Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure, form, and function of flight in engineering and the living world

By combining appearance and behavior in animals with physical laws, we can get an understanding of the adaptation and evolution of various structures and forms. Comparisons can be made between animal bodies and various technical constructions. Technical science and theory during the latest decades have resulted in considerable insight into biological adaptations, but studies on structures, forms, organs, systems, and processes in the living world, used in the right way, have also aided the engineer in finding wider and better solutions to various problems, among them in the design of micro‐air vehicles (MAVs). In this review, I discuss the basis for flight and give some examples of where flight engineering and nature have evolved similar solutions. In most cases technology has produced more advanced structures, but sometimes animals are superior. I include how different animals have solved the problem of producing lift, how animal wings meet the requirements of strength and rigidity, how wing forms are adapted to various flight modes, and how flight kinematics are related to flight behavior and speed. The dynamics of vorticity is summarized. There are a variety of methods for the determination of flight power; it has been estimated adequately by lifting‐line theory, by physiological measurements, and from mass loss and food intake. In recent years alternative methods have been used, in which the mechanical power for flight is estimated from flight muscle force used during the downstroke. Refinements of these methods may create new ways of estimating flight power more accurately. MAVs operate at the same Reynolds numbers as large insects and small birds and bats. Therefore, studies on animal flight are valuable for MAV design, which is discussed here. J. Morphol. 252:52–81, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Study of Cell-Free DNA Fragmentation Pattern and Its Application in DNA Sample Type Classification

Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has certain fragmentation patterns, which can bring non-random base content curves of the sequencing data's beginning cycles. We studied the patterns and found that we could determine whether a sample is cfDNA or not by just looking into the first 10 cycles of its base content curves. We analyzed 3,189 FastQ files, including 1,442 plasma cfDNA, 1,234 genomic DNA, 507 FFPE tumour DNA, and 6 urinary cfDNA. By deep analyzing these data, we found the patterns were stable enough to distinguish cfDNA from other kinds of DNA samples. Based on this finding, we built classification models to recognize cfDNA samples by their sequencing data. Pattern recognition models were then trained with different classification algorithms like k-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest, and support vector machine (SVM). The result of 1,000 iteration . 632+ bootstrapping showed that all these classifiers could give an average accuracy higher than 98 percent, indicating that the cfDNA patterns are unique and can make the dataset highly separable. The best result was obtained using a random forest classifier with a 99.89 percent average accuracy (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sigma =0.00068$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:href="chen-ieq1-2723388.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>). A tool called CfdnaPattern (<uri> http://github.com/OpenGene/CfdnaPattern</uri>) has been developed to train the model and to predict whether a sample is cfDNA or not.
Intergenerational Programs for Persons With Dementia: A Scoping Review

Participation in intergenerational programs can have a positive impact on quality of life and well-being across age groups. We sought to examine the characteristics, goals, and outcomes of intergenerational programs for persons with dementia and children or youth. Six hundred and seventy-nine unique abstracts were identified through a search of 7 medical databases, 16 social science databases, 2 gray literature databases, and other sources. Twenty-seven articles met criteria for review. Articles must have gathered information on program design, goals, outcomes, or participants’ perceptions. Overall, 3 themes emerged: program design, outcomes for child or youth participants, and outcomes for persons with dementia. Music, arts-based, and narrative programs were most common. Outcomes include effects on perceptions of aging and dementia, behavior, mood, engagement and sense of self. The use of qualitative and quantitative data, as well as descriptive articles, provided a richer picture of the relational features of intergenerational programs to emerge. The type of program had less of an impact on positive outcomes than if the activity was meaningful for participants and supported shared opportunities for relationship building and growth. The relationship-based skill set and scope of social work practitioners provides opportunity for the development, facilitation, and evaluation of intergenerational programs. The difficulties of establishing best practices due to methodological challenges and implications for further research are presented.
Bone loss after renal transplantation: role of hyperparathyroidism, acidosis, cyclosporine and systemic disease

