Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of gross dimethylsulfide (DMS) production by solar radiation

Oceanic gross DMS production (GP) exerts a fundamental control on the concentration and the sea‐air flux of this climatically‐active trace gas. However, it is a poorly constrained process, owing to the complexity of the microbial food web processes involved and their interplay with physical forcing, particularly with solar radiation. The “inhibitor method”, using dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) or other compounds to inhibit bacterial DMS consumption, has been frequently used to determine GP in dark incubations. In the work presented here, DMDS addition was optimized for its use in light incubations. By comparing simultaneous dark and light measurements of GP in meso‐ to ultraoligotrophic waters, we found a significant enhancement of GP in natural sunlight in 7 out of 10 experiments. Such stimulation, which was generally between 30 and 80% on a daily basis, occurred throughout contrasting microbial communities and oceanographic settings.
Right Ventricular Function in Cardiovascular Disease, Part II: Pathophysiology, Clinical Importance, and Management of Right Ventricular Failure

Right ventricular (RV) function may be impaired in pulmonary hypertension (PH), congenital heart disease (CHD), and coronary artery disease and in patients with left-sided heart failure (HF) or valvular heart disease. In recent years, many studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of RV function in cardiovascular disease. In the past, however, the importance of RV function has been underestimated. This perception originated from studies on open-pericardium dog models and from the observation that patients may survive without a functional subpulmonary RV (Fontan procedure). In the 1940s, studies using open-pericardium dog models showed that cauterization of the RV lateral wall did not result in a decrease in cardiac output or an increase in systemic venous pressure.1–3 As was later demonstrated, the open-pericardium model did not take into account the complex nature of ventricular interaction. In 1982, Goldstein and colleagues2 showed that RV myocardial infarction (RVMI) in a closed-chest dog model led to significant hemodynamic compromise. These findings were further supported by clinical studies demonstrating an increased risk of death, arrhythmia, and shock in patients with RVMI.4 The study of the RV is a relatively young field. In 2006, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute identified RV physiology as a priority in cardiovascular research.5 The goal of this review is to present a clinical perspective on RV physiology and pathobiology. In the first article of the series, the anatomy, physiology, embryology, and assessment of the RV were discussed. In this second part, we discuss the pathophysiology, clinical importance, and management of RV failure. RV failure is a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiovascular disorder that impairs the ability of the RV to fill or to eject blood. The cardinal clinical manifestations of RV failure are (1) fluid retention, which may lead …
Conditional biallelic Nf 2 mutation in the mouse promotes manifestations of human neurofibromatosis type 2

Hemizygosity for the NF2 gene in humans causes a syndromic susceptibility to schwannoma development. However, Nf2 hemizygous mice do not develop schwannomas but mainly osteosarcomas. In the tumors of both species, the second Nf2 allele is inactivated. We report that conditional homozygous Nf2 knockout mice with Cre-mediated excision of Nf2 exon 2 in Schwann cells showed characteristics of neurofibromatosis type 2. These included schwannomas, Schwann cell hyperplasia, cataract, and osseous metaplasia. Thus, the tumor suppressor function of Nf2, here revealed in murine Schwann cells, was concealed in hemizygous Nf2 mice because of insufficient rate of second allele inactivation in this cell compartment. The finding of this conserved function documents the relevance of the present approach to model the human disease.
Automatic Generation and Insertion of Assessment Items in Online Video Courses

In this paper, we propose a prototype system for automatic generation and insertion of assessment items in online video courses. The proposed system analyzes text transcript of a requested video lecture to suggest self-assessment items in runtime through automatic discourse segmentation and question generation. To deal with the problem of question generation from noisy transcription, the system relies on semantically similar Wikipedia text segments. We base our study on a popular video lecture portal - National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). However, it can be adapted to other portals as well.
A KPI Framework for Process-based Benchmarking of Hospital Information Systems

Benchmarking is a major topic for monitoring, directing and elucidating the performance of hospital information systems (HIS). Current approaches neglect the outcome of the processes that are supported by the HIS and their contribution to the hospital's strategic goals. We suggest to benchmark HIS based on clinical documentation processes and their outcome. A framework consisting of a general process model and outcome criteria for clinical documentation processes is introduced.
The effect of lead free soldering on formation of black pad failure

