Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal Bone Carcinoma: Contemporary Perspectives in the Skull Base Surgical Era

Historically, malignant tumors that arose within the temporal bone or that intimately juxtaposed the petrous ridge portended an ominous prognosis. Perusal of the surgical literature from 1950 to 1975 strongly supports the impression that despite heroic surgical efforts many of these patients sustained significant morbidity and a high mortality rate.
Endogenous and exogenous transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum – how the route of transmission impacts on epidemiology and control of disease

SUMMARY Vertical transmission of the protozoan parasite, Neospora caninum is highly efficient and can take two forms – endogenous transplacental transmission resulting from activation of the quiescent bradyzoite stage during pregnancy or exogenous transplacental transmission resulting from ingestion of oocysts during pregnancy. Calves born carrying infection derived from either endogenous or exogenous transplacental transmission are capable of infecting their offspring when they start to breed. This review considers firstly the frequency with which exogenous and endogenous transmission occur, secondly the role of the immune response in controlling N. caninum infection and thirdly how the parasite persists in an immune-competent host and is re-activated during pregnancy.
[The influence of intrahepatic transplantation of hepatocytes and insular cells on liver cirrhosis].

OBJECTIVE To protect liver function, we used the cirrhotic rats to study whether the postshunt intrahepatic transplantation of hepatocytes and insular cells via hepatic artery can improve liver function. METHOD We irrigated the cirrhotic liver of rat via hepatic artery with hepatocytes and insular cells and observed the influence of this method on liver function. RESULT The improvement of TP, ALB and TBIL in the experimental group were significant, and there was significant difference in these parameters between the experimental and control groups (P < 0.01). Light microscopic examination of liver fibrosis and immunohistochemistry and data analysis of I, II collagens also showed significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The intrahepatic transplantation of hepatocytes and insular cells via hepatic artery can not only improve liver function, but also increase the degradation of liver collagens and reverse the course of liver cirrhosis.
Missed Nursing Care, Staffing, and Patient Falls

Patient falls in hospitals continue to be a major and costly problem. This study tested the mediating effect of missed nursing care on the relationship of staffing levels (hours per patient day [HPPD]) and patient falls. The sample was 124 patient units in 11 hospitals. The HPPD was negatively associated with patient falls (r = −0.36, P < .01), and missed nursing care was found to mediate the relationship between HPPD and patient falls.
A phosphate transport system is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium meliloti

The bacterium Rhizobium meliloti forms N2-fixing root nodules on alfalfa plants. The ndvF locus, located on the 1,700-kb pEXO megaplasmid of R. meliloti, is required for nodule invasion and N2 fixation. Here we report that ndvF contains four genes, phoCDET, which encode an ABC-type transport system for the uptake of Pi into the bacteria. The PhoC and PhoD proteins are homologous to the Escherichia coli phosphonate transport proteins PhnC and PhnD. The PhoT and PhoE proteins are homologous to each other and to the E. coli phosphonate transport protein PhnE. We show that the R. meliloti phoD and phoE genes are induced in response to phosphate starvation and that the phoC promoter contains two elements which are similar in sequence to the PHO boxes present in E. coli phosphate-regulated promoters. The R. meliloti ndvF mutants grow poorly at a phosphate concentration of 2 mM, and we hypothesize that their symbiotic phenotype results from their failure to grow during the nodule infection process. Presumably, the PhoCDET transport system is employed by the bacteria in the soil environment, where the concentration of available phosphate is normally 0.1 to 1 microM.
A software‐defined networking approach to improve service provision in residential networks

