Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of prenatally detected trisomy 8 mosaicism

We report on ten pregnancies with trisomy 8 mosaicism. Nine cases were prenatally detected in chorionic villi (n=6), amniotic fluid (AF) cells (n=2) or fetal blood (FB) lymphocytes (n=1). Follow‐up laboratory investigations showed confined placental mosaicism (CPM) or pseudomosaicism in eight cases. In one case with ultrasound abnormalities, trisomy 8 mosaicism was detected in FB cells although cultured AF cells showed normal cells only. Another case of mosaic trisomy 8 was prenatally missed; cytogenetic analysis of short‐term cultured villi revealed a normal male karyotype, while postnatally, trisomy 8 mosaicism was detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts of the affected child.
Influence of Magnetizing and Filtering Frequencies on Barkhausen Noise Response

This paper is devoted to frequency issues of the Barkhausen noise (BN) measurements, namely, to investigation of influence of magnetizing and filtering frequencies on the BN response. The measurements were performed for typical industrial steels at controllable magnetizing conditions: fixed induction or field waveforms. A vertically mounted array of three Hall sensors was used for direct determination of the sample magnetic field. The BN signal was detected locally by a surface-mounted pancake coil. In ac magnetizing frequency range, the BN quantities were observed to follow a nearly square root dependence on the frequency, provoking the classical discussion about possible correlation between the magnetic hysteresis and the BN effects. Influence of the filtering frequencies on the BN parameters (reading depth adjustment) was studied on a decarburized spring steel with surface ferrite layers of different thicknesses.
Photovoltaic Generation Penetration Limits in Radial Distribution Systems

Photovoltaic generating units connected to distribution systems represent a type of distributed generation (DG) that has been experiencing increased growth in recent years. Higher DG penetration levels may be interesting from many different points of view, but raise important issues about distribution system operation. Therefore, new techniques are needed to determine the maximum amount of DG that may be installed without requiring major changes in the existing electric power system. According to the literature, voltage rises at load bus bars are a serious limiting factor when installing DG. This paper presents and discusses studies proving that conductor ampacity and voltage rises are limiting factors that manifest themselves under different conditions. The present study highlights situations in which line overloads are more restrictive than voltage rises. Variation in substation voltage, load, and its power factor were simulated in a simplified radial distribution system model, and the amount of distributed generation that may be installed was obtained. Mathematic formulae were developed to determine the amount of distributed generation for existing utility systems.
Isolation in Brazil of Nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus With Reduced Susceptibility to Vancomycin

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the possible presence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in a Brazilian hospital. Design: Epidemiological and laboratory investigation of nosocomial VRSA Methods: 140 methicillin-resistant S aureus strains isolated between November 1998 and October 1999 were screened for susceptibility to vancomycin. The screening was carried out by using brain-heart infusion agar (BHIA) supplemented with 4, 6, and 8 μg/mL of vancomycin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination was carried out as standardized by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards using the broth macrodilution, agar-plate dilution, and E-test methods. Patients: Hospitalized patients exposed to vancomycin. Results: 5 of the 140 isolates had a vancomycin MIC of 8 μg/mL by broth macrodilution, agar plate dilution, and E-test methods. Four VRSA strains were isolated from patients in a burn unit who had been treated with vancomycin for more than 30 days, and one from an orthopedic unit patient who had received vancomycin treatment for 7 days. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis characterized four of the VRSA strains as belonging to the Brazilian endemic clone. All five strains were negative for vanA, vanB, and vanC genes by polymerase chain reaction. Transmission electron microscopy of the five strains revealed significantly thickened cell walls. One patient died due to infection caused by the VRSA strain. Conclusions: This is the first report of isolation of VRSA in Brazil and the first report of isolation of multiple VRSA strains from one facility over a relatively short period of time. This alerts us to the possibility that VRSA may be capable of nosocomial transfer if adequate hospital infection control measures are not taken.
Distributed antenna system capacity scaling [Coordinated and Distributed MIMO]

The distributed antenna system concept promises to enhance the capacity and diversity of next-generation wireless communication networks, due to the inherently added micro and macro diversity. In this article we first give an overview of the main benefits of a DAS in relation to a collocated antenna system. Next we study the sum-capacity scaling of a multi-user DAS with the number of jointly processed transmit antennas in the downlink. In a practical system this scaling will have implications on the number of antennas worth jointly processing, since the costs of processing an additional antenna can be higher than the additional benefits obtained. Results show that the most important system property to attain the highest capacity gains is symmetry, and the users that attain the maximum gain are those at cell borders. They also confirm that the main DAS feature that makes possible its gains over the CAS architecture are the additional degrees of freedom/diversity provided by such an architecture, which increase the probability of finding a system state with high symmetry and of each user being near one of the transmit antennas.
‘Chaplains for well-being’ in primary care: analysis of the results of a retrospective study

