio death 1.2/log10 increment G-CSF, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.4). Stratification of G-CSF levels into quartiles revealed a strong association between the highest levels of G-CSF and an increased risk of death and decreased ventilator-free days and organ failure-free days in multivariate analyses controlling for ventilation strategy, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score, Pao2/Fio2 ratio, creatinine, and platelet count (p < 0.05). Subgroup multivariate analysis of patients with sepsis as their risk factor for ALI revealed a U-shaped association between mortality and G-CSF levels such that risk increased linearly from the second through fourth (highest) quartiles, yet also increased in the first (lowest) quartile. G-CSF levels decreased over time in both tidal volume groups, and there was no statistical difference in the extent of decrease between ventilator strategies. Conclusions: In patients with ALI, plasma G-CSF levels are associated with morbidity and mortality, but these levels are not influenced by tidal volume strategy. In patients with sepsis-related ALI, a bimodal association between baseline plasma G-CSF levels and subsequent morbidity and mortality from this disease was found.
Clean Transformation of Ethanol to Useful Chemicals. The Behavior of a Gold-Modified Silicalite Catalyst

Upon addition of gold to silicalite-1 pellets (a MFI-type zeolite), the vapor phase oxidation of ethanol could be addressed to acetaldehyde or acetic acid formation. By optimizing the catalyst composition and reaction conditions, the conversion of ethanol could be tuned to acetaldehyde with 97% selectivity at 71% conversion or to acetic acid with 78% selectivity at total conversion. Considering that unloaded silicalite-1 was found to catalyze the dehydration of ethanol to diethylether or ethene, a green approach for the integrated production of four important chemicals is herein presented. This is based on renewable ethanol as a reagent and a modular catalytic process.
Tumor Angiogenesis and Vascular Patterning: A Mathematical Model

Understanding tumor induced angiogenesis is a challenging problem with important consequences for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Recently, strong evidences suggest the dual role of endothelial cells on the migrating tips and on the proliferating body of blood vessels, in consonance with further events behind lumen formation and vascular patterning. In this paper we present a multi-scale phase-field model that combines the benefits of continuum physics description and the capability of tracking individual cells. The model allows us to discuss the role of the endothelial cells' chemotactic response and proliferation rate as key factors that tailor the neovascular network. Importantly, we also test the predictions of our theoretical model against relevant experimental approaches in mice that displayed distinctive vascular patterns. The model reproduces the in vivo patterns of newly formed vascular networks, providing quantitative and qualitative results for branch density and vessel diameter on the order of the ones measured experimentally in mouse retinas. Our results highlight the ability of mathematical models to suggest relevant hypotheses with respect to the role of different parameters in this process, hence underlining the necessary collaboration between mathematical modeling, in vivo imaging and molecular biology techniques to improve current diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Predicting long-term functional results after myocardial revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE The goal of the present study was to define the early and late functional results after revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy and to identify variables predictive of a favorable outcome. METHODS A retrospective review of all consecutive patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing myocardial revascularization between January 1991 and June 1998 was undertaken. One hundred sixty-seven patients (140 men) aged 60 +/- 8 years (range, 39-77 years) with angina (n = 107), congestive heart failure (n = 54), or silent ischemia (n = 6) were identified. One hundred six (63%) patients with angina were in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III or IV, and 40 (24%) patients with congestive failure were in New York Heart Association class III or IV. The preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction averaged 0.28 +/- 0.05 (range, 0.16-0. 30). Thirteen (8%) patients required preoperative mechanical life support. A mean of 2.9 +/- 0.9 grafts per patient were performed, with an average myocardial ischemia time of 53 +/- 23 minutes and bypass time of 104 +/- 31 minutes. RESULTS There were 3 (1.7%) early deaths and 21 (13%) deaths during follow-up (2.7 +/- 2.1 years; range, 0.3-7.8 years), producing a survival of 94% +/- 2% and 75% +/- 10% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Despite a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (0.28 +/- 0.05 vs 0. 38 +/- 0.09, P =.0001), only 89 (54%) patients were symptom-free at follow-up. Freedom from recurrent angina was 98% +/- 1% and 81% +/- 8%, whereas freedom from congestive failure was 78% +/- 11% and 47% +/- 20% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Follow-up New York Heart Association class in patients with congestive failure was improved (40/54 class III-IV vs 11/54 class III-IV, P =.0001). Multivariate analysis showed a lower ejection fraction (P =.01), preoperative congestive failure (P =.03), and a need for preoperative intra-aortic balloon pumping (P =.03) to be associated with a greater prevalence of recurrent congestive failure, whereas male sex (P =.01), preoperative angina (P =.04), use of the internal thoracic artery (P =.03), and higher number of grafts (P =.01) were associated with lower prevalence. Male sex (P =.06), higher number of grafts (P =.04), and shorter duration of myocardial ischemia (P =. 04) were also predictive of improvement in New York Heart Association class at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Despite satisfactory early and late survival, late functional outcome after myocardial revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy remains suboptimal because of recurrence or persistence of congestive failure. Selection of appropriate surgical candidates and extensive use of complete revascularization with the internal thoracic artery may substantially improve functional results.
Statistical fault injection for impact-evaluation of timing errors on application performance