By this time usable solder alloys for lead-free soldering had already been developed. NEMI (National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative) recommends Sn/3.9Ag/0.6Cu (±0.2%) solder alloy for reflow soldering instead of leaded solder alloys, due to its excellent mechanical properties and other good parameters. The next step is the choosing of suitable pad finish for lead-free soldering. In the age of fine pitch assemblies (QFPs (Quad Flat Pack), BGAs (Ball Grid Array) and CSP (Chip Size Package)) flat and planar plated surfaces are needed. Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) pad finishes are used, when there is a need for aluminum wire bonding besides soldering. At the interface of NiAu plating and the solder a failure can occur, called 'black pad'. Black pad is not only a cosmetic problem, but also a source of weak wire bonding and soldering joints. The question is, whether the lead free soldering affects the formation of black pad failure or not. Experiments were made to answer this question, and this paper will show the results.
Is My Object in This Video? Reconstruction-based Object Search in Videos

This paper addresses the problem of video-level object instance search, which aims to retrieve the videos in the database that contain a given query object instance. Without prior knowledge about “when” and “where” an object of interest may appear in a video, determining “whether” a video contains the target object is computationally prohibitive, as it requires exhaustively matching the query against all possible spatial-temporal locations in each video that an object may appear. To alleviate the computational and memory cost, we propose the Reconstruction-based Object SEarch (ROSE) method. It characterizes a huge corpus of features of possible spatial-temporal locations in the video into the parameters of the reconstruction model. Since the memory cost of storing reconstruction model is much less than that of storing features of possible spatial-temporal locations in the video, the efficiency of the search is significantly boosted. Comprehensive experiments on three benchmark datasets demonstrate the promising performance of the proposed ROSE method.
Low Back Pain in a Representative Sample of Greek Population: Analysis According to Personal and Socioeconomic Characteristics

Study Design. A cross-sectional study of low back pain and its related aspects in a representative sample of Greek population. Objectives. To estimate the prevalence of low back pain in the Greek population and to study the association of low back pain frequency and severity with socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Summary of Background Data. Several prevalence studies carried out in different populations suggest a high frequency of this condition in the general population. Socioeconomic and demographic factors are likely to influence frequency and severity of low back pain. In Greece, there have been no previous studies investigating low back pain frequency and severity and its related aspects in the general population. Studies carried out in selected Greek populations suggest a 3-month prevalence of about 50%. Methods. A 2000-person sample of the Greek population older than 15 years was selected by multiple-stage sampling, with definition of sample quotas based on demographic characteristics. Information about low back pain and its related aspects, as well as about socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, was collected by personal interviews. The study was carried out between March 10 and April 12, 2000. Results. A total of 635 persons (31.7%) reported low back pain the last month. Among them 126 (19.9%) stayed in bed for some time, with a mean duration of staying in bed of 5.5 days. Work absenteeism represented a 19.1% of people younger than 65 years (54 persons) with a mean duration of 4.52 days. Low back pain frequency and severity were related to several socio-demographic factors at a statistically significant level. Sex, age, and kind of job presented a significant association with risk of low back pain independently from other socioeconomic factors. Conclusions. According to the results of the study, low back pain is a frequent symptom in the general Greek population. Low back pain frequency and severity are associated with several socio-demographic factors, especially with age, sex, and kind of job.
Voltage Gain Analysis of Integrated Fibonacci-Like Charge Pumps for Low Power Applications

This paper presents an analysis of the achievable voltage gain in integrated Fibonacci-like charge pumps. The analysis is carried out by using a mathematical model based on a matrix description of the network which takes parasitic capacitances into account. The impact of top- and bottom-plate parasitics over the voltage gain is discussed and the analytical expression of the voltage gain as a function of parasitic capacitances is obtained. The derived set of equations is validated by means of circuit level simulations.
Night-vision stereo grid mapping for digital map localization

Accurate and robust environment perception is a prerequisite for advanced driver assistance systems such as parking assistance, collision avoidance or night vision systems but also for robot navigation. In this context, occupancy grid mapping is a common way to represent the static car surroundings perceived by radar, laser or camera sensors. This work focuses on the challenges of nighttime grid mapping with a stereo camera - disparity images are perturbed by severe noise caused by wrong correspondences and headlights of oncoming vehicles. Noise removal and headlight detection based on the input images are proposed to make the disparity image suitable for a 2.5D occupancy grid mapping algorithm. In the second part of the work the concrete application of such a stereo grid map is shown and evaluated: The stereo map is applied to a localization task on a digital navigation map. The vehicle's position and orientation to the given navigation map are estimated in a particle filter system where the stereo grid map serves as measurement. Evaluations on real-world sequences and comparisons with an existing radar-based positioning system classify the approach's performance.
Epidemiological Study on Internet Use and Internet Addiction Disorder Among College Students

