Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation does not improve quality of muscle reinnervation or recovery of motor function after facial nerve transection in rats

Abstract Recently, we devised and validated a novel strategy in rats to improve the outcome of facial nerve reconstruction by daily manual stimulation of the target muscles. The treatment resulted in full recovery of facial movements (whisking), which was achieved by reducing the proportion of pathologically polyinnervated motor endplates. Here, we posed whether manual stimulation could also be beneficial after a surgical procedure potentially useful for treatment of large peripheral nerve defects, i.e., entubulation of the transected facial nerve in a conduit filled with suspension of isogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in collagen. Compared to control treatment with collagen only, entubulation with BM-MSCs failed to decrease the extent of collateral axonal branching at the lesion site and did not improve functional recovery. Post-operative manual stimulation of vibrissal muscles also failed to promote a better recovery following entubulation with BM-MSCs. We suggest that BM-MSCs promote excessive trophic support for regenerating axons which, in turn, results in excessive collateral branching at the lesion site and extensive polyinnervation of the motor endplates. Furthermore, such deleterious effects cannot be overridden by manual stimulation. We conclude that entubulation with BM-MSCs is not beneficial for facial nerve repair.
Occlusal Disharmony Affects Plasma Corticosterone and Hypothalamic Noradrenaline Release in Rats

Few neuro-endocrinological studies have examined the relationship between occlusal disharmony and stress. To determine the effect of occlusal disharmony on the central nervous system, we measured plasma corticosterone and extracellular noradrenaline in the vicinity of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in rats both with and without incisal caps. After the caps were set, plasma corticosterone and extracellular noradrenaline levels gradually increased, reaching a peak at 8.5 and 6.5 hours, respectively, after which they decreased. Furthermore, plasma corticosterone and extracellular noradrenaline levels increased in a circadian fashion around the onset of the dark phase in rats without caps, but not in rats with caps. These results suggest that occlusal disharmony causes chronic stress in the rat.
Robust subpixel shift estimation using iterative phase correlation of a local region

In this paper, subpixel shift estimation method using phase correlation with local region is proposed for registration of noisy images. Commonly, phase correlation based on the Fourier shift property is used to estimate the shift between images. Subpixel shift of images can be estimated by the analysis for the phase correlation of downsampled images. However, in case of images with noise or aliasing artifacts, the error in estimation is increased. Thus, we consider a small region in a corner of an image instead of the whole, because flat regions with noise and regions with aliasing induce the error of estimation. In addition, to improve accuracy, the local regions are inversely shifted by varying the subpixel shift values, and obtaining the peak value of phase correlation between the images. Then, the subpixel shift value corresponding to the maximum of the peak values is selected. Real-time implementation of this process is possible because only a local region is used, thereby reducing the process time. In experiments, the proposed method is compared with conventional methods using several fitting functions, and it is applied for the task of super resolution imaging. The proposed method shows higher accuracy in registration than other methods, also, edge-sharpness in superresolved images is improved.
Lower bounds and parallel algorithms for planar orthogonal grid drawings

The paper considers the problem of constructing a planer orthogonal grid drawing (or more simply, layout) of an n-vertex graph, with the goal of minimizing the number of bends along the edges. It exhibits graphs that require Omega (n) bends in any layout, and shows that there exist optimal drawings that require Omega (n) bends and have all of them on a single edge of length Omega (n/sup 2/). On the other side of the coin, it presents a parallel algorithm that runs on a CREW PRAM in O(log n) time with n/log n processors and constructs layouts with O(n) maximum edge length and O(n/sup 2/) area. for biconnected graphs the number of bends is at most 2n+4, which is optimal in the worst-case. This work finds applications in VLSI layout, aesthetic graph drawing, and communication by light or microwave. <<ETX>>
Interventional Pulmonology in the Intensive Care Unit: Percutaneous Tracheostomy and Gastrostomy

Abstract Bedside percutaneous tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube placement are cost-effective and safe techniques employed in the management of critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Both procedures have been well characterized and studied in the surgical and gastroenterology literature. Recently the performance of these procedures by interventional pulmonologists have been reported. This review focuses on the role of the interventional pulmonologist in the ICU, specifically in regard to the placement of percutaneous tracheostomies and gastrostomy tubes. We will discuss the techniques available and the relevant background data regarding choice of method and its integration into clinical practice. In addition, we discuss the creation of a multidisciplinary tracheostomy care team, its effect on patient care, hospital finances, and the interventional pulmonologists role.
Changes in Leisure Participation Patterns After Immigration