Within the Internet service provider landscape, the residential gateway (RGW) plays a key role in service provision. The RGW should be an enabler for the provision of new and better services for residential users, but it is often instead an obstacle for innovation. This paper discusses how to improve the provision of innovative services and to increase the usability of residential networks by upgrading the residential gateway in alignment with the current paradigms of software‐defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization. In this approach, SDN contributes by providing a fine‐grained control of the traffic and network function virtualization contributes by outsourcing traditional and specialized network functions running inside the RGW like routing or network address translation to the Internet service provider premises. Based on this approach, a management framework has been designed by considering 2 aspects: the involvement of the residential user in the management tasks through the provision of network management applications and the need to decouple network applications from the underlying SDN controller technology to encourage the development of innovative network applications. In addition, a virtualized management and networking domain has been defined to complement the approach and leverage cloud technologies. The advantages and challenges of this approach are analyzed based on a proof of concept development.
Heart Sense: experiments in design as a catalyst for feminist reflections on embodiment

This paper presents the design of a series of experimental data visualizations aimed at reflection and conversation about embodied interactions and physiological data. Taking heart rate as the point of entry, these visualization challenge binaries such as matter/meaning, subjectivity/objectivity, and self/other. More specifically, we present three visualizations. The first one illustrates physiological interaction with emotionally engaging material. The second one explores the experience of time by centring the rate of heartbeats. The third one foregrounds the impact of the environment on physiology and its role in creating a kind of embodied social connection. Together, these three visualizations open up space for new problem formulations and design explorations in and around the themes of data, embodiment, and visualization that are distinctly feminist in their orientation.
Étude et comparaison de scénarios de développements formels d'interfaces multi-modales fondés sur la preuve et le raffinement.

Les architectures d'un systeme interactif reposent sur la separation du noyau fonctionnel de l'interface utilisateur du logiciel. Le developpement de ces deux modules implique l'utilisation de techniques et d'approches differentes. La validation du systeme interactif peut etre une etape complexe puisque ces modules sont developpes separement. Dans le cadre du projet RNRT Verbatim*, l'etude de differents scenarios de developpement formels des systemes interactifs multi-modaux, a ete menee en utilisant la methode B dans sa version "B evenementiel". Cet article presente une partie des resultats de cette etude. Le raffinement est mis en œuvre pour structurer les developpements et la preuve pour etablir les proprietes. Il s'interesse principalement a la liaison (lors de leur composition) entre les deux modules d'un systeme interactif que sont le noyau fonctionnel et l'interface utilisateur. Quatre scenarios de developpement differents, representant formellement cette liaison, sont etudies et compares. Cette comparaison est realisee sur la base du nombre d'obligations de preuve generees et relatives aux proprietes decrites dans les specifications. Une etude de cas decrivant un systeme interactif multi-modal, illustrant ces scenarios et leur comparaison est utilisee tout au long de cet article.
Fatty acids in forages. II. In vitro ruminal biohydrogenation of linolenic and linoleic acids from timothy

Polyunsaturated fatty acids from forages are hydrogenated in the rumen and this biohydrogenation depends on several factors. The objective of this study was to determine and compare in vitro ruminal biohydrogenation of linolenic (C18:3) and linoleic (C18:2) acids in timothy harvested from different growth stages, produced with or without fertilization, or conserved by different methods. In exp. 1, timothy was grown with (120 kg ha-1) and without N and harvested at four growth stages. In exp. 2, harvested timothy was conserved as fresh grass, wilted grass, dry hay, haylage, and silage, some with additives: haylage with lactic acid bateria (LAB), haylage with formic acid, silage with LAB, and silage with formic acid. Samples were incubated with rumen fluid in three trials to compare: (1) samples from exp. 1; (2) the five basic conserving methods of exp. 2, and; (3) how the silage additives affected biohydrogenation of C18:3 and C18:2. Effective disappearances and ruminal bypass of C18:3 and C18:2 were faste.
Comparison of Automated Ribotyping to Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis for Genetic Fingerprinting ofStreptococcus pneumoniae

ABSTRACT Fifty-two isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniaewere characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and automated ribotyping by using HindIII andPvuII. HindIII ribotypes correlated well with PFGE. PvuII produced fewer bands and was less discriminatory. Automated ribotyping with HindIII is an accurate method for genetic fingerprinting of S. pneumoniae and can complement PFGE.
Coverage with Evidence Development: An examination of conceptual and policy issues

