Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Análise das forças de reacção ao solo e actividade electromiográfica do membro contra-lateral durante a fase de transição entre passos

A procura dos mecanismos associados ao dispendio energetico durante a marcha tem sido uma questao pertinentemente discutida. As teorias da marcha dinâmica e do modelo de pendulo entre passos oferecem propostas de mecanismos explicativos.Neste trabalho, procurou verificar-se de que modo a magnitude da componente vertical da forca de reaccao do solo (FRSz) esta relacionada com o grau de actividade muscular recrutada pelo ventre medial do musculo gastrocnemeo (MG) do membro contra-lateral na fase de transicao entre passos. Para testar os pressupostos inerentes foi utilizada uma amostra de individuos saudaveis do sexo feminino. Em cada individuo foi monitorizada a actividade electromiografica (aEMG) do ventre medial do MG e a FRSz do membro contra-lateral durante a fase de transicao entre passos. Apos a aplicacao do coeficiente de correlacao de Spearman () verificou-se a ocorrencia de uma correlacao positiva estatisticamente significativa entre a aEMG e a magnitude da FRSz nos dois membros (=0.852 e =0.512). Os resultados obtidos permitem inferir que a magnitude da FRSz podera constituir um predictor da aEMG do ventre medial do MG do membro contralatera.
Reaction Mechanisms of Water Splitting and H2 Evolution by a Ru(II)-Pincer Complex Identified with Ab Initio Metadynamics Simulations

Water splitting is at the basis of artificial photosynthesis for solar energy conversion into chemical fuels. While the oxidation of water to molecular oxygen and the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen are typically promoted by different catalysts, the Ru(II)-pincer complex recently synthesized by Kohl et al. [Science2009, 324, 74] has been shown to promote both the thermal driven formation of H2 and the UV–vis driven evolution of O2. Here, we investigate, through density functional theory calculations, a portion of the catalytic cycle, focusing on the formation of hydrogen. We adopt an explicit description of the solvent and employ metadynamics coupled with the Car–Parrinello method to study the reaction mechanism and determine the activation free energies. Our simulations predict a novel catalytic cycle, which has considerably lower activation energies than earlier proposals and which does not involve the sequential aromatization–dearomatization of the PNN ligand of the complex. This work clearl.
Selection of window size for focus measure processing

Depth map estimation plays the fundamental role in 3D shape. This paper deals with one aspect of the depth map estimation, i.e., the calculation of optimum window size which is required for focus measure computation. The variation in windows size correspondingly results in variation of depth maps. Therefore, it is important to choose the correct window size for depth map computation. This paper presents a method where the data is obtained by using the same focus measure with various window sizes in the first step. In the second step, the concept of data fusion is exploited to compute the final depth map by selecting the best focus value from the data of various window sizes.
Hairpin-line/half-wave parallel-coupled-line narrowband bandpass filters using high temperature superconducting thin films

In this paper, hairpin-line and hybrid hairpin-line/half-wave parallel-coupled-line filters using High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) thin films are proposed. The proposed structures provide more compact size than conventional parallel-coupled-line filters and hybrid hairpin-line filters reduce the spurious modes due to the surface waves in the hairpin-line filters. The designed filters using HTS have low loss, small size and narrow bandwidth characteristics with the minimum number of poles in comparison with the normal metal microstrip line filters. The 3 pole filters centered at 14.25 GHz with the bandwidth of less than 1% were designed and fabricated. These operating characteristics are simulated and fabricated using HTS and compared with the normal metal microstrip line filters.
Evaluation of a nonlinear Hertzian‐based model reveals prostate cancer cells respond differently to force than normal prostate cells

Understanding how the mechanical properties of cells alter with disease may help with the development of novel diagnostics and treatment regimes. The emergence of tools such as the atomic force microscope (AFM) has enabled us to physically measure the mechanical properties of cells. However, suitable models for the analysis of real experimental data are either absent, or fail to provide a simple analysis tool in which experimental data can be analyzed quickly and reliably. The Hertz model has been widely used to study AFM data on living cells, however it makes assumptions that are untrue for cells, namely that cells behave as linear elastic bodies. This article presents and evaluates an alternative nonlinear Hertz model, which allows the Young's modulus to vary according to a second order polynomial function of indentation depth. Evaluation of the model revealed that prostate cancer cells (PC3) responded more uniformly to force compared to the normal PNT2 cells. Also, more energy (J) was needed to deform the normal prostate cells compared to the prostate cancer cells. Finally, the model described here suggests that overall the normal prostate cells behave in a more linear fashion to applied force compared to the prostate cancer cells. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Elevated plasma endothelin concentrations in heart failure; an effect of angiotensin II?

