Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Profile of Vascular Ion Channels after Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Cerebral vasospasm is a transient, delayed constriction of cerebral arteries that occurs after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Smooth muscle cells show impaired relaxation after SAH, which may be caused by a defect in the ionic mechanisms regulating smooth muscle membrane potential and Ca2+ permeability. We tested this hypothesis by examining changes in expression of mRNA and protein for ion channels in the basilar arteries of dogs after SAH using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting. SAH was associated with a significant reduction in basilar artery diameter to 41 ± 8% of pre-SAH diameter (P < 0.001) after 7 days. There was significant downregulation of the voltage-gated K+ channel Kv 2.2 (65% reduction in mRNA, P < 0.001; 49% reduction in protein, P < 0.05) and the β1 subunit of the large-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel (53% reduction in mRNA, P < 0.02). There was no change in BK β1 subunit protein. Changes in mRNA levels of Kv 2.2 and the BK-β1 subunit correlated with the degree of vasospasm (r2 = 0.490 and 0.529 respectively, P < 0.05). The inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channel Kir 2.1 was upregulated (234% increase in mRNA, P < 0.001; 350% increase in protein, P < 0.001). There was no significant change in mRNA expression of L- type Ca2+ channels and the BK-α subunit. These data suggest that K+ channel dysfunction may contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm.
Is semitransparency useful for navigating virtual environments?

A relevant issue for any Virtual Environment (VE) is the navigational support provided to users who are exploring it. Semitransparency is sometimes exploited as a means to see through occluding surfaces with the aim of improving user navigation abilities and awareness of the VE structure. Designers who make this choice assume that it is useful, especially in the case of VEs with many levels of occluding surfaces, e.g. virtual buildings or cities. This paper is devoted to investigate this assumption with a proper experimental evaluation on users. First, we discuss possible ways for improving navigation, and focus on implementation choices for semitransparency as a navigation aid. Then, we present and discuss the experimental evaluation we carried out. We compared subjects' performance in three conditions: local exploitation of semitransparency inside the VE, a more global exploitation provided by a bird's-eye-view, and a control condition where neither of the two features was available.
Autonomic Behavior of Grid Applications using Component Platforms

In this report, we present the results of a two-week research visit by the first author to the University of Pisa. We argue that problems like load-balancing or fault-tolerance can be addressed by integrating autonomic behavior in existing Grid applications. This can be achieved either by investigating novel approaches, such as multi-objective strategies, or by enhancing existing, specific solutions li ke cluster-aware random stealing [11] or empirically determined threshold of compute nodes [15]. We investigate both the JavaGAT [12] and Satin [14] systems to be augmented by autonomic behavior, based on autonomic managers from Muskel [7]. The main outcome of this report are items of future research work.
Osteopontin is a useful predictor of bone metastasis and survival in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Bone is the most common metastatic site in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Osteopontin (OPN) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) are demonstrated to be involved in multiple steps of distant metastasis and correlate with bone metastasis (BM) in cancers. We aim to explore the impacts of OPN and BSP on the prognosis of the patients with locally advanced NPC. A tissue microarray including 162 locally advanced NPC specimens was generated for immunohistochemical evaluation. All of the patients received curative treatment. Twenty‐two patients developed BM during follow‐up. The OPN expression level was higher in patients with BM than in those without BM (p = 0.005), whereas no significant difference of the BSP expression level was noted (p = 0.634). Univariate analysis demonstrated that a higher level of OPN expression associated with a poorer 8‐year metastasis‐free survival (MFS) rate (p < 0.001), 8‐year bone metastasis‐free survival (BMFS) rate (93.6 vs. 87.5 vs. 64.5% for immunoreactivity score 1, 2 and 3, respectively; p = 0.001) and median overall survival (OS) time (p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed that high level of OPN expression was independent factor associated with decreased BMFS (p = 0.02), MFS (p < 0.001) and OS (p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that OPN is a prognostic biomarker for BM and survival in patients with locally advanced NPC, and therefore it is useful in identifying the patients with an increased risk of cancer progression and BM to guide tailored therapy.
Division, Segmentation, and Interpellation: The Embodied Labors of Migrant Workers in a Greater London Hotel

Abstract In this article, we explore the ways in which a divided and segmented migrant labor force is assembled to serve guests in a London hotel. We draw on previous studies of hotel work, as well as on cultural analyses of the ways in which employers and managers use stereotypical assumptions about the embodied attributes of workers to name workers as suitable for particular types of labor. We argue that a dual process of interpellation operates within service-sector workplaces that is reinforced and resisted in daily social practices and relationships between managers, workers, and guests in a hotel. The article, which draws on a case study of employment practices in a large London hotel, looks in detail at the micropolitics of everyday working lives, the representation of workers of different nationalities, and the performance of service work.
Kidney Disease and Arthritis in a Cohort Study of Workers Exposed to Silica