In order to determine risk factors for bone loss after renal transplantation, dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry was performed in 125 renal transplant patients. The bone mineral density (BMD) was expressed as a percentage of the normal population (BMD%) and Z‐score (SD from normal). The whole body, lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD% (Z‐score) values were 93.9±8.9 (−0.90 SD), 91.6±14.9 (−0.98 SD) and 87±15.3 (−1.0 SD)%, respectively. Low BMD% was associated with low creatinine clearance (<40 mL/min: 91.6±7.9, >40 mL/min: 95.6±8.0, p<0.01), repeated graft loss (0: 94.4±9.1, >1: 87.4±9.3, p<0.05), long dialysis duration (<1 yr: 95.2±7.9, >5: 90.1±10.6, p<0.05), acidosis (bicarbonate <21 mmol/L: 89.6±8.0, >27: 96.7±7.2, p<0.01), secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism (<50 ng/L: 95.9±7.1, >200: 87.7±5.0, p<0.01), raised alkaline phosphatase (<200 units/L: 95.7±7.2, >300: 85.6±13.2, p<0.001), osteocalcin (<50 μg/L: 95.2±6.7, >100: 89.3±7.6, p<0.01) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (<5 nM/mM creatinine: femoral neck 89.6±10.7, >10: 82.1±20.1, p<0.05), low 25‐OH‐vitamin D (<10 μg/L: 91.3±9.8, >20: 96.9±7.4, p<0.001) and high cyclosporine concentration (0 ng/L: 98.3±7.0, >150: 92.1±9.3, p<0.05). Patients with clinical atherosclerosis (91.7±8.6 vs. 95.4±8.8, p<0.01), hypoalbuminemia (<550 μmol/L: 87.6±13.2, >550: 94.2±7.8, p<0.01), renovascular disease (89.7±5.7 vs. 95.0±5.7, p<0.05) and diabetic nephropathy (femoral neck 76.6±8.8 vs. 89.3±15.1, p<0.01) had lower bone masses. High bone mass was associated with previous dialysis alphacalcidol therapy (0: 92.2±7.5, >3 μg/wk: 97.3±6.9, p<0.05). No relationships with transplantation duration, 1,25‐OH‐vitamin D, aluminium, calcium or steroid dose were found. No involutional changes in tertiary hyperparathyroidism could be discerned. Conclusion. The major threats to bone mass after renal transplantation appear to be ongoing hyperparathyroid bone disease, low renal function, acidosis, systemic disease and hypo‐vitaminosis D.
A new reality: long-term survivorship with a malignant brain tumor.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the survivor experience of adults who have been diagnosed three years or longer with a primary malignant brain tumor (PMBT). RESEARCH APPROACH Qualitative using a biographical narrative approach. SETTING Six sites across the United States. PARTICIPANTS Survivors of PMBTs (N = 35) and their family caregivers (N = 35). METHODOLOGIC APPROACH Using a semistructured interview guide, survivors and caregivers were interviewed individually about their lives before and since the PMBT diagnosis. Thematic analysis was performed to identify themes. FINDINGS Stability in survivor lives disintegrated as a result of the changes experienced related to the tumor and its treatment. Those changes were profound and ultimately contributed to multiple losses in key areas of their lives. Over time, living with the diagnosis and its consequences required survivors and their caregivers to adapt to the new reality of their lives. Through the process of becoming a survivor, individuals were able to take back control of their lives. Adaptation required survivors to use internal and external resources as ways of coping with their new reality. CONCLUSIONS People with PMBTs require support as they adapt to losses and changes that impact their lives. Assessment of specific changes that impact survivors' lives may be useful in guiding type of support given. Symptom management and mobilization of internal and external resources may lessen the life-changing impact. INTERPRETATION Nurses should capture symptom meaning during assessments and expand assessments to include social support systems. Instituting measures that facilitate survivor independence may lessen the impact of disability. The significance of symptom worsening over time requires additional research. KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION Restoring self-worth and taking control of their lives are critical concerns for survivors of PMBTs.
Performance and losses analysis of charging and discharging mode of a bidirectional DC/DC fullbridge converter using PWM switching pattern