It is well documented that the lifestyles of immigrants undergo significant changes during the postarrival period. Although it cannot be argued that leisure behavior is immune to such changes, very little systematic effort has been devoted to exploring this phenomenon. This article attempts to fill this gap by focusing on postimmigration changes in leisure behavior. The empiric analysis utilizes a hybrid approach that combines qualitative data obtained in a series of in-depth interviews and quantitative data from a mail questionnaire survey. Both the interviews and the survey were conducted in 1996 among recent immigrants from Poland residing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Jackson and Dunn's (1988) theoretic framework is used to investigate the general patterns of postarrival ceasing and starting of participation. Survey respondents are classified into ceasers, adders, replacers, and continuers, and the proportions in each group are analyzed and compared with the published general-population results. Qualitative data then are used to establish the major causes for the observed postarrival changes in leisure-participation patterns. Then, the analysis is extended to account for activity-based variations in ceasing and starting behavior and those based on age at immigration. Interview material is used to isolate major immigration-related factors that encourage immigrants in various age groups to modify their leisure-participation patterns. It is shown that the observed postarrival participation changes can be attributed partially to past latent demand, to the decreased role of certain interpersonal constraints, and to being exposed to new leisure opportunities.
Persistence of Brainstorming Groups: How Do People Know When to Stop?

Two experiments compared task persistence and productivity for brainstorming individuals and groups of various sizes under conditions without a time limit. We expected that the stop rules people employ in deciding to end a session would have important consequences for the relation between group size, persistence, and productivity. In Experiment 1, conducted with individuals, dyads, and four- and six-person groups, it was found that persistence increased linearly with group size. As a result, the productivity loss usual in brainstorming groups was substantially reduced. This finding was replicated in Experiment 2, but only under conditions without time pressure. The degree to which a brainstorming topic was perceived as enjoyable did not affect persistence. Findings were consistent with the hypothesis that people stop neither when they are satisfied with their performance nor when they no longer enjoy the task, but when the expected relation between effort and performance falls below a certain cut-off point. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
First Evidence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Southern Chiapas, Mexico

To the Editor: The mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) was first identified in the Americas in Texas in 1985 (1,2). That year, this newly introduced species had dispersed widely in Texas and was implicated in the transmission of dengue virus (3). Later, the first states in Mexico that were infested by Ae. albopictus were along the northern Mexican border: Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas (4,5; J.P. Martinez-Munoz, thesis). In 1997, this species was reported farther south in Veracruz (6). Although Ae. albopictus was expected to spread to southernmost Mexico, this mosquito has never been reported there until now. We have confirmed Ae. albopictus in the city limits of Tapachula, southern Chiapas, Mexico. On September 13, 2002, one of the authors, who resides in Tapachula, was bitten by a mosquito. He collected the specimen, which was later identified as Ae. albopictus by the Centro de Investigacion de Paludismo (CIP). Nearby larval habitats were then comprehensively searched to collect the immature stages of the species; the sampling area was located at 14° 55' 22.5" north and 92°15' 05.7" west at an altitude of 220 m along the periphery of Tapachula. We found the following containers with larval stages of mosquitos: five water containers, two discarded tires (containing 300–3,000 mL of water), one thermal bottle (250 mL), one plastic bottle (50 mL), and one bucket (2,500 mL). Larvae were placed in plastic bags and transported to CIP laboratories, where they were allowed to emerge to adults during 17 days. The fourth instar larval and pupal exuvias were fixed and identified to species according to Darsie (7) and Superintendencia de Campanhas de Saude Publica (8). Twenty-five female and male Ae. albopictus from these collections are available from CIP laboratory upon request. Additional field collections are being conducted to establish the distribution range of this species along the Chiapas coastal plain, to determinate the entomologic levels of infestation, and to determine its susceptibility to insecticides. Considering the epidemiologic relevance of this discovery, we have notified the proper health authorities to take necessary control measures to reduce the possibility of increased dengue transmission and to prevent other arboviruses, such as West Nile virus (9), from being spread by this new species in southern Mexico.
The protective society? Seeking safety in an insecure world

This article discusses the nature of the notion of ‘risk’ in late modern society and the community safety discourse that has resulted. The present agenda tends not to take account of the infinite variability of the notion of community and thus, the difficulty in replicating initiatives. The author argues that a ‘taxonomy of protection’ provides a more fruitful analytical tool. The approach to community safety in other European countries treats the notion as a public good and a similar approach in the United Kingdom, it is argued, may result in different ways of thinking.
New Insights into the Functions of Transcription Factors that Bind the RNA Polymerase Secondary Channel