Objective To investigate the prevalence rate of internet use and internet addiction disorder(IAD) in college students,and to provide evidence for prevention measures.Methods Self-assessment questionnaires were used for investigation of internet use and addiction among 2 010 college students from three colleges and universities by using stratified and cluster sampling method.Results The netsurfing rate of male students(95.94%) was significantly higher than the female(79.93%,P0.01). The net surfing rate of freshmen was significantly lower than that of other grades(P0.01). The IAD rate was 14.17%,and it was 16.73% for male and 6.65% for female(P0.01). The IAD rate was related to parent's culture background,harmonic relation between parents and pocket money(P0.01). Significant differences were found in appetite,sleep,trembling,vision,headache,suicide ideation,anxiety,depression,emotion,knowledge,interpersonal relationship and complaints between students with IAD and non-IAD(P0.01). Conclusion The prevalence rate of IAD is high in college students.IAD has effects on mental health and social function of college students.Society,school and family should collaborate to prevent and control IAD.
THE PHILOSOPHICAL ETHOLOGY OF ROBERTO MARCHESINI

Abstract Central to the work of Roberto Marchesini is a sustained critical engagement with the sciences of animal behavior. Drawing on veterinary, biological, and philosophical training, he critiques the legacy of Cartesianism that sees animals as machines at the same time as acknowledging the importance of biological knowledge and approaches for understanding animals. Further, he offers his own version of a zooanthropological and posthumanist method for the future of ethology as an interdisciplinary social science founded on shared existence, interaction, and understanding. His reframing of questions around biological and cultural continuity in turn refigures received notions of identity, animality, and the origin of culture itself.
From code to models

One of the corner stones of formal methods is the notion that abstraction enables analysis. By the construction of an abstract model we can trade implementation detail for analytical power. The intent of a model is to preserve selected characteristics of real-world artifact, while suppressing others. Unfortunately, practitioners are less likely to use a modeling tool if it cannot handle real-world artifacts in their native format. The requirement to build a model to enable analysis is often seen as a verdict to design a system twice: once in a verification language. and once in an implementation language. Because the. implementation phase cannot be skipped, verification is often sacrificed. In this paper we will consider a way to avoid this problem by automating the extraction of verification models from implementation level code. The user now provides only model extraction rules, or abstractions, rather than full-scale models.
Attractiveness of real time strategy games

Game refinement idea is a unique theory that has been proposed based on the uncertainty of game outcome. A game refinement measure was derived from the game information progress model and has been applied in the domains such as board games and sports games. The present challenge is to apply the game refinement theory in the domain of RTS games. To do so, we use StarCraft II as a testbed and introduce a concept of strategy tree in order to construct a game tree of a RTS game. Then, game refinement values are calculated and compared with other type of games. It is found that StarCraft II has a zone value of game refinement.
On Knowing the Strategy of the Other Guy

We investigate the interaction of two individuals A and B. This interaction will have elements of both cooperation and conflict, and the strategies used will affect the fitness of both players. Our objective is to understand the effect of information flow on strategy and fitness. Suppose we begin in a population in which neither actor has advance information on the strategy used by the other. Suppose that conditions change so that B’s choice of y is made knowing the value of x chosen by A, and A knows that this is the case. We provide a local result which predicts the resulting initial direction of strategy change and in a number of examples, we relate that to the ultimate point of global change. We relate these changes to the case in which each player has full control over the behaviour of the other.
Polycystin-1 expression in PKD1, early-onset PKD1, and TSC2/PKD1 cystic tissue.

BACKGROUND The mutational mechanism responsible for cyst formation in polycystic kidney disease 1 gene (PKD1) remains controversial, with data indicating a two-hit mechanism, but also evidence of polycystin-1 expression in cystic tissue. METHODS To investigate this apparent paradox, we analyzed polycystin-1 expression in cystic renal or liver tissue from 10 patients with truncating PKD1 mutations (including one early-onset case) and 2 patients with severe disease associated with contiguous deletions of TSC2 and PKD1, using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to both extreme N-(7e12) and C-terminal (PKS-A) regions of the protein. Truncation of the C-terminal epitope from the putative mutant proteins in each case allowed exclusive assessment of the nontruncated protein with PKS-A. RESULTS In adult PKD1 tissue, the majority of cysts (approximately 80%) showed polycystin-1 expression, although staining was absent in a variable but significant minority (approximately 20%), in spite of the normal expression of marker proteins. Unlike adult PKD1, however, negative cysts were rarely found in infantile PKD1 or TSC2/PKD1 deletion cases. CONCLUSIONS If a two-hit mutational mechanism is operational, these results suggest that the majority of somatic mutations in adult PKD1 are likely to be missense changes. The low level of polycystin-1-negative cysts in the three "early-onset" cases, however, suggests that a somatic PKD1 mutation may not always be required for cyst formation.
Effect of bovine lactoferrin on the internalization of coagulase-negative staphylococci into bovine mammary epithelial cells under in-vitro conditions