Silica exposure has been associated with kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis; an autoimmune mechanism has been proposed. Approximately 2 million people are occupationally exposed to silica in the United States, 100,000 at more than twice the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3. We examined renal disease morbidity and mortality, as well as arthritis mortality, in a cohort of 4,626 silica-exposed workers in the industrial sand industry (an industry previously unstudied). We compared the cohort with the U.S. population and also conducted internal exposure-response analyses using a job-exposure matrix based on more than 4,000 industrial hygiene samples. We found excess mortality from acute renal disease [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 2.61, 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) = 1.49–4.24; 16 deaths], chronic renal disease (SMR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.13–2.22; 36 deaths), and arthritis (SMR = 4.36, 95% CI = 2.76–6.54; 23 deaths) on the basis of multiple-cause mortality data, which considered any mention of disease on a death certificate. Linking the cohort with the U.S. registry of end-stage renal disease for the years 1977–1996, we found an excess of end-stage renal disease incidence (standardized incidence ratio = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.25–2.96; 23 cases), which was highest for glomerulonephritis (standardized incidence ratio = 3.85, 95% CI = 1.55–7.93; 7 cases). We found increasing end-stage renal disease incidence with increasing cumulative exposure; standardized rate ratios by quartile of cumulative exposure were 1.00, 3.09, 5.22, and 7.79. A positive exposure-response trend was also observed for rheumatoid arthritis on the basis of death certificate data. These data represent the largest number of kidney disease cases analyzed to date in a cohort with well-defined silica exposure and suggest a causal link between silica and kidney disease. Excess risk of end-stage renal disease due to a lifetime of occupational exposure at currently recommended limits is estimated to be 14%, above a background end-stage renal disease risk of 2%.
Proximal tubular cells promote fibrogenesis by TGF-beta1-mediated induction of peritubular myofibroblasts.

BACKGROUND In proteinuric nephropathies with increasingly severe defects of the glomerular filtering barrier, interstitial fibrogenesis is a major effector of scarring. An early event in this process is the peritubular accumulation of myofibroblasts that express alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and contribute to abnormal matrix production. Common trigger factors are poorly understood. Enhanced protein trafficking may play a role by up-regulating inflammatory and fibrogenic genes in proximal tubular cells. METHODS The remnant kidney model in rats was used to (1) analyze interactions between activated proximal tubular cells, peritubular cells expressing the myofibroblast marker, and inflammatory cells at time intervals (days 7, 14, and 30) after surgery, and (2) evaluate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) on protein trafficking, fibrogenic signaling, and alpha-SMA expression. RESULTS Abnormal uptake of ultrafiltered proteins by proximal tubular cells (IgG staining) occurred at an early stage (day 7) and was subsequently associated with macrophage and alpha-SMA+ cell accumulation into the peritubular interstitium. alpha-SMA+ cells clustered with macrophages into the interstitium. These changes were associated with appearance of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA in proximal tubular cells and in the infiltrating cells with time. At day 30, focal alpha-SMA staining also was found in the tubular cells and in peritubular endothelial cells on semithin ultracryosections. ACEi prevented both proteinuria and abnormal protein accumulation in tubular cells, as well as the inflammatory and fibrogenic reaction with peritubular alpha-SMA expression. CONCLUSIONS Profibrogenic signaling from both proximal tubular cells on challenge with filtered protein and inflammatory cells is implicated as a key candidate trigger of progressive tubulointerstitial injury.
Modelling socially intelligent virtual humans

Emotions are one of the important mechanisms to control the behavior of virtual characters both for the reason of giving them a personality as well as automatically producing animations by simulating their internal dynamics. In our talk, we will define what is needed to model personality, mood and emotion, we will describe memory processes and show how far it is possible to interact today with believable emotional Virtual Humans. We will show a few applications of social Virtual Humans as well as Social Robots.
Direct torque control with imposed switching frequency in an 11-level cascaded inverter

This paper presents the application of direct torque control in an induction motor, using a multilevel cascaded inverter with separated DC sources. The control strategy operates with imposed switching frequency, improving torque behavior. The paper studies the theoretical concepts related to this method, like vector selection, state variables estimation, and commutation time calculation. In addition, this paper presents results for a three- and eleven-level inverter-fed drives, from which it can be appreciated that the increase of levels of the load voltage reduces the torque ripple.
Dilution of brand extensions: a study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine situations in which brand extensions are likely to dilute beliefs associated with family brands.Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses are developed and tested in a consumer survey that included experimental and control groups.Findings – The findings show the congruity of the extension with the family brand is an important factor, the absence of which increases the chances of dilution of the family brand. Perceived success/failure of the extension is a more important factor that also enhances or dilutes the image of the family brand.Research limitations/implications – Brand names can be hurt by brand extensions, which contain attributes incompatible with or negating favorable family brand beliefs.Practical implications – If managers feel the dilution is occurring because of an extension, they can increase perceptions that the extension is atypical of the family brand.Originality/value – This paper identifies certain key attributes of extensions that, if .
On the Limits of Coping