Aim: To analyse quantitative changes in patient well-being concurrent with chaplaincy interventions in a retrospective study of a group of Primary Care centres in Sandwell and West Birmingham, United Kingdom. Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests that support from trained Primary Care Chaplains may be particularly useful for those with subclinical mental health issues; it can reduce the tendency to ‘medicalise unhappiness’ and is a positive response to patients with medically unexplained symptoms. However, to date there has been no published research attempting to quantify their contribution. Method: Data were gathered from a group of Primary Care Centres, which make use of a shared Chaplaincy service. Demographic data and pre–post scores on the Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) were collected for patients who had attended consultations with a Chaplain. These were subjected to tests of statistical significance to evaluate the possible contribution of chaplaincy to patient well-being along with possible confounding variables. Findings: a substantial improvement in WEMWBS scores (mean=9 points, BCa 95% CI [7.23, 10.79], P=0.001) post-intervention. The improvement in scores was highest for those with initially lower levels of well-being. There is therefore evidence that chaplaincy interventions correlate with an improvement of holistic well-being as measured by a WEMWBS score. A prospective study on a larger scale would provide more detailed information on the interaction of possible variables. Further study is also required to evaluate the implications of this result for patient outcomes and GP resources. The efficacy of Primary Care Chaplaincy is under-researched and difficult to measure. This paper represents the first attempt to quantify a measurable improvement in the well-being of patients who are referred to the service.
An Institutional Perspective on the Role of Culture in Shaping Strategic Actions by Technology-Focused Entrepreneurial Firms in China

Economic reforms in China over the past 20 years have led to a steady economic transformation that has created many opportunities for entrepreneurial firms. A central focus in this economic development has been to encourage the founding of more technology-related entrepreneurial firms, and the creation of joint ventures between Chinese and foreign firms that employ advanced technologies. However, the interactions between these private high-technology entrepreneurial firms and the Institutional forces In their environment are somewhat different from what occurs in traditional Western high-technology businesses. These differences are due principally to the culture present in the Chinese environment. In turn, these cultural differences lead managers of high-technology entrepreneurial firms to employ tactics not well known in the West in order to successfully navigate China's often hostile institutional environment. This article develops the theoretical understanding of these actions grounded with observations from managers in China.
In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Evaluation of Langerhans Cell Density and Distribution in the Corneal Epithelium of Healthy Volunteers and Contact Lens Wearers

Purpose: To examine and compare the density and distribution of Langerhans cells (LCs) in the corneal epithelium of healthy volunteers and contact lens wearers. Methods: A total of 225 eyes of 130 healthy volunteers (age, 17-81 years) without history of ocular inflammation, trauma, or surgery and 98 eyes of 55 contact lens wearers (age, 13-76 years) were examined in vivo with the combination of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II and in-house-invented Rostock Cornea Module. Results: In healthy volunteers, in vivo confocal microscopy revealed LCs in 31% of all volunteers, with 37 of these 43 volunteers presenting LCs both in the center and the periphery of the cornea with densities of 34 ± 3 and 98 ± 8 cells/mm2, respectively. In the group of contact lens wearers, 55% of all corneas presented with LCs, and 11 of these 33 corneas revealed LCs at central and peripheral locations. Although LC densities were markedly higher in both the central (78 ± 25 cells/mm2) and the peripheral cornea (210 ± 24 cells/mm2) of contact lens wearers, the gradient of LC density from peripheral to central cornea was found almost identical in both groups. In the central cornea, LC density decreased with duration of contact lens wear. LCs were located at the depth of 35 to 60 μm (ie, the level of lower intermediate cells, basal cells, and subepithelial nervous plexus). LCs presented as either large cells bearing long processes or smaller cells lacking cell dendrites, most supposedly indicating mature and immature phenotype, respectively. Conclusions: In vivo confocal microscopy enables evaluation of LC density and distribution in corneal epithelium. LCs were found present both in the center and the periphery of the cornea without difference in distribution between healthy volunteers and contact lens wearers. However, contact lens wearers revealed almost twofold higher LC densities in both locations, implying chronic mechanical irritation of the cornea in response to the contact lens as foreign body. Taken together, analysis of LC using in vivo confocal microscopy provides helpful information for a better understanding of contact lens-disturbed ocular homeostasis.
The IEEE Intercloud Testbed -- Creating the Global Cloud of Clouds