Transcription elongation is regulated at several different levels, including control by various accessory transcription elongation factors. A distinct group of these factors interacts with the RNA polymerase secondary channel, an opening at the enzyme surface that leads to its active center. Despite investigation for several years, the activities and in vivo roles of some of these factors remain obscure. Here, we review the recent progress in understanding the functions of the secondary channel binding factors in bacteria. In particular, we highlight the surprising role of global regulator DksA in fidelity of RNA synthesis and the resolution of RNA polymerase traffic jams by the Gre factor. These findings indicate a potential link between transcription fidelity and collisions of the transcription and replication machineries.
Aboriginal Women's Perceptions and Experiences of a Family Violence Transitional Accommodation Service

Abstract This article presents a qualitative study of Aboriginal women's perceptions and experiences of a transitional housing program in South Australia that was established to assist long-term homelessness and family violence. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences and service outcomes for Aboriginal women and their children and to identify both facilitators and barriers to the effective operation of the program. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 13 Aboriginal women and thematic analysis was used to report their collective stories. The women's stories showed individualised, flexible, and open-ended support as well as practical outcomes of stable, safe housing for themselves and their children were particularly valued. The women reported that these features of the program augmented feelings of strengthened confidence and self-efficacy. The authors argue the domestic and family violence sector has the opportunity to learn from the perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal women, particularly allowing time and commitment to working long-term with families.
A comparison of pre-dropout and temporary rupture sessions in psychotherapy

Abstract Although numerous studies have investigated the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and dropout, most have focused on the relationship between alliance quality and psychotherapy outcomes. Objective: To compare sessions with therapeutic alliance ruptures and two sessions prior to treatment dropout (pre-dropout) in terms of rupture subtypes, psychotherapists’ behavior, attitudes, and session content. Method: We implemented quantitative methods to select the sessions and qualitative methods to analyze them. We analyzed 16 temporary rupture sessions from 12 therapist–patient dyads and 16 pre-dropout sessions from 8 different therapist–patient dyads. The sessions originate from clinical psychology Master’s or Doctoral students under supervision in either cognitive behavioral or schema therapy. Pre-dropout sessions were considered unrepaired rupture sessions while rupture sessions were subsequently repaired. Results: Results revealed apparent differences and similarities between the session types in positive and negative psychotherapist behaviors, content intensity, and the type and frequency of ruptures. We explored three new rupture subtypes: attributing positive developments to other sources, indirect speech, and sarcastic hostility. Conclusions: A striking implication is that the frequency of positive and negative psychotherapist behaviors, ruptures, and session content is more likely to decrease in the pre-dropout sessions than in the temporary rupture sessions.
Culture and spirituality: A review of literature

Abstract This paper reports on a content analysis of social science literature that addresses spirituality and culture. More than fifty articles were reviewed for their fit in the social work curriculum. Most entries reviewed fit into the curricular areas of practice or human behavior in the social environment. This paper will serve as a resource for social work faculty as they include content on spirituality as an aspect of diversity according the CSWE's current Curriculum Policy statement.
Iron-dependent regulation of frataxin expression: implications for treatment of Friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a trinucleotide repeat within the first intron of the gene that encodes frataxin. In our study, we investigated the regulation of frataxin expression by iron and demonstrated that frataxin mRNA levels decrease significantly in multiple human cell lines treated with the iron chelator, desferal (DFO). In addition, frataxin mRNA and protein levels decrease in fibroblast and lymphoblast cells derived from both normal controls and from patients with FA when treated with DFO. Lymphoblasts and fibroblasts of FA patients have evidence of cytosolic iron depletion, as indicated by increased levels of iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) and/or increased IRE-binding activity of IRP1. We postulate that this inferred cytosolic iron depletion occurs as frataxin-deficient cells overload their mitochondria with iron, a downstream regulatory effect that has been observed previously when mitochondrial iron–sulfur cluster assembly is disrupted. The mitochondrial iron overload and presumed cytosolic iron depletion potentially further compromise function in frataxin-deficient cells by decreasing frataxin expression. Thus, our results imply that therapeutic efforts should focus on an approach that combines iron removal from mitochondria with a treatment that increases cytosolic iron levels to maximize residual frataxin expression in FA patients.
Funneled Landscape Leads to Robustness of Cell Networks: Yeast Cell Cycle