The application of conditionality to coverage decisions for healthcare technologies is increasing. Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) represents a specific approach to coverage for promising technologies for which the evidence remains uncertain. CED demands that additional evidence is generated to address the sources of uncertainty and secure ongoing coverage. This study explores the conceptual and policy issues relating to CED and discusses issues involved in operationalizing CED in practice, including presenting criteria for which technologies may be most suitable for CED. This study is intended to further the debate on the use of CED as well as highlight areas that warrant further research.
Electromagnetic scattering and Doppler spectra analysis of sea surface covered by oil spills

Lombardini et al. [1] have demonstrated that the ripples on a sea surface covered by oil films exhibit a damping effect. The damping effect reduce the RMS slope and RMS height of the sea surface, and thus have an influence on the electromagnetic scattering features, as well as the Doppler spectra signature of the backscattered returns from dynamic sea surface. Consequently, electromagnet tic scattering and Doppler spectra analysis of one dimensional (1-D) dielectric sea surface covered by oil films is conducted in this paper based on parallel fast multiple method. The sea surfaces are modeled as realizations of a Gaussian random process with the Pierson-Moskowitz spectrum, while the tapered incident wave is chosen to reduce the truncation error. Several numerical results are presented to show the influence of the oil slicks on the angular distribution of the scattered intensities, as well as the Doppler spectra signature of the backscattered returns by comparison with a clean sea surface.
Hematology and blood serum chemistry reference intervals for children in Iganga district of Uganda

In this study, normal ranges for hematology and serum biochemistry in children aged 1 to 5 years inUgandawere determined. By a cross-sectional study, 1168 children from Iganga, a prospective site for clinical trials in Uganda, were screened. From 1168 households, 460 children were selected for enrollment, while 600 (58%) were excluded because of either a history of fever in the previous 24 hours, presence of asexual malaria parasites in the peripheral blood or presence of fever. Accordingly, 460 children (39.4%) of median age = 3 years were enrolled in the baseline study. While the lower limits of hemoglobin, hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume and platelet counts for the Ugandan children were found to be less than conventional reference values of Caucasisan children, the white blood cell count reference values were higher than the international intervals. On the other hand, the upper limits of the reference intervals for serum transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, total protein and albumin in sera of the Ugandan children were higher than the corresponding values for a Caucasian pediatric population. This study showed that, if hematology test results of the Ugandan children were assessed against “imported” international reference values, up to 44.6% of the study participants would have been excluded from clinical trials or would have been reported as adverse events in such trials. The present study was not only the first report of serum biochemistry reference ranges for children aged one to five years in Uganda but also one of very few such studies in Africa.
Role of c-SRC and ERK in acid-induced activation of NHE3.

BACKGROUND In the renal proximal tubule, chronic acidosis causes increases in apical membrane NHE3 activity, which serve to increase transepithelial H+ secretion and return systemic pH to normal levels. Incubation of cultured renal epithelial cells in acid media activates c-Src. METHODS OKP cells were incubated in control (pH 7.4) or acid (7.0) media, and NHE3 activity measured as cytoplasmic pH (pHi) recovery from an acid load using BCECF. c-Src, ERK, and JNK kinase activities were measured by immune complex kinase assays with enolase, MBP, and GST-c-Jun, respectively, as substrates in the in vitro assays. To determine the role of c-Src in acid-induced NHE3 activation, cells were transfected with vector alone or a dominant negative c-Src (c-SrcK295M). RESULTS Expression of dominant negative c-srcK295M in OKP cells prevented acid-induced activation of NHE3. Incubation of OKP cells in acid media increased ERK activity and c-fos expression, but did not increase JNK activity. Acidosis in vivo also activated renal cortical c-Src and ERK kinases, whereas incubation of 3T3 cells in acid media activated c-Src but not ERK kinase. Expression of c-srcK295M did not affect ERK or c-fos activation by acid incubation. Inhibition of MEK with PD98059 inhibited activation of NHE3 by acid incubation. CONCLUSIONS These studies suggest that acidosis activates c-Src and MEK/ERK/c-fos. While both pathways are necessary for activation of NHE3, they are activated independently.
Non-singular terminal sliding mode control design for wheeled mobile manipulator