This paper presents the current work of the IEEE Intercloud Testbed project. The notion of an Intercloud has been an active research topic. Within the IEEE several researchers formed a Standards Working Group (IEEE P2302) where a specific set of conventions, formats, and protocols were proposed. It was decided by those in the Standards Working Group that due to the scale, variability of component Compute Clouds, and lack of insight into extremely large Compute Cloud operational issues, such a system could not realistically be fully defined without live experimentation. Therefore it was decided to set up a specifically structured organization within the IEEE in parallel to the Standards Working Group, to provide a structure for a live, experimental testbed. This paper describes the innovative organizational structure and various policies were used to provide the desire context. Also covered are how we sorted the issues around governance of the namespace, and the technical details of reference "Root" and "Exchange" functions. Ongoing work includes the plan to bootstrap the new testbed.
Students’ Readiness, Motivation and Attitude towards Entrepreneurship

This study aims to identify factors that affect the readiness of the university students to get involved in entrepreneurship. This study was conducted at one of the public universities in Malaysia. 150 of final year students were involved in this survey study. The level of students’ readiness, their motivation level and attitude towards entrepreneurship were measured. The results of the analysis revealed that students had a moderate level of readiness to start a business. Their motivation level and attitude to become an entrepreneur also at the moderate level. The finding also showed a significant positive correlation between motivation level, attitude, and readiness to participate in entrepreneurship.
Gradually Increased Oxygen Administration Improved Oxygenation and Mitigated Oxidative Stress after Resuscitation from Severe Hemorrhagic Shock

Background: The optimal oxygen administration strategy during resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock (HS) is still controversial. Improving oxygenation and mitigating oxidative stress simultaneously seem to be contradictory goals. To maximize oxygen delivery while minimizing oxidative damage, the authors proposed the notion of gradually increased oxygen administration (GIOA), which entails making the arterial blood hypoxemic early in resuscitation and subsequently gradually increasing to hyperoxic, and compared its effects with normoxic resuscitation, hyperoxic resuscitation, and hypoxemic resuscitation in severe HS. Methods: Rats were subjected to HS, and on resuscitation, the rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8): the normoxic, the hyperoxic, the hypoxemic, and the GIOA groups. Rats were observed for an additional 1 h. Hemodynamics, acid–base status, oxygenation, and oxidative injury were observed and evaluated. Results: Central venous oxygen saturation promptly recovered only in the hyperoxic and the GIOA groups, and the liver tissue partial pressure of oxygen was highest in the GIOA group after resuscitation. Oxidative stress in GIOA group was significantly reduced compared with the hyperoxic group as indicated by the reduced malondialdehyde content, increased catalase activity, and the lower histologic injury scores in the liver. In addition, the tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and interleukin-6 expressions in the liver were markedly decreased in the GIOA group than in the hyperoxic and normoxic groups as shown by the immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions: GIOA improved systemic/tissue oxygenation and mitigated oxidative stress simultaneously after resuscitation from severe HS. GIOA may be a promising strategy to improve resuscitation from HS and deserves further investigation.
Gold is a T cell polyclonal activator in BN and LEW rats but favors IL‐4 expression only in autoimmune prone BN rats

Gold salts are beneficial in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis but may induce immune‐mediated disorders in predisposed patients. Gold salts induce Th2‐dependent autoimmunity in Brown‐Norway (BN) rats but not in Lewis (LEW) rats. The aim of this study was to define molecular targets of gold salts and to approach why LEW rats are resistant. Gold salts act on early steps of transductionin T cells from BN and LEW rats since they trigger tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous proteins including p56lck and a calcium signal which results in IL‐4 and IFN‐γ expression by BN and LEW T cells. However, the IL‐4 response was favored in BN spleen cells in vitro and in vivo. IFN‐γ, produced in part by CD8+ cells, contributes to the resistance of LEW rats since gold salt‐injected LEW rats receiving anti‐CD8 or anti‐IFN‐γ mAb displayed the parameters characteristics of gold salt‐induced Th2 autoimmunity although to a lesser extent than in BN rats. Gold salts transduce a signal in BN and LEW spleen cells resulting in IL‐4 and IFN‐γ gene transcription with a preferential IL‐4 response in BN rats, a Th2‐prone strain, while IFN‐γ contributes to the resistance of LEW rats.
Reassessment of sst5 Somatostatin Receptor Expression in Normal and Neoplastic Human Tissues Using the Novel Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody UMB-4