We uncovered the underlying energy landscape for a cellular network. We discovered that the energy landscape of the yeast cell-cycle network is funneled towards the global minimum (G0/G1 phase) from the experimentally measured or inferred inherent chemical reaction rates. The funneled landscape is quite robust against random perturbations. This naturally explains robustness from a physical point of view. The ratio of slope versus roughness of the landscape becomes a quantitative measure of robustness of the network. The funneled landscape can be seen as a possible realization of the Darwinian principle of natural selection at the cellular network level. It provides an optimal criterion for network connections and design. Our approach is general and can be applied to other cellular networks.
Monitoring and Adaptation in Smart Spaces for Disabled Children

Our research explores new forms of technology-enhanced intervention for children with Intellectual Disability (ID) that exploits our Magic K-Room, an interactive multisensory smart space designed in cooperation with therapists and special educators at a local rehabilitation center. The Magic K-Room integrates smart objects, smart lights, and (immersive) multimedia contents. It also supports monitoring of brain-signals and automatic ambient adaptation, to dynamically personalize the smart space to the specific needs of each child. These features are enabled by a wearable device that automatically detects and interprets EEG signals.
Coverage preserving aggregation protocols for dense sensor networks

Sensor networks are often deployed more densely than would be minimally required. In such cases, node scheduling protocols can be used to determine which nodes are active, and which nodes sleep so as to conserve energy and prolong network lifetime. A drawback of node scheduling approaches, however, is delay due to node or communication failure(s), and subsequent wake-up of replacement node(s), during which monitoring coverage of some sub-region may be lost. This paper proposes an alternative approach for use in contexts in which the objective is to periodically collect sensing data that completely covers a region of interest. In the proposed approach, nodes dynamically determine during each round of data collection whether they should transmit their data, or whether their area is covered by neighbouring nodes that have already transmitted. Both unicast and broadcast-based data collection protocols are designed, and their performance compared using simulation to that of data collection protocols relying on node scheduling. Our results suggest that the coverage-preserving broadcast-based protocol can greatly improve reliability at the potential cost of increased traffic volume owing to non-minimal selection of transmitting nodes.
Timing driven global router with a pin partition method for 3D stacked integrated circuits

Three-dimensional (3D) integration technology packs together multiple active device dies, achieving a higher level of integration within a given footprint. However, due to an increase in the design volume and complexity, routing has become a challenging problem in 3D IC designs. In this paper, we propose a timing driven routing algorithm for 3D IC with a load balancing method that distributes the capacitance of the interconnections including TSV. In the load balancing step, the sink pins are partitioned to balance the loads within the routing tree. The routing trees are then created by merging the sub-trees that are generated with the balanced group.
Doubly distorted mirrors

Traditional mirrored disk systems provide high reliability by multiplexing disks. Performance is improved with parallel reads and shorter read seeks. However, writes must be performed by both disks, limiting performance. Doubly distorted mirrors increase the number of physical writes per logical write from 2 to 3, but performs logical writes more efficiently. This reduces the cost of a random logical write to 1/3 of the cost of a read. Moreover, much of the write cost can be absorbed in the rotational latency of the reads, performing under certain conditions all the writes for free. Doubly distorted mirrors achieves a 135% performance improvement over traditional mirrors in the TP1 benchmark. Although these techniques require a disk cache for writes, the cache need not be safe nor is recovery time impacted very much.
How Real Are Changes Induced by Management by Objectives

June 1976, volume 21 Data were collected in two organizations, initially at two time points (t1 and t 2) to assess the effects of management by objectives and how various components of MBO were related to each other one time. Cross-lag correlational techniques were used to draw causal inferences. This analysis resulted in a "model" of MBO and a conclusion that the subjects' perceptions of MBO changed over time. However, a no-change conclusion was also justified. False contradictory conclusions were tested against models developed, based on assumptions of change and nochange. A third measurement (t 3) was taken in one firm. The conclusion that change had taken place was stronger, but several important methodological issues of self-report data are highlighted.
Chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction: manifestations, natural history and management

Abstract Chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (CIPO) is a rare pathological condition characterized by a marked derangement of gut propulsive motility mimicking mechanical obstruction, in the absence of any lesion occluding the gut lumen. This disease is often associated with a disabling and potentially life‐threatening complications and is still too often unrecognized even in referral centres. As a result, patients receive neither appropriate care nor recognition of their severe health condition. Medical and surgical therapies are often unsatisfactory and long‐term outcome turns out to be poor in the vast majority of cases. This article focuses on the main clinical features, the management and long‐term outcome of patients affected by CIPO, with particular emphasis on those aspects which remain a matter of debate.