The purpose of this paper is to propose an indirect design for sliding surface as a function of position and velocity of each joint (for mounted manipulator on base) and center of mass of mobile base which includes rotation of wheels. The aim is to control the mobile base and its mounted arms using a unified sliding surface. ,A new implementation of sliding mode control has been proposed for wheeled mobile manipulators, regulation and tracking cases. In the conventional sliding mode design, the position and velocity of each coordinate are often considered as the states in the sliding surface, and consequently, the input control is found based on them. A mobile robot consisted of non-holonomic constraints, makes the definition of the sliding surface more complex and it cannot simply include the coordinates of the system. ,Formulism of both sliding mode control and non-singular terminal sliding mode control were presented and implemented on Scout robot. The simulations were validated with experimental studies, which led to satisfactory analysis. The non-singular terminal sliding mode control actually had a better performance, as it was illustrated that at time 10 s, the error for that was only 8.4 mm, where the error for conventional sliding mode control was 11.2 mm. ,This work proposes sliding mode and non-singular terminal sliding mode control structure for wheeled mobile robot with a sliding surface including state variables: center of mass of base, wheels’ rotation and arm coordinates.
Mecanique des systemes de solides rigides comportant des boucles fermees

Le travail a pour but de traiter les problemes que pose en mecanique des solides rigides, la formation de boucles. Dans une premiere partie, on expose une solution classique : celle de megahed. Puis, apres avoir introduit, dans le deuxieme chapitre, les bases de la theorie des groupes de lie, on use de cet outil dans le troisieme chapitre pour aborder la cinematique d'une boucle. Plusieurs resultats sont mis en evidence : developpements limites de la fonction de fermeture, nouvelle approche du probleme de l'evaluation du degre de liberte. Le quatrieme chapitre traite de la dynamique d'un systeme complexe et montre une elimination des multiplicateurs de lagrange. Enfin, le cinquieme et dernier chapitre est le traitement de trois exemples
Tebipenem, a New Carbapenem Antibiotic, Is a Slow Substrate That Inhibits the β-Lactamase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains a gene, blaC, which encodes a highly active β-lactamase (BlaC). We have previously shown that BlaC has an extremely broad spectrum of activity against penicillins and cephalosporins but weak activity against newer carbapenems. We have shown that carbapenems such as meropenem, doripenem, and ertapenem react with the enzyme to form enzyme–drug covalent complexes that are hydrolyzed extremely slowly. In the current study, we have determined apparent Km and kcat values of 0.8 μM and 0.03 min–1, respectively, for tebipenem, a novel carbapenem whose prodrug form, the pivalyl ester, is orally available. Tebipenem exhibits slow tight-binding inhibition at low micromolar concentrations versus the chromogenic substrate nitrocefin. FT-ICR mass spectrometry demonstrated that the tebipenem acyl–enzyme complex remains stable for greater than 90 min and exists as mixture of the covalently bound drug and the bound retro-aldol cleavage product. We have also determined the high-resolution crystal structures of the BlaC–tebipenem covalent acylated adduct (1.9 Å) with wild-type BlaC and the BlaC–tebipenem Michaelis–Menten complex (1.75 Å) with the K73A BlaC variant. These structures are compared to each other and to other carbapenem–BlaC structures.
Neural Firing in the Prefrontal Cortex During Alcohol Intake in Alcohol-Preferring "P" Versus Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND Neural activity within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is altered by alcohol and alcohol-associated stimuli and is mediated by genetic susceptibility to alcoholism. However, very little is known about how genetic risk of excessive drinking might mediate neural firing in the PFC during alcohol consumption. METHODS To determine how genetic risk influences alcohol seeking, intake, and neural activity, a Pavlovian alcohol consumption task was used-the 2-Way Cued Access Protocol (2CAP). Alcohol-preferring "P" rats and relatives of their (heterogeneous) founding Wistar population were used for these studies. After acquisition of 2CAP, extinction of responding for alcohol was evaluated by substituting water for alcohol. Following these experiments, in vivo electrophysiological recordings were obtained during 2CAP from the PFC in a separate cohort of Wistar and P rats implanted with moveable tetrode microdrives. RESULTS P and Wistar rats increased daily alcohol seeking and intake with P rats consuming roughly twice as much alcohol as Wistar. Both rat populations decreased seeking behavior during extinction. However, P rats displayed persistent increases in seeking after controlling for intake versus Wistar. Higher firing rates (FRs) were observed in P rats prior to 2CAP and throughout alcohol and water consumption compared with Wistars that were matched for alcohol-drinking history. Differences in FR were driven, in part, by a larger percentage of neurons in P rats versus Wistars that increased FR compared with those that decreased, or did not change. CONCLUSIONS These data provide additional evidence of increased alcohol consumption and persistent alcohol seeking in P versus Wistar rats. Differences in PFC neural firing observed in P rats prior to drinking could be heritable and/or related to an enhanced response to alcohol-associated contextual cues. FR differences observed during alcohol drinking might be related to an augmented sensitivity of PFC neurons to orally consumed alcohol.
Effects of Computerized Collaborative Concept Map Approach on Students' Learning Achievements and Cognitive Loads