This paper proposes a novel approach to modeling of gate level timing errors during high-level instruction set simulation. In contrast to conventional, purely random fault injection, our physically motivated approach directly relates to the underlying circuit structure, hence allowing for a significantly more detailed characterization of application performance under scaled frequency / voltage (including supply noise). The model uses gate level timing statistics extracted by dynamic timing analysis from the post place & route netlist of a general-purpose processor to perform instruction-aware fault injections. We employ a 28 nm OpenRISC core as a case study, to demonstrate how statistical fault injection provides a more accurate and realistic analysis of power vs. error performance.
Implantable solenoidal microcoil for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Describes an implantable solenoidal microcoil as small as 200 /spl mu/m in diameter. This microcoil is used as a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) radiofrequency detection coil. Experimental verification is accomplished using a solenoidal microcoil in NMR micro-spectroscopy experiments at 2 teslas (85.13 MHz).
Concomitant Fractional Anisotropy and Volumetric Abnormalities in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Cross-Sectional Evidence for Progressive Neurologic Injury

Background In patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and associated hippocampal sclerosis (TLEhs) there are brain abnormalities extending beyond the presumed epileptogenic zone as revealed separately in conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies. However, little is known about the relation between macroscopic atrophy (revealed by volumetric MRI) and microstructural degeneration (inferred by DTI). Methodology/Principal Findings For 62 patients with unilateral TLEhs and 68 healthy controls, we determined volumes and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) of ipsilateral and contralateral brain structures from T1-weighted and DTI data, respectively. We report significant volume atrophy and FA alterations of temporal lobe, subcortical and callosal regions, which were more diffuse and bilateral in patients with left TLEhs relative to right TLEhs. We observed significant relationships between volume loss and mean FA, particularly of the thalamus and putamen bilaterally. When corrected for age, duration of epilepsy was significantly correlated with FA loss of an anatomically plausible route - including ipsilateral parahippocampal gyrus and temporal lobe white matter, the thalamus bilaterally, and posterior regions of the corpus callosum that contain temporal lobe fibres - that may be suggestive of progressive brain degeneration in response to recurrent seizures. Conclusions/Significance Chronic TLEhs is associated with interrelated DTI-derived and volume-derived brain degenerative abnormalities that are influenced by the duration of the disorder and the side of seizure onset. This work confirms previously contradictory findings by employing multi-modal imaging techniques in parallel in a large sample of patients.
How important is geography for agglomeration

The economic geography literature distinguishes between two types of reasons for economic agglomeration. Regional concentration of economic activity can be attributed to 'first nature' meaning geographic advantages and disadvantages given by nature or to 'second nature' meaning agglomeration economies by the interaction of economic agents. Several recent studies tried to estimate the relative importance of the two types of explanation. Most of these studies seem to exaggerate the importance of natural advantages because of loose definitions of geography. We describe geography by a small set of non-economic variables and estimate their importance for agglomeration in Germany. We find that about one third of the agglomeration of economic activity can be attributed to geography.
Exploiting a host-commensal interaction to promote intestinal barrier function and enteric pathogen tolerance