This study examined the effects of four coping dimensions—active coping, avoidance, distraction, and support—on conduct problems, depression, and achievement in a multiethnic, inner-city sample of early adolescents. The main effects of coping were examined, along with stress X coping interactions. For girls, active coping interacted with family and community stress to predict conduct problems and grades, respectively, and with community stress to predict depression. These interactions revealed a classic stress-buffering effect for active coping. For boys, although active coping interacted with community and peer stress to predict depression and with community and family stress to predict grades, these findings did not support the stress-buffering effect. Although avoidant coping was positively associated with depression and poor grades at low levels of stress, it was associated with more adaptive functioning on these outcomes at higher levels of stress.
ESL TEACHER EDUCATION ABROAD AND AT HOME: A CAUTIONARY TALE

In this article, we compared teacher attitudes and beliefs about culturally appropriate language teaching resulting from an examination of two groups of preservice teachers. One group of preservice teachers enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) study abroad program in Mexico; the other enrolled in a traditional on-campus ESL program. Our findings indicate that study abroad students gained a more empathetic understanding of language and cultural issues that affect language learners than their on-campus counterparts, but that they also developed some misconceptions about language learning based on their study abroad experience.
Cloud Utility Price Models

Cloud Computing’s service models have a number of proprietary pricing models as the services has been commoditized to some extent. The SaaS especially so far has been known with a flat price within the usage time. Pricing models need to be more flexible to prevent customers from thinking that paying same price for a service over a period is no more cost effective, in spite of the level of utilization of the service. For Cloud Computing this has to be taken into account. Africans have a business model with peculiarity. In order to expand the acceptability of Cloud Computing to the African market, this peculiarity must be accommodated. This study proposes cloud utility price models to give the Cloud customer the luxury of different usage style and determine a customer specific, individual, most suitable price model. It gives the customer the opportunity to choose a price model for the predicted usage and work within the budget.
Upper Oceanic Energy Response to Tropical Cyclone Passage

AbstractThe upper oceanic temporal response to tropical cyclone (TC) passage is investigated using a 6-yr daily record of data-driven analyses of two measures of upper ocean energy content based on the U.S. Navy’s Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation System and TC best-track records. Composite analyses of these data at points along the TC track are used to investigate the type, magnitude, and persistence of upper ocean response to TC passage, and to infer relationships between routinely available TC information and the upper ocean response. Upper oceanic energy decreases in these metrics are shown to persist for at least 30 days—long enough to possibly affect future TCs. Results also indicate that TC kinetic energy (KE) should be considered when assessing TC impacts on the upper ocean, and that existing TC best-track structure information, which is used here to estimate KE, is sufficient for such endeavors. Analyses also lead to recommendations concerning metrics of upper ocean energy. Finally, parameterizatio.
Fixing Our Focus: Training Attention to Regulate Emotion

Empirical studies have frequently linked negative attentional biases with attentional dysfunction and negative moods; however, far less research has focused on how attentional deployment can be an adaptive strategy that regulates emotional experience. The authors argue that attention may be an invaluable tool for promoting emotion regulation. Accordingly, they present evidence that selective attention to positive information reflects emotion regulation and that regulating attention is a critical component of the emotion regulatory process. Furthermore, attentional regulation can be successfully trained through repeated practice. The authors ultimately propose a model of attention training methodologies integrating attention-dependent emotion regulation strategies with attention networks. Although additional interdisciplinary research is needed to bolster these nascent findings, meditative practices appear to be among the most effective training methodologies in enhancing emotional well-being. Further exploration of the positive and therapeutic qualities of attention warrants the empirical attention of social and personality psychologists.
The Dual Structure of Incomplete Demand Systems

Integrability of incomplete demand systems is discussed. The concepts of weak integrability, quasi-expenditure function, quasi-indirect utility function, and quasi-utility function are defined. Their relationships to the expenditure function, indirect utility function, and utility function are developed. The dual structure of the quasi-functions permits exact welfare analysis and reveals the conditional preference structure for the commodities of interest. New results relating the uniqueness and exactness of consumer's surplus to the structure of the expenditure and indirect utility functions are obtained.
Severe staphylococcal knee arthritis responding favourably to linezolid, after glycopeptide-rifampicin failure: A case report and literature review