In this study, a computerized collaborative concept-mapping approach is proposed. To evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative approach, a learning activity has been conducted on an elementary school natural science course. Two hundred and twenty fifth graders from seven classes were divided into an experimental group, in which the students learned with the proposed approach, and a control group, in which the students learned with conventional computerized concept map approach. From the experimental results, it was found that the students in the experimental group had significantly better learning achievement than those in the control group. Furthermore, the cognitive load of the experimental group students were significantly lower than the ones in the control group, implying that computerized collaborative concept-mapping approach not only reduced the cognitive load, but also improved the learning achievements of the students.
Soluble Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth and Invasion by Direct Urokinase-independent Effects on Cell Signaling*

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is released from human cancers and is readily detected in blood. In animal models, soluble uPAR (SuPAR) antagonizes cancer progression; however, the mechanism by which SuPAR functions in vivo remains unclear. It is generally thought that SuPAR scavenges uPA and prevents its interaction with membrane-anchored uPAR. In this study, we demonstrate a novel molecular mechanism by which SuPAR may inhibit cancer progression. We show that SuPAR has the potential to directly and in a uPA-independent manner block the signaling activity of membrane-anchored uPAR. Whether SuPAR inhibits signaling is cell type-specific, depending on the state of the endogenous uPA-uPAR signaling system. In uPAR-deficient cells that lack endogenous uPAR signaling, including uPAR–/–murine embryonic fibroblasts and human embryonal kidney 293 cells, SuPAR functions as a partial signaling agonist that activates ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase. By contrast, in cells with potent autocrine uPA-uPAR signaling systems, including MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts, SuPAR substantially decreases ERK activation. The mechanism probably involves competitive displacement of membrane-anchored uPAR-uPA complex from signaling adaptor proteins. As a result of its effects on cell signaling, SuPAR blocks cell growth and inhibits cellular invasion of Matrigel™. Cleavage of SuPAR by proteinases increases its signaling agonist activity and reverses its inhibitory effects on growth and invasion. Thus, proteolytic cleavage represents a molecular switch that neutralizes the anticancer activity of SuPAR.