Bi-directional isolated on-board chargers are potential options in grid-connected vehicle applications in the future smart grid environment. For a two-stage bi-directional on-board charger consisting of an AC/DC converter and an isolated DC/DC converter, performance analysis has been conducted for the DC/DC stage. The DC/DC converter has full-bridge topology where the loss analysis has been done for different switching devices, transformer and inductor and for different operating points in both directions. A robust controller is designed for DC/DC converter to prevent the battery voltage overshoot. This DC/DC stage has a high efficiency figure, around 95%, in both battery charging and battery to the grid power transfer modes.
Attenuation of forearm vasodilator responses to mental stress by regional beta-blockade, but not by atropine.

Forearm blood flow during mental stress (Stroop's colour word conflict test) was studied in 18 healthy men before and during regional beta-adrenoceptor blockade (propranolol 0.5 mg), muscarinic receptor blockade (atropine 0.2 mg) and combined blockade, and compared with results obtained in untreated controls. Forearm blood flow was measured with venous occlusion plethysmography, and forearm vascular resistance was calculated. Arterial and venous blood sampling was performed for determination of adrenaline and noradrenaline in plasma. Mental stress increased heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and forearm blood flow, and lowered the forearm vascular resistance, to the same degree as in our previously studied controls. Neither of the intra-arterially administered drugs had any discernible systemic effects. Beta-blockade increased forearm vascular resistance by 32% and decreased forearm blood flow by 21% compared with unblocked levels during mental stress, whereas forearm vasodilation was maintained throughout the stress test in the control group (P < 0.05). Intra-arterial atropine had no certain effects. Arterial adrenaline levels during mental stress were similar in the receptor-blocked and control groups. In conclusion, the sustained forearm vasodilation during mental stress appears to be partly mediated via beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation (i.e. by adrenaline), but we obtained no support for a cholinergic vasodilating mechanism.
Increased Incidence of Metopic Suture Abnormalities in Children With Positional Plagiocephaly

Metopic craniosynostosis has traditionally been reported to be the third most common form of single-suture synostosis. The purposes of this article were to analyze the relationship between metopic craniosynostosis and positional plagiocephaly and to define more clearly the differences between the changes seen with true suture fusion compared with metopic abnormalities secondary to positional changes. This is an institutional review board-approved retrospective review of three-dimensional computed tomographic scans for abnormalities of the metopic suture in all children treated at our institution for positional plagiocephaly between 1997 and 2007. We also independently reviewed the images of all patients treated for metopic synostosis for evidence of positional plagiocephaly during the same period. Among the positional plagiocephaly group, 39% were noted to have some form of metopic suture abnormality. Of the children treated for metopic craniosynostosis, a much smaller percentage also was noted to have evidence of positional plagiocephaly. Between 1997 and 2007, we treated 93 patients (50%) for sagittal synostosis, 41 patients (22%) for unicoronal, 41 patients (22%) for metopic, 4 patients (2%) for lamdoid, and 7 patients (4%) with multiple-suture involvement. This study demonstrates an increasing trend toward metopic suture abnormalities during the past 10 years, which corresponds to the same time interval of an increased incidence of positional abnormalities. It is postulated that some of these abnormalities are related to deformational forces resulting from posterior pressure. Altered mechanical forces from supine infant positioning may be associated with early metopic suture ridging and dysmorphology distinct from true craniosynostosis.
Ghrelin effects on neuropeptides in the rat hypothalamus depend on fatty acid metabolism actions on BSX but not on gender