A puzzling case report of a septicaemic post-surgical staphylococcal knee arthritis which did not respond to long-term courses of associated rifampicin and teicoplanin or vancomycin, despite apparently favourable in vitro susceptibility assays, but which rapidly resolved after i.v. followed by oral administration of linezolid is presented, and discussed in the context of the most recent literature evidence. The lack of response to a 14-d-long course of glycopeptides does not find explanation from the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) of involved organisms, which showed full susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to vancomycin and teicoplanin, and sensitivity of an accompanying Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from blood cultures to vancomycin and rifampicin, with borderline ‘intermediate’ values found for teicoplanin. Since neither bone involvement nor abscess formation was of concern, effective glycopeptide and rifampicin penetration into infectious tissue should have been assured. From a clinical viewpoint, the introduction of a 2-week i.v. linezolid followed by 1 further week of oral linezolid led to complete clinical and microbiological cure, and an unexpected functional success.
Mid- to Long-term Results of Surgical Treatment of ASD in Patients over 60 Years Old

Background There is controversy about the benefit of surgical correction of an atrial septal defect (ASD) in patients over 60 years old. The purpose of this study was to determine whether surgical treatment is beneficial in those 60 years of age or older. Materials and Methods We reviewed the clinical course of 57 patients (mean age: 63.54±5.59 years) diagnosed with an isolated secundum ASD after the age of 60. The 24 patients (group A) who underwent surgical repair were compared with the 33 patients (group B) who were treated non-surgically. The mean follow-up period was 6.8±4.5 years. Results One operative death, 5 late deaths (20.8%) in group A, and 9 deaths (27.3%) in group B occurred in the study period. Symptomatic improvement was noted in 18 patients (75%) of group A after surgery. However 13 patients (39.4%) of group B showed symptomatic improvement during the follow-up period (p=0.012). The incidence of new atrial arrhythmia of the two groups was significantly different (16.7% vs 36.7%, p=0.038). The actuarial 10 year survival rate was 79% in group A and 73% in group B. Conclusion Although surgical correction of ASD did not increase survival in patients over 60 years old, the surgical outcomes of ASD showed low operative mortality and resulted in symptomatic improvement in the majority of these patients. This study has shown the benefits of surgical closure of ASD even in advanced age in comparison to medical treatment.
The effects of pilates on balance, mobility and strength in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Although there are evidences as to Pilates developing dynamic balance, muscle strength and flexibility in healthy people, evidences related to its effects on Multiple Sclerosis patients are insufficient. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of Pilates on balance, mobility, and strength in ambulatory patients with Multiple Sclerosis. METHODS Twenty six patients were divided into two groups as experimental (n = 18) and control (n = 8) groups for an 8-week treatment program. The experimental group underwent Pilates and the control group did abdominal breathing and active extremity exercises at home. Balance and mobility were measured with Berg Balance Scale and Timed up and go test, upper and lower muscle strength with hand-held dynamometer. Confidence in balance skills while performing daily activities was evaluated with Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale. RESULTS Improvements were observed in balance, mobility, and upper and lower extremity muscle strength in the Pilates group (p < 0.05). No significant differences in any outcome measures were observed in the control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Due to its structure which is made up of balance and strengthening exercises, Pilates training may develop balance, mobility and muscle strength of MS patients. For this reason, we think that, Pilates exercises which are appropriate for the disability level of the patient may be suggested.
Matrix Transfer Protocol a Unified Communication Framework for Distributed Modules in Cognitive Robotics

This paper introduces the Matrix Transfer Protocol (MTP) as a communication framework for distributed cognitive modules and systems suitable for cognitive robotics applications. It uses a unified intra-module information representation considering findings in neuroscience, robotics, computer networks communication and results in automation. The protocol data unit contains a matrix style data object and supports distributed system states contributing to the global workspace. A demonstrator is presented proving the applicability of the proposed protocol. This demonstrator incorporates augmented reality techniques with a focus on 3D stereo visual computing. Cognitive modules intended for a humanoid service robot head are task-driven integrated. A basic set of tasks has been implemented and tested.
Effects of Negative-Bias Operation and Optical Stress on Dark Current in CMOS Image Sensors

A negative-bias operation of the transfer gate has revealed a major origin of dark current defects of CMOS image sensors. Charge injection from the photodiode to the substrate at the negative-bias operation has been avoided by an improved well structure. A strong visible light has been observed to cause damage with an increase in the dark current under the normal operating condition, and the damage has been annealed in the power-off mode. This indicates that the strong light possibly causes a threshold voltage shift, which is explained by the photon-assisted tunneling or emission mechanisms. Multiple stress-and-anneal cycles have been found to cause an optical hardening effect, which can be explained by immobile trapped holes.