Endothelin is a powerful vasoconstrictor that may be partly responsible for the increases in venous and arterial tone characteristic of heart failure. The release of endothelin from endothelial cells in culture is stimulated by angiotensin II. We investigated the relationship between plasma concentrations of immuno reactive endothelin-1 and angiotensin II in 25 patients with heart failure and eight with ischaemic heart disease but normal left ventricular function. Plasma concentrations of endothelin and angiotensin II were correlated (Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.72; P < 0.0001) in patients with heart disease. Plasma concentrations of angiotensin II and endothelin were higher in those patients with heart failure. Angiotensin II was infused over a 3 h period in eight healthy volunteers. Infusion of angiotensin II increased plasma concentrations of angiotensin II to levels greater than those usually found in patients with severe heart failure but induced only a modest rise in plasma concentrations of immunoreactive endothelin-1 (0.77 +/- 0.16 to 1.03 +/- 0.03 pmol.l-1, P < 0.02). Increased plasma concentrations of angiotensin II and endothelin-1 both appear to reflect the presence and severity of heart failure. Although a significant correlation exists between plasma concentrations of angiotensin II and endothelin in patients with heart failure, the relationship may not be causal.
Molecular cloning, localization, and developmental expression of mouse brain finger protein (Bfp)/ZNF179: distribution of bfp mRNA partially coincides with the affected areas of Smith-Magenis syndrome.

Bfp (brain finger protein) is a member of the RING finger protein family, which is highly expressed in the brain. We have previously shown that one copy of the human bfp gene, mapped at 17p11.2, was actually deleted in six of six Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) patients. Now we have isolated the mouse bfp cDNA. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, the distribution of mouse bfp mRNA and protein was identified especially in neural cells of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, lateral amygdaloid nucleus, and ventromedial hypothalamus. In primary culture of the whole brain in a neonatal mouse, the Bfp protein was detected in both neuron and glial cells, and its subcellular localization was predominantly in the nucleus, but some amounts were also found in the cytoplasm. The bfp mRNA was also expressed strongly in the marginal zone of brain vesicles, optic stalk, and cartilage primordium, which are part of the critical tissues frequently involved in SMS patients, and in such tissues as nasal epithelium and primordium of follicles in a 13. 5-dpc embryo. Subsequently, its amount in the developing brain further increased during embryogenesis, reaching the highest level in the adult brain. These findings suggest a possibility that Bfp might be involved in the pathogenesis of Smith-Magenis syndrome as a regulator protein related to neural differentiation and function.
The role of Zic3 in vertebrate development

Zic3 is a C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor that is involved in early patterning of the vertebrate embryo. Human patients with mutations in the X-linked ZIC3 gene have a complex developmental phenotype that includes laterality defects, congenital heart disease, and lumbosacral and anal anomalies, including neural tube defects. Similar phenotypes are found in the bent tail (Bn) mouse, a spontaneous mutation that is associated with a submicroscopic deletion of the Zic3 locus, as well as in a Zic3 null allele generated through homologous recombination. These findings suggest that Zic3 plays important roles during development in establishing a proper left-right axis and in midline neural patterning. This review will summarize our current understanding of the role of Zic3 in patterning of the vertebrate embryo, based on studies in model organisms such as Xenopus and the mouse. In addition, a comparison of Zic3 with other vertebrate Zic family members will be provided.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Strain HD73

ABSTRACT Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive bacterium that produces intracellular protein crystals toxic to a wide variety of insect larvae. We report the complete genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain HD73 from the Centre OILB (Institut Pasteur, France), which belongs to serotype 3ab and is toxic to lepidopteran larvae.
Severe iron deficiency blunts the response of the iron regulatory gene Hamp and pro-inflammatory cytokines to lipopolysaccharide

Background Expression of the key iron regulatory hormone hepcidin is increased by some stimuli (iron loading, inflammation) but decreased by others (increased erythropoiesis, iron deficiency). We investigated the response of hepcidin to increased erythropoiesis and iron deficiency in the presence of an acute inflammation to assess the relative strengths of these stimuli. Design and Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on control or iron-deficient diets and treated with lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation or phenylhydrazine to stimulate erythropoiesis. The levels of Hamp, IL-6 and α2m mRNA were determined by qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and those of serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cultured RAW264.7 and HuH7 cells were used in associated studies. Results The increase in hepatic hepcidin levels induced by lipopolysaccharide was not affected by phenylhydrazine treatment but was blunted by iron deficiency. Lipopolysaccharide-treated iron-deficient animals also showed lower liver α2m mRNA and reduced serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, suggesting a more generalized effect of iron deficiency. Similarly, RAW 264.7 cells treated with iron chelators and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide showed lower IL-6 mRNA than cells treated with lipopolysaccharide alone. Huh7 cells treated with an iron chelator showed a blunted hepcidin response to interleukin-6, suggesting that the response of hepatic parenchymal cells to inflammatory cytokines may also be iron-dependent. Conclusions In any one physiological situation, net hepcidin levels are determined by the relative strengths of competing stimuli. The ability of severe iron deficiency to blunt the response to lipopolysaccharide of both hepcidin and other markers of inflammation suggests that adequate iron levels are necessary for a full acute phase response.
The efficacy and cost effectiveness of vaccination against influenza among elderly persons living in the community.