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) have emerged as bovine mastitis pathogens in many countries. CNS mastitis is generally mild but can persist in the udder for long periods. Pathogenesis of CNS intramammary infection is not well understood. In the present study, adhesion, invasion and intracellular replication of twenty-two CNS strains isolated from bovine mastitis and the effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on the internalization were studied in vitro in a bovine mammary epithelial (BME) cell model. The CNS strains were of Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staph. simulans, Staph. epidermidis, Staph. haemolyticus and Staph. cohnii urealyticus; two strains of Staph. aureus were used as controls. Seven of the CNS strains originated from persistent and five from transient mastitis infections. The in-vitro susceptibility of the strains to bLf was also investigated. All CNS species examined had an adhesive ability equal to that of Staph. aureus, but internalization varied among staphylococcal strains. The antagonistic effect of bLf on the adhesion and invasion of CNS strains was weak, but bLf significantly decreased intracellular replication and replication rates of CNS. No correlation between the in-vitro susceptibility of the strain to bLf or internalization among clinical signs of mastitis was established. No difference between the persistent and transient CNS strains in adhesion, invasion or replication rate was recorded. This in-vitro BME cell model can be used to study the virulence potential of mastitis pathogens, although the severity and persistence of eventual infections shall be further investigated in vivo. The role of bLf in intramammary infection caused by CNS may be limited.
Burst Fracture in the Metastatically Involved Spine: Development, Validation, and Parametric Analysis of a Three-Dimensional Poroelastic Finite-Element Model

Study Design. A finite-element study and in vitro experimental validation was performed for a parametric investigation of features that contribute to burst fracture risk in the metastatically involved spine. Objectives. To develop and validate a three-dimensional poroelastic model of a metastatically compromised vertebral segment, to evaluate the effect of lytic lesions on vertebral strains and pressures, and to determine the influence of loading and motion segment status (bone density, pedicle involvement, disc degeneration, and tumor size) on the relative risk of burst fracture initiation. Summary of Background Data. Finite-element analysis has been used successfully to predict failure loads and fracture patterns for bone. Although models for vertebra affected with tumors have been presented, these have not been thoroughly validated experimentally. Consequently, their predictive capabilities remain uncertain. Methods. A three-dimensional poroelastic finite-element model of the first lumbar vertebra and adjacent intervertebral discs, including a tumor of variable size, was developed. To validate the model, 12 cadaver spinal motion segments were tested in axial compression, in intact condition, and with simulated osteolytic defects. Features of the validated model were parametrically varied to investigate the effects of tumor size, trabecular bone density, pedicle involvement, applied loads, loading rates, and disc degeneration using outcome variables of vertebral bulge and vertebral axial deformation. Results. Consistent trends between the experimental data and model predictions were observed. Overall, the model results suggest that tumor size contributes most toward the risk of initiating burst fracture, followed by the applied load magnitude and bone density. Conclusions. The parametric analysis suggests that the principal factors affecting the initiation of burst fracture in metastatically affected vertebrae are tumor size, magnitude of spinal loading, and bone density. Consequently, patient-specific measures of these factors should be factored into decisions regarding clinical prophylaxis. Pedicle involvement or disc degeneration was less important according to the outcome measures in this study.
On Parameter Estimation of Two Dimensional Polynomial Phase Signal Model

Two-dimensional (2-D) polynomial phase signals occur in different areas of image processing. When the degree of the polynomial is two it is called chirp signal. In this paper, we consider the least squares estimators of the different unknown parameters of the 2-D polynomial phase signal model in the presence of stationary noise, and derive their properties. The proposed least squares estimators are strongly consistent and we obtained the asymptotic distribution of the least squares estimators. It is observed that asymptotically the least squares estimators are normally distributed. We perform some simulation experiments to observe the behavior of the least squares estimators, and it is observed that the performances are quite satisfactory.
Development of photovoltaic simulator based on DC-DC converter

This paper introduces the photovoltaic (PV) simulator for the inverter of PV energy system. In order to embody the PV simulator, the conventional solar cell is numerically modeled based on the one-diode equivalent circuit. With the P-V relationships, we find the maximum and minimum power which is needed during the inverter performs the MPPT algorithm and design the parameter based on the maximum and minimum power. Finally, this paper verifies design parameters numerically through the PSIM and analyzes the PV simulator in the frequency domain using matlab.