Objective: The frequent overexpression of somatostatin receptors (sst) in neuroendocrine tumors provides the molecular basis for the diagnostic and therapeutic application of stable somatostatin analogs. Whereas octreotide acts mainly via the sst2 receptor, the novel pan-somatostatin analog pasireotide exhibits particular high affinity for the sst5 receptor. To determine whether a patient is a candidate for octreotide or pasireotide therapy, it is important to evaluate the somatostatin receptor status. However, so far highly specific rabbit monoclonal antibodies have been developed for the sst2 receptor only (clone UMB-1). Methods: Here, we have extensively characterized a novel rabbit monoclonal antibody for the human sst5 receptor (clone UMB-4). In a comparative immunohistochemical study, the expression of sst5 and sst2 receptors was assessed using UMB-4 and UMB-1, respectively. Results: Western blot experiments unequivocally demonstrated that UMB-4 selectively detected its cognate sst5 receptor and did not cross-react with other proteins present in crude tissue homogenates. UMB-4 yielded a highly effective immunostaining of distinct cell populations in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human tissues with a predominance of plasma membrane staining. In the pituitary, sst5 was present on all growth hormone (GH)- and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)-producing cells whereas sst2 was only observed on a subpopulation of GH-positive cells. Consequently, sst5 was detectable on the majority of GH and ACTH adenomas. In contrast, sst2 was only seen on GH but not on ACTH adenomas. Conclusions:The rabbit monoclonal antibodies UMB-4 and UMB-1 will facilitate the assessment of the somatostatin receptor status of human tumors during routine histopathological examinations.
Cell allocation to the inner cell mass and the trophectoderm in bovine embryos cultured in two different media

Data from other laboratories have shown that speed of bovine blastocyst development is higher when Ménézo B2 is used for coculture compared to TCM199. It was our purpose to investigate whether this early blastocyst formation was also indicative of embryo quality by studying the allocation of inner cells in embryos generated by B2‐coculture and by TCM199‐coculture. For this purpose, a differential staining technique was used. General embryo development was similar for TCM199‐ and B2‐embryos expressed as rate of cleavage at day 3 and morula‐blastocyst formation at day 8 (P > 0.05), but significantly different when expressed as number of eight‐cell stages at day 3 and expanded or hatched blastocysts at day 8 (P < 0.01). B2‐embryos cultured until day 5, 6, and 7 post insemination, had total cell numbers of 24, 65, and 109 respectively, which was significantly higher than the cell number of TCM199 embryos cultured over the same time period (18, 41, and 71 respectively, P < 0.001). Morphological differentiation was significantly more advanced for B2‐embryos at day 7 and 8 (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively). First presumptive inner cells appeared in eight‐ to 16‐cell stages at day 3. Because the determination of inner cells by differential staining is depending upon the presence of functional tight junctions, we concluded that the establishment of the tight junction seal in B2‐embryos differed from that in TCM199‐embryos: Inner cells appeared 0.56 cell cycle later in B2‐embryos (P < 0.001) and a larger variation existed in the number of ICM‐cells in B2‐blastocysts (P < 0.001). The higher total cell number of B2‐expanded blastocysts was mainly acquired by trophectoderm growth (P < 0.06). These data indicate that the apparent better quality of B2‐embryos (faster cleavage, earlier blastocyst formation) is not reflected in a reliable number of inner cells of B2‐blastocysts. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interannual dynamics and phenology of bacterial communities in a eutrophic lake

We investigated patterns of intra‐ and interannual change in pelagic bacterial community composition (BCC, assessed using automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis) over six years in eutrophic Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. A regular phenology was repeated across years, implying that freshwater bacterial communities are more predictable in their dynamics than previously thought. Seasonal events, such as water column mixing and trends in water temperature, were most strongly related to BCC variation. Communities became progressively less similar across years between the months of May and September, when the lake was thermally stratified. Dissolved oxygen and nitrate + nitrite concentrations were highly correlated to BCC change within and across seasons. The relationship between BCC and seasonal drivers suggests that trajectories of community change observed over long time series will reflect large‐scale climate variation.
Pay for Performance in Local Governments: Programmatic Differences and Perceived Utility

Findings suggest that pay for performance is more likely to work if implemented along with training and other administrative supports. In an environment of chronic fiscal stress and intense public pressure for accountability and productivity, pay-for-performance (PFP) systems have become increasingly attractive to public employers. The idea that public servants should be paid in proportion to their contributions seems to be fair and responsive to the demands of a skeptical public looking for action. Pay for performance, therefore, is often undertaken for political as well as administrative reasons. As James Perry (1991) stated, "It is a message from politicians and the public that the governed are in control and things are as they should be. At the same time, it is a way for administrators to communicate that they are responsive to important external constituencies and that they are doing something about perceptions of lagging performance" (p. 80). Regardless of the form it takes, PFP's popularity arises from a widespread belief that it makes pay contingent on objective measures of job performance, rather than on grade and seniority The logic of PFP suggests that pay is a primary performance management tool because, when properly administered, it can be an effective source of supervisory control over the day-to-day behavior of workers (Vroom, 1964; Porter and Lawler, 1968: Lawler, 1987). Pay for performance offers an intuitively appealing approach to incentives because the supervisory hierarchy sets measurable performance standards and goals, conducts performance evaluations, and consistently rewards employees for achieving goals and maintaining standards. Besides motivational effects, other benefits attributed to PFP systems