The orexigenic effect of ghrelin is mediated by neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti‐related protein (AgRP) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). Recent evidence also indicates that ghrelin promotes feeding through a mechanism involving activation of hypothalamic AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inactivation of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase (FAS). This results in decreased hypothalamic levels of malonyl‐CoA, increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) activity, and mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species. We evaluated whether these molecular events are part of a unique signaling cascade or whether they represent alternative pathways mediating the orexigenic effect of ghrelin. Moreover, we examined the gender dependency of these mechanisms, because recent evidence has proposed that ghrelin orexigenic effect is reduced in female rats. We studied in both genders the effect of ghrelin on the expression of AgRP and NPY, as well as their transcription factors: cAMP response‐element binding protein (CREB and its phosphorylated form, pCREB), forkhead box O1 (FoxO1 and its phosphorylated form, pFoxO1), and brain‐specific homeobox transcription factor (BSX). In addition, to establish a mechanistic link between ghrelin, fatty acid metabolism, and neuropeptides, we evaluated the effect of ghrelin after blockage of hypothalamic fatty acid β oxidation, by using the CPT1 inhibitor etomoxir. Ghrelin‐induced changes in the AMPK‐CPT1 pathway are associated with increased levels of AgRP and NPY mRNA expression through modulation of BSX, pCREB, and FoxO1, as well as decreased expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers in a gender‐independent manner. In addition, blockage of hypothalamic fatty acid β oxidation prevents the ghrelin‐promoting action on AgRP and NPY mRNA expression, also in a gender‐independent manner. Notably, this effect is associated with decreased BSX expression and reduced food intake. Overall, our data suggest that BSX integrates changes in neuronal metabolic status with ARC‐derived neuropeptides in a gender‐independent manner. —Lage, R. , Vazquez, M. J., Varela, L. , Saha, A. K. , Vidal‐Puig, A. , Nogueiras, R. , Diéguez, C. , López, M. Ghrelin effects on neuropeptides in the rat hypothalamus depend on fatty acid metabolism actions on BSX but not on gender. FASEB J. 24, 2670–2679 (2010). www.fasebj. org
Charities and foundations in Norway : a legal and financial framework with focus on the Olav Thon Foundationa

This paper seeks to examine the history and usage of charities and foundations in Norway. The number of large foundations has been on the rise, along with the interest in the charitable sector. In its purity a philanthropic venture, the borderline philanthropic motivation behind some charity has been questioned because of the tax savings connected to using the organizational form foundation. Specifically, the case of the Olav Thon Foundation’s massive tax savings compared to the taxation of Olav Thon as a private individual has been used as an example. What is the impact of the increased use of charity through foundations on the Norwegian society? This paper examines the existing legal regulation and tax legislation on foundations and charity, to analyse how the Norwegian tax and legal system is equipped to handle the increased use of charity through foundations. What are the shortcomings and what are the potential sources of misuse? The examination has been done both by establishing a historic and theoretical background and a legal and taxational framework, and through analysing a relevant case in the transfer of the Olav Thon Group and much of Olav Thon’s private fortune to the Olav Thon Foundation. The main findings in this paper are that the existing framework moves funds away from the government, as the collected taxes decrease when money is donated to a foundation, over to foundations with specific bylaws and rules for distribution. This indicates a shift away from a classic social democratic model in Norway There are also no rules governing how much a foundation is obliged to distribute in grants, in contrast to a comparable country like Sweden. The paper also highlights a need for further empirical research on the impact of charity through foundations, as well as potential additions to the existing legal framework.
Comparison of effects of famciclovir and valaciclovir on pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus type 2 in a murine infection model

The effects of famciclovir (FCV) and valaciclovir (VACV) were compared in a cutaneous infection model for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The compounds were administered orally from day 1 to day 5 postinfection. Both compounds reduced local inflammation and virus replication in the skin. FCV markedly reduced mortality and virus replication in the nervous system. On the cessation of therapy after 5 days, when the levels of infectious virus in the tissues were reduced to below the level of detection, there followed a rebound of virus replication in the ganglia and brain stems of mice that had been treated with VACV. The recurrence of infection in the brain stem occurred on three separate occasions. No such recurrences were observed following FCV treatment. When ganglia were explanted from survivors 6 weeks later, latent virus was shown to be reactivated in all 10 of 10 control, untreated mice. The number of mice whose ganglia yielded virus was reduced to 60% in mice that had been treated with VACV, whereas no mice that had been treated with FCV had evidence of latent infection by this test.
Ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate assays in clinical trials, interpretation, and limitations: results of a dose ranging alcohol challenge study and 2 clinical trials.