BACKGROUND Despite recommendations for annual vaccination against influenza, more than half of elderly Americans do not receive this vaccine. In a serial cohort study, we assessed the efficacy and cost effectiveness of influenza vaccine administered to older persons living in the community. METHODS Using administrative data bases, we studied men and women over 64 years of age who were enrolled in a large health maintenance organization in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. We examined the rate of vaccination and the occurrence of influenza and its complications in each of three seasons: 1990-1991, 1991-1992, and 1992-1993. Outcomes were adjusted for age, sex, diagnoses indicating a high risk, use of medications, and previous use of health care services. RESULTS Each cohort included more than 25,000 persons 65 years of age or older. Immunization rates ranged from 45 percent to 58 percent. Although the vaccine recipients had more coexisting illnesses at base line than those who did not receive the vaccine, during each influenza season vaccination was associated with a reduction in the rate of hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza (by 48 to 57 percent, P < or = 0.002) and for all acute and chronic respiratory conditions (by 27 to 39 percent, P < or = 0.01). Vaccination was also associated with a 37 percent reduction (P = 0.04) in the rate of hospitalization for congestive heart failure during the 1991-1992 season, when influenza A was epidemic. The costs of hospitalization for all types of illness studied were lower in the vaccinated group during 1991-1992 (range of reduction, 47 to 66 percent; P < 0.005) and for acute and chronic respiratory conditions and congestive heart failure in 1990-1991 (reductions of 37 percent and 43 percent, respectively; P < or = 0.05). Direct savings per year averaged $117 per person vaccinated (range, $21 to $235), with cumulative savings of nearly $5 million. Vaccination was also associated with reductions of 39 to 54 percent in mortality from all causes during the three influenza seasons (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS For elderly citizens living in the community, vaccination against influenza is associated with reductions in the rate of hospitalization and in deaths from influenza and its complications, as compared with the rates in unvaccinated elderly persons, and vaccination produces direct dollar savings.
Assessment of Presurgical Clefts and Predicted Surgical Outcome in Patients Treated With and Without Nasoalveolar Molding

AbstractObtaining an esthetic and functional primary surgical repair in patients with complete cleft lip and palate (CLP) can be challenging because of tissue deficiencies and alveolar ridge displacement. This study aimed to describe surgeons’ assessments of presurgical deformity and predicted surgical outcomes in patients with complete unilateral and bilateral CLP (UCLP and BCLP, respectively) treated with and without nasoalveolar molding (NAM). Cleft surgeon members of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association completed online surveys to evaluate 20 presurgical photograph sets (frontal and basal views) of patients with UCLP (n = 10) and BCLP (n = 10) for severity of cleft deformity, quality of predicted surgical outcome, and likelihood of early surgical revision. Five patients in each group (UCLP and BCLP) received NAM, and 5 patients did not receive NAM. Surgeons were masked to patient group. Twenty-four percent (176/731) of surgeons with valid e-mail addresses responded to the survey. For patients with UCLP, surgeons reported that, for NAM-prepared patients, 53.3% had minimum severity clefts, 58.9% were anticipated to be among their best surgical outcomes, and 82.9% were unlikely to need revision surgery. For patients with BCLP, these percentages were 29.8%, 38.6%, and 59.9%, respectively. Comparing NAM-prepared with non–NAM-prepared patients showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.001), favoring NAM-prepared patients. This study suggests that cleft surgeons assess NAM-prepared patients as more likely to have less severe clefts, to be among the best of their surgical outcomes, and to be less likely to need revision surgery when compared with patients not prepared with NAM.
L1–L2 Interconnect Design Methodology and Arbitration in 3-D IC Multicore Compute Clusters

We introduce a novel 3-D implementation of the interconnect between cores and shared L2 cache banks for multicore clusters. The 3-D structure extends cluster sizes that can be supported with tolerable wire delays. As a result of the shorter connections achieved by splitting existing 2-D design into four layers, performance is improved and area and power are reduced. The splitting enables implementation of a better arbitration scheme, which leads to additional performance improvement.
Characterisation of an antigenically unusual virus responsible for two outbreaks of Newcastle disease in the Republic of Ireland in 1990