A secreted bacterial protein protects worms and mice from Salmonella pathogenesis. Microbes teach tolerance in the gut The trillions of microbes inhabiting our gut can greatly affect how we respond to infection, but scientists do not fully understand the molecular mechanisms shaping how different microbes interact with the host. Rangan et al. found that both worms and mice harboring Enterococcus faecium can better tolerate Salmonella infection. In both cases, tolerance requires E. faecium to express the enzyme secreted antigen A (SagA). SagA can also exert this probiotic effect when expressed by other bacteria. SagA protects worms by cleaving bacterial peptide fragments so that they can stimulate the tol-1 protein. In mice, Pedicord et al. found that SagA protects against Salmonella and Clostridium difficile pathogenesis in a manner dependent on antimicrobial peptides and multiple innate immune receptors. Commensal intestinal bacteria can prevent pathogenic infection; however, limited knowledge of the mechanisms by which individual bacterial species contribute to pathogen tolerance has restricted their potential for therapeutic application. We examined how colonization of mice with a human commensal Enterococcus faecium protects against enteric infections. We show that E. faecium improves host intestinal epithelial defense programs to limit Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium pathogenesis in vivo in multiple models of susceptibility. E. faecium protection is mediated by a unique peptidoglycan hydrolase, secreted antigen A (SagA), and requires epithelial expression of pattern recognition receptor components and antimicrobial peptides. Ectopic expression of SagA in nonprotective and probiotic bacteria is sufficient to enhance intestinal barrier function and confer tolerance against S. Typhimurium and Clostridium difficile pathogenesis. These studies demonstrate that specific factors from commensal bacteria can be used to improve host barrier function and limit the pathogenesis of distinct enteric infections.
Free-riding and whitewashing in peer-to-peer systems

We devise a model to study the phenomenon of free-riding and free-identities in peer-to-peer systems. At the heart of our model is a user of a certain type, an intrinsic and private parameter that reflects the user's willingness to contribute resources to the system. A user decides whether to contribute or free-ride based on how the current contribution cost in the system compares to her type. We study the impact of mechanisms that exclude low type users or, more realistically, penalize free-riders with degraded service. We also consider dynamic scenarios with arrivals and departures of users, and with whitewashers -users who leave the system and rejoin with new identities to avoid reputational penalties. We find that imposing penalty on all users that join the system is effective under many scenarios. In particular, system performance degrades significantly only when the turnover rate among users is high. Finally, we show that the optimal exclusion or penalty level differs significantly from the level that optimizes the performance of contributors only for a limited range of societal generosity levels.
The Achieve Method of the Panorama Field Geological Image Web Shared

Field geological outcrops play a crucial role in the field geological observation. They can reflect the regional stratigraphic occurrence, lithology, structure and other information. The traditional field geological outcrops can hardly descript and real fully reflect the actual situation of the field geological. This paper puts forward to use the WEB2.0 Flex rich client technology, combine with the panoramic imaging technology to create panoramic field geological image web shared system program to solve the problem of the outcrop information sharing problems. Xingcheng practice base of Jilin University is using this system for teaching and research.
Enhanced tree clustering with single pronunciation dictionary for conversational speech recognition

Modeling pronunciation variation is key for recognizing conversational speech. Rather than being limited to dictionary modeling, we argue that triphone clustering is an integral part of pronunciation modeling. We propose a new approach called enhanced tree clustering . T his approach, in contrast to traditional decision tree based state tying, allows parameter sharing across phonemes. We show that accurate pronunciation modeling can be achieved through efficient parameter sharing in the acoustic model. Combined with a single pronunciation dictionary, a 1.8% absolute word error rate improvement is achieved on Switchboard, a large vocabulary conversational speech recognition task.
Differential Outcomes of Sleep Problems in Children with and Without Special Health Care Needs: Australian Population Study