BACKGROUND The ethanol metabolites, ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS), are biomarkers of recent alcohol consumption that provide objective measures of abstinence. Our goals are to better understand the impact of cutoff concentration on test interpretation, the need for measuring both metabolites, and how best to integrate test results with self-reports in clinical trials. METHODS Subjects (n = 18) were administered, 1 week apart, 3 alcohol doses calibrated to achieve blood concentrations of 20, 80, and 120 mg/dl, respectively. Urinary EtG/EtS was measured at timed intervals during a 24-hour hospitalization and twice daily thereafter. In addition, participants from 2 clinical trials provided samples for EtG/EtS and drinking histories. Cutoffs for EtG/EtS of 100/50, 200/100, and 500/250 ng/ml were evaluated. RESULTS Twelve hours following each challenge, EtG was always positive at the 100 and 200 cutoffs, but at 24 hours sensitivity was poor at all cutoffs following the low dose, and poor after 48 hours regardless of dose or cutoff. Similarly, in the clinical trials EtG sensitivity was good for detecting any drinking during the last 24 hours at the 2 lowest cutoffs, but under 40% during the last 24 to 48 hours. Sensitivity was reduced at the 500 ng/ml cutoff. Discrepancies between EtG and EtS were few. Comparison of self-reports of abstinence and EtG-confirmed abstinence indicated underreporting of drinking. CONCLUSIONS Any drinking the night before should be detectable the following morning with EtG cutoffs of 100 or 200 ng/ml. Twenty-four hours after drinking, sensitivity is poor for light drinking, but good for heavier consumption. At 48 hours, sensitivity is low following 6 drinks or less. Increasing the cutoff to 500 ng/ml leads to substantially reduced sensitivity. Monitoring both EtG and EtS should usually be unnecessary. We recommend EtG-confirmed self-reports of abstinence for evaluation of outcomes in clinical trials.
A Proposal and Empirical Validation of Metrics to Evaluate the Maintainability of Software Process Models

Software measurement is essential for understanding, defining, managing and controlling the software development and maintenance processes and it is not possible to characterize the various aspects of development in a quantitative way without having a deep understanding of software development activities and their relationships The current competitive marketplace calls for the continuous improvement of processes and as consequence companies have to change their processes in order to adapt to these new emerging needs. It implies the continuous change of their software process models and therefore, it is fundamental to facilitate the evolution of these models by evaluating its easiness of maintenance (maintainability). In this paper we introduce a set of metrics for software process models and discuss how these can be used as maintainability indicators. In particular, we report the results of a family of experiments that assess relationships between the structural properties, as measured by the metrics, of the process models and their maintainability. As a result a set of useful metrics to evaluate the software process models maintainability, have been obtained
Socio–Economic and Behavioural Risk Factors for Tooth Loss from Age 18 to 26 among Participants in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study

Objective: To determine the risk factors associated with tooth loss between the ages of 18 and 26. Methods: Dental examinations at ages 18 and 26 were conducted on Study members in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, and sociodemographic and dental service use data were collected using a self–report questionnaire. At age 15, an estimate of socio–economic status (SES) for each Study member had been obtained by classifying the occupation of the male parent. A case of tooth loss was defined as an individual who had lost one or more teeth (excluding third molars) due to caries between ages 18 and 26. Logistic regression and Poisson analysis were used to model the occurrence of tooth loss. Results: Among the 821 study members who were examined at both ages, one or more teeth were lost because of caries by 85 (10.3%). After controlling for sex, SES and visiting pattern, baseline caries experience predicted subsequent tooth loss, with the odds increasing by 2.8 for every increase by 1 in the number of decayed surfaces present at age 18. Episodic dental visitors had 3.1 times the odds of their routine visiting counterparts of losing a tooth over the observation period. The number of teeth lost was, on average, 2.3 times higher among episodic dental visitors. Conclusions: Socio–economic inequalities in tooth loss appear to begin early in the life course, and are modified by individuals’ SES and dental visiting patterns.