Antigenic characterisation of two highly virulent virus isolates from outbreaks of Newcastle disease on two closely connected farms in County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, in 1990 showed the viruses to be indistinguishable but unlike other Newcastle disease viruses so far tested. However, they appeared to be antigenically closest to avirulent viruses isolated from waterfowl from several countries and from chickens in Northern Ireland in 1986. Despite the antigenic differences, chickens vaccinated with a live commercial Hitchner B1 vaccine were protected against intramuscular challenge with one of the virulent isolates.
When is it ok to use a splint versus cast and what remodeling can one expect for common pediatric forearm fractures

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of common pediatric forearm fractures, clarify the descriptions used to identify and thereby appropriately treat them with a splint or cast, and explain osseous remodeling that is unique to the skeletally immature. Recent findings Recent literature addresses the gap in standard treatment protocols. There is variability in the management of pediatric forearm fractures because of the multiple subspecialty physicians that care for children's fractures and a lack of well established guidelines. Conclusion The following review will expound upon the assortment of pediatric forearm fractures, address suitable treatment options, and illustrate the expected restoration of bony deformity in an effort to update practitioners of the most recent advances in research and clinical practice of this common orthopedic injury.
Photometric redshifts with the Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network: Application to the HDF-S and SDSS

We present a technique for the estimation of photometric redshifts based on feed-forward neural networks. The Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) Artificial Neural Network is used to predict photometric redshifts in the HDF-S from an ultra deep multicolor catalog. Various possible approaches for the training of the neural network are explored, including the deepest and most complete spectroscopic redshift catalog currently available (the Hubble Deep Field North dataset) and models of the spectral energy distribution of galaxies available in the literature. The MLP can be trained on observed data, theoretical data and mixed samples. The prediction of the method is tested on the spectroscopic sample in the HDF-S (44 galaxies). Over the entire redshift range, $0.1
Tropical Forest Conservation: Attitudes and Preferences

This paper applies contingent valuation to assess public awareness of tropical deforestation; to investigate the willingness to pay (WTP) to conserve tropical forests; and to determine the impact of the payment vehicle on the stated willingness to pay. About 3/4 of respondents state that they have already heard about tropical deforestation and biodiversity. People rank carbon storage as the most important contribution of tropical forests, followed by biodiversity and support to local communities. The mean stated WTP is about CHF 110. - per year. All other things being equal, the stated WTP is about 24% higher for a tax payment vehicle compared to a voluntary payment. Education and income have a positive impact on WTP. WTP is also higher when the respondent judge that the main contribution of tropical forest is towards biodiversity.
A quality-of-life comparison between self-aligning and ball attachment systems for 2-implant-retained mandibular overdentures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-aligning overdenture attachment system by comparing its oral health-related quality of life (OHRQL) with a traditionally used ball attachment system. In this randomized, within-subject crossover trial, 25 edentulous subjects each received 2 mandibular implants, and were then assigned to receive either self-aligning or traditional ball attachments. After 3 months, all subjects were switched to the second attachment type. The OHRQL was evaluated for both of the treatments using the short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). A subanalysis among subjects with below-average space available for attachment placement was also performed. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare differences between groups. Scores on the OHIP-14 physical disability domain were significantly better for the self-aligning attachment system (P = .049). Among subjects with below-average attachment space, functional limitation, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, and total OHIP-14, scores were significantly better for the self-aligning attachment system (P = .041, P = .047, P = .048, P = .026, and P = .005, respectively). The self-aligning attachment system for 2-implant-retained mandibular overdentures is equal or superior to traditional ball attachments in all domains of the OHIP-14.
Development of communication support system using lip reading

This paper develops a complete communication support system for speech and hearing disorders using lip reading. The proposed system is a high‐level system and consists of a face detector using the Viola–Jones method, lip extraction based on the active appearance model, dynamic programming matching, automatic utterance section extraction, camera control, and message output. We implemented the system in a commercial laptop, and carried out the recognition experiments on 50 Japanese phrases with four subjects for more than 1 month and obtained high recognition accuracy. Furthermore, we demonstrated it in various situations such as the sitting position, supine position, and holding position. We confirmed that our system can be used in various situations. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Performance evaluation of single carrier transmission using frequency domain equalization

Frequency domain equalization (FDE) has attracted a great deal of attention as a broadband wireless access technique. The conventional single-carrier (SC) method using FDE requires the insertion of a cyclic prefix (CP) as the guard interval (GI) to avoid inter-block interference (IBI). However, CP insertion reduces the transmission efficiency. On the other hand, overlap FDE is an equalization technique for use with the SC method that avoids the need for CP insertion. We have proposed an overlap FDE with coherent averaging that suppresses the residual interferences of the conventional overlap FDE outputs and improves the equalization performance. In the present study, we evaluate and compare the bit error rate (BER) performances of the SC using FDE with a CP and without a CP under the same transmission efficiency. Computer simulations demonstrate that the proposed scheme has superior performance to various modulation methods.