Objective: In a nationally representative sample of Australian children at ages 4 to 5, 6 to 7, 8 to 9, 10 to 11, and 12 to 13 years, we aim to examine the (1) prevalence of sleep problems in children with and without special health care needs (SHCN); (2) association of sleep problems with child behavior, health-related quality of life, learning and parent mental health outcomes; and (3) whether associations between sleep problems and outcomes among children with SHCN are larger in magnitude than among children without SHCN. Method: Biennial data from 5 waves of the Growing Up in Australia Study. Exposures: Child SHCN as defined by the Children Special Health Care Needs Screener and parent report of child sleep problem. Outcomes: Child: parent-reported health-related quality of life; parent-reported and teacher-reported behavior; nonverbal and verbal cognition and teacher-reported learning. Parent: self-report mental health. Analysis: Logistic and linear regression, adjusted for family socioeconomic position. Results: Children with SHCN were more likely to have sleep problems, odds ranging from 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6–2.5) at 4 to 5 years to 3.9 (95% CI, 3.0–5.2) at 8 to 9 years. Compared with children who had neither condition, those with either sleep problems or SHCN had similarly poor child and maternal outcomes. Children with both SHCN and sleep problems had the poorest outcomes at every age (all p < .001). Tests of interaction found sleep problems are more strongly associated with poorer behavior and health-related quality of life among children with SHCN than those without during the preschool and early school years. Conclusion: Sleep problems in children with SHCN are common and are associated with poorer child and maternal outcomes. These associations are stronger for poorer behavior and health-related quality of life among children with SHCN than those without during the preschool and early school years.
Secondary aggregate from waste treated with carbon dioxide

Secondary aggregate can be made from industrial waste by treatment with carbon dioxide gas (accelerated carbonation). Trials were conducted on bauxite waste, biomass ashes, metal dusts, quarry fines, steel-making waste, and the ashes arising from municipal incineration, paper recycling, sewage sludge incineration, and coal fired power stations. The wastes were formed into pellets using a combined pelletising and accelerated carbonation process with patent pending. The manufactured pellets conformed to the bulk density requirements for lightweight aggregate specified by British Standard. Specification for lightweight aggregate is limited, and two commercial lightweight aggregates were tested alongside the manufactured pellets for comparison. Compressive strength, water absorption and apparent density of the materials were comparable to that of the commercial aggregate. Furthermore, the finished product contained up to 11% of its own weight in carbon dioxide gas, permanently bound as solid minerals. In a se.
XKnowSearch!: Exploiting Knowledge Bases for Entity-based Cross-lingual Information Retrieval

In recent years, the amount of entities in large knowledge bases available on the Web has been increasing rapidly, making it possible to propose new ways of intelligent information access. Within the context of globalization, there is a clear need for techniques and systems that can enable multilingual and cross-lingual information access. In this paper, we present XKnowSearch! , a novel entity-based system for multilingual and cross-lingual information retrieval, which supports keyword search and also allows users to influence the search process according to their search intents. By leveraging the multilingual knowledge base on the Web, keyword queries and documents can be represented in their semantic forms, which can facilitate query disambiguation and expansion, and can also overcome the language barrier between queries and documents in different languages.
Genomics-Guided Analysis of NAD Recycling Yields Functional Elucidation of COG1058 as a New Family of Pyrophosphatases

We have recently identified the enzyme NMN deamidase (PncC), which plays a key role in the regeneration of NAD in bacteria by recycling back to the coenzyme the pyridine by-products of its non redox consumption. In several bacterial species, PncC is fused to a COG1058 domain of unknown function, highly conserved and widely distributed in all living organisms. Here, we demonstrate that the PncC-fused domain is endowed with a novel Co+2- and K+-dependent ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase activity, and discuss the functional connection of such an activity with NAD recycling. An in-depth phylogenetic analysis of the COG1058 domain evidenced that in most bacterial species it is fused to PncC, while in α- and some δ-proteobacteria, as well as in archaea and fungi, it occurs as a stand-alone protein. Notably, in mammals and plants it is fused to FAD synthase. We extended the enzymatic characterization to a representative bacterial single-domain protein, which resulted to be a more versatile ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase, active also towards diadenosine 5′-diphosphate and FAD. Multiple sequence alignment analysis, and superposition of the available three-dimensional structure of an archaeal COG1058 member with the structure of the enzyme MoeA of the molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis, allowed identification of residues likely involved in catalysis. Their role has been confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis.