Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
2 Prevention of Hearing Loss 2 . 1 Timing of Interventions for Preventing Hearing Loss

In the last decade, a paradigm shift has occurred in our vision for the prevention and treatment of hearing impairment. No longer are the solutions restricted to hearing aids, surgery, and implants to restore hearing, control of serum levels to prevent drug-induced ototoxicity, hearing protectors to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and for hereditary loss: wait and hope. Obviously all but the latter practices are of vital continued value, but the promise of more varied and more effective opportunities to prevent hearing loss and to restore hearing have provided increased hope and opportunity. Our future vision is now filled with complex pharmaceutical, cellular, and molecular strategies to modulate hereditary loss, replace and regenerate tissues of the inner ear, and prevent drug-induced hearing loss and NIHL. This future holds the promise of dramatically reducing the lost educational and job opportunities, the social isolation, and the reduced quality of life that accompanies hearing impairment and deafness, and with it the enormous economic costs associated with health care and lost productivity (estimated by the World Health Organization at >2% world GNP). This future molds and reshapes the practices of audiology and otolaryngology to place far greater efforts on the prevention of hearing impairment and the use of local and systemic drug treatment to restore hearing. A new vision for treatment is based on an increased understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of pathology from an initiating event to hearing impairment. Figure 14.1 diagrams this progression and
Establishment and characterization of a continuous cell line ( GF-1 ) derived from grouper , Epinephelus coioides ( Hamilton ) : a cell line susceptible to grouper nervous necrosis virus ( GNNV )

A new continuous cell line (GF-1) was established and characterized. The GF-1 cell line, derived from the fin tissue of a grouper, Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton), was maintained in L15 medium containing 5% foetal bovine serum (FBS) at 28 °C, and has been subcultured more than 160 times since 1995. The majority of GF-1 cells are fibroblast-like, together with some epithelioid cells. Spontaneous transformation of GF-1 cells occurred during subculture 50 to subculture 80, and led to an increase of plating efficiency, less requirement of FBS and de novo susceptibility to grouper nervous necrosis virus (GNNV). Cytopathic effects (CPEs) could be observed in GF-1 cells 3±5 days postinfection with pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), hard clam reovirus (HCRV), eel herpes virus Formosa (EHVF) and GNNV. In addition, abundant GNNV particles were found in the cytoplasm of GNNV-infected GF-1 cells using electron microscopy and nucleic acids of GNNV virus were detected by polymerase chain reaction in the culture medium of GNNV-infected cells after CPE appeared. The experimental results indicated that GF-1 can effectively proliferate fish nodavirus and is a promising tool for studying fish nodavirus.
Design Guidelines for Animated Pedagogical Agents

The area of animated pedagogical agents is related to the development of applications that aim to improve the human-computer interaction process (by human, we mean students and professors) using software agents represented by characters or human figures. In order to help researchers to project pedagogical agents that can enhance human-agent usability, this paper will discuss basic guidelines for animated pedagogical agents design based on concepts provided by Computer in Education, Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction.
Serious Injuries & Fatalities A Call For a New Focus On Their Prevention

OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES, serious injuries and workplace fatalities have been significantly reduced. However, statistical trends in the more recent past indicate that additional research and knowledge are needed about causation and preventive measures so that safety professionals can give counsel on how these injuries and fatalities can be further reduced. To achieve this, SH&E professionals must adopt a new mindset that gives serious injury prevention a higher priority. This will require several actions. The safety professional must address the phenomenon that seems to have developed in companies which continue to report serious injuries and fatalities despite otherwise stellar performance. In addition, the myth that preventing incidents that occur frequently will equivalently encompass severity reduction must be debunked. Other factors, such as organizational safety culture with respect to preventing serious injuries and the effect of the current economic climate, must be considered as well. To help SH&E professionals in these endeavors, a mechanism for an internal study of severity potential is provided and the need for improved incident investigation is emphasized. In addition, an outline is presented for conducting a gap analysis that would compare existing safety management systems to the provisions of ANSI/AIHA Z10.
An Algebraic Model for a Zinc/Bromine Flow Cell

An algebraic model for a parallel plate, zinc/bromine flow cell is presented and used to predict various performance quantities, which are compared to those predicted by using previously published differential equation models. The results presented compare well with previous work. The model is based on the concept of using well-mixed zones and linear concentration and potential profiles for the diffusion layers and the separator. The Butler-Volmer equation is used for the electrochemical reactions, and the homogeneous reaction between bromine and bromide is included. A zinc/bromine battery consists essentially of two electrodes, a porous separator, and a pair of storage tanks. The separator is placed between the electrodes in such a way that there is a thin gap between each of the electrodes and the separator. An electrolytic solution containing Zn +2 and Br- (among other things) is forced through the gaps between the electrodes and the separator. After the solution from each gap exits the reactor, it enters the associated storage tank and is recycled later to the reactor. During charge, the principle reaction at the anode is the oxidation of Br- to Br2. At the cathode the principle reaction is the reduction of Zn +2 to Zn. An undesirable reaction at the cathode during charge is the reduction of Br2 to Br-. A homogeneous phase bulk reaction occurs between Br2 and Br- to yield Br3-. The two electrochemical reactions can be written in anodic form as
Materialien zu Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft: Vermögensunterschiede nach Geschlecht in Österreich und Deutschland: Eine Analyse auf der Personenebene

The difference in wages and income between men and women – the gender wage gap – has been a central point in empirical research for decades. The analysis of gender differences in wealth holdings, however, is largely absent from the literature. This is an important omission because wealth is a more comprehensive indicator of the well-being of households and individuals than income is. This report examines the gender wealth gap within Austrian households using 2014 Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) data. Our research paper contributes to the existing literature by presenting the first study of genderrelated wealth differences at the individual level in Austria. Furthermore, we compare our results for Austria to those for Germany, which are calculated using data from the German Socio-oeconomic Panel (SOEP). Our findings suggest that there are gender-specific wealth differences in both countries. We find an average gender wealth gap of 58.417e for men and women in coupled households in Austria. Women thus hold 28% less wealth than men. We further study the relationship between the gender wealth gap and employment status, finding that there is a gender wealth gap of 35% for employed women in Austria. The gap is even larger when comparing full-time employees: women working in full-time positions own 43% less wealth compared to male full-time workers. Similar results can be found in Germany: on average, we identify a gender wealth gap of 40.599e, or 32%, in German coupled households.
Analytical solutions to a class of nonlinear Schrödinger equations with -like potentials

We present closed form solutions to a certain class of one- and two-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equations involving potentials with broken and unbroken symmetry. In the one-dimensional case, these solutions are given in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions, hyperbolic and trigonometric functions. Some of these solutions are possible even when the corresponding -symmetric potentials have a zero threshold. In two-dimensions, hyperbolic secant type solutions are obtained for a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a non-separable complex potential.
Global Positioning System Timing Criticality Assessment – Preliminary Performance Results

Abstract : Precision timing and time interval (PTTI) capabilities are becoming more commonplace throughout the world. The increasing demand for and use of precise time comes with a potentially increasing risk of over-reliance on a single timing source. In addition, many precise time applications are considered "critical," in that service disruption could result in severe consequences. The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides PTTI services that meet or exceed most user requirements, at increasingly lower cost. It is important to ensure that critical PTTI services are maintained during periods of disruption or loss of the GPS signal. This paper presents key findings, conclusions, and recommendations from a Timing Criticality analysis of the impact of loss of GPS time and frequency on important sectors of U.S. society. The focus in this paper is on civil and commercial sectors, including telecommunications and electric power. The goal of the analysis was to assess the consequences of disruption of GPS time on applications critical to the safety, security or economic well-being of the United States. For each sector, assessments of timing requirements and of the performance impact under representative GPS outage scenarios were conducted. The corollary goal was to determine the benefits and costs of backup systems - including modernized Loran - that mitigate the impact of the GPS disruption. The timing criticality analysis extends and updates prior work, in particular the DOT/Volpe Center and Homeland Security Institute (HSI) GPS vulnerability studies, and the HSI timing criticality study.
Impact of Ventricular assist Device on Daily Monitored Sleep Apnea in a Patient with Refractory Congestive Heart Failure

The knowledge of the impact of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in cardiovascular patients is growing. The prevalence of SAS is high in patients affecting by heart failure (HF). This condition is an important comorbidity leading to an increased incidence of major adverse cardiac events. Diagnosis and treatment of this relevant disorder play a pivotal role in the setting of HF, but regarding recent findings physiopathological mechanisms are not still really understood in the complex pathways between the underlying cardiac condition, central and respiratory system. Even if it is a case report, the description of this clinical case offers causes for reflection for furthers aspects in the complex scenario of HF. New therapeutic approach for advance HF, such as ventricular assist-device (VAD), could have an interesting physiopathological impact on the cardiorespiratory system as focusing on in the following case.
Probabilistic Cloning of Coherent States without a Phase Reference

We present a probabilistic cloning scheme operating independently of any phase reference. The scheme is based solely on a phase-randomized displacement and photon counting, omitting the need for non-classical resources and non-linear materials. In an experimental implementation, we employ the scheme to clone coherent states from a phase covariant alphabet and demonstrate that the cloner is capable of outperforming the hitherto best-performing deterministic scheme. An analysis of the covariances between the output states shows that uncorrelated clones can be approached asymptotically. An intriguing feature is that the trade-off between success rate and achieved fidelity can be optimized even after the cloning procedure.
A glimpse into the sexual biology of the “zygiellid” spider genus Leviellus

Abstract We investigated the mating biology of the previously unstudied central European spider Leviellus thorelli (Ausserer 1871) by staging laboratory mating trials using males and females of varying mating histories. Our aim was to seek common themes in sexual behaviors of the sexually size-monomorphic “zygiellid” spiders with their putatively close relatives, araneids and nephilids, which are relatively well studied with respect to sexual biology. We found L. thorelli mating biology to more closely resemble that of sexually size-monomorphic araneids than that of dimorphic nephilids. Unlike in nephilids with sexually conflicted adaptations, we found no evidence for genital damage or plugging in Leviellus Wunderlich 2004, although we found rare cases of half-eunuchs. We suggest that the mating system of L. thorelli spiders is determined by short female sexual attractiveness, reduced receptivity after mating and/or intensive mate guarding.
Immigration and Wages: Evidence from Construction

To identify relative wage impacts of immigration, we make use of certification and licensing requirements in the Norwegian construction sector that give rise to exogenous variation in immigrant employment shares across trades. Individual panel data reveal substantially lower wage growth for workers in trades with rising immigrant employment than for other workers. Selective attrition from the sector masks the causal wage impact unless accounted for by individual fixed effects. For low and semi-skilled workers, effects of new immigration are comparable for natives and older immigrant cohorts, consistent with perfect substitutability between native and immigrant labor within trade. Finally, we present evidence that immigration reduces price inflation, as price increases over the sample period were significantly lower in activities with growth in the immigrant share than in activities with no or small change in immigrant employment.
Single Phase to Three Phase Converter with a Variation-Tolerant Phase Shifting Technique by Two Phase Interleaved PFC Boost Converter

This paper presents a two-phase interleaved critical conduction mode (CRM) power factor correction boost converter with a variation-tolerant phase shifter (VTPS), which ensures accurate 180◦ phase shift between the two interleaved converters, which converters single phase 230V to three phase 410V. A feedback loop similar to a phase-locked loop controls the amount of the phase shifting of the VTPS. The proposed VTPS has better immunity of process, supply, and temperature variations than the conventional phase shifter. This boosted DC source applied to hybrid multilevel inverter, It consists of a standard 3-leg inverter (one leg for each phase) and H-bridge in series with each inverter leg. The three phase inverter output voltages, harmonic performance of induction machine current, induction machine outputs and THD is available by using simulation of MATLAB/SIMULINK software.
Effects of anisotropy in geostrophic turbulence

The Boussinesq model of convection in a flat layer with heating from below is considered. We analyze the effects of anisotropy caused by rapid rotation in physical and wave spaces and demonstrate the suppression of energy transfer by rotation. We also examine the structure of the wave triangle in nonlinear interaction. The range of parameters is adapted to the models of convection in the geodynamo. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Using the lead vehicle as preview sensor in convoy vehicle active suspension control

Both ride quality and roadholding of actively suspended vehicles can be improved by sensing the road ahead of the vehicle and using this information in a preview controller. Previous applications have used look-ahead sensors mounted on the front bumper to measure terrain beneath. Such sensors are vulnerable, potentially confused by water, snow, or other soft obstacles and offer a fixed preview time. For convoy vehicle applications, this paper proposes using the overall response of the preceding vehicle(s) to generate preview controller information for follower vehicles. A robust observer is used to estimate the states of a quarter-car vehicle model, from which road profile is estimated and passed on to the follower vehicle(s) to generate a preview function. The preview-active suspension, implemented in discrete time using a shift register approach to improve simulation time, reduces sprung mass acceleration and dynamic tyre deflection peaks by more than 50% and 40%, respectively. Terrain can change from one vehicle to the next if a loose obstacle is dislodged, or if the vehicle paths are sufficiently different so that one vehicle misses a discrete road event. The resulting spurious preview information can give suspension performance worse than that of a passive or conventional active system. In this paper, each vehicle can effectively estimate the road profile based on its own state trajectory. By comparing its own road estimate with the preview information, preview errors can be detected and suspension control quickly switched from preview to conventional active control to preserve performance improvements compared to passive suspensions.
Management of the Axil la

The status of the axillary lymph nodes is one of the most important factors impacting overall prognosis and treatment decision-making for breast cancer. Axillary surgery has long been an integral part of breast cancer treatment to stage the axilla and provide locoregional control. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by performing a formal axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). However, ALND is now reserved for patients with a clinically positive axilla or positive lymph nodes confirmed on needle biopsy. In patients with a clinically negative axilla, a sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy can be performed safely at the time of mastectomy or lumpectomy, sparing patients the morbidity associated with ALND.
Effect of ocean acidification on otolith development in larvae of a tropical marine fish

Abstract. Calcification in many invertebrate species is predicted to decline due to ocean acidification. The potential effects of elevated CO 2 and reduced carbonate saturation state on other species, such as fish, are less well understood. Fish otoliths (earbones) are composed of aragonite, and thus, might be susceptible to either the reduced availability of carbonate ions in seawater at low pH, or to changes in extracellular concentrations of bicarbonate and carbonate ions caused by acid-base regulation in fish exposed to high p CO 2 . We reared larvae of the clownfish Amphiprion percula from hatching to settlement at three pH NBS and p CO 2 levels (control: ~pH 8.15 and 404 μatm CO 2 ; intermediate: pH 7.8 and 1050 μatm CO 2 ; extreme: pH 7.6 and 1721 μatm CO 2 ) to test the possible effects of ocean acidification on otolith development. There was no effect of the intermediate treatment (pH 7.8 and 1050 μatm CO 2 ) on otolith size, shape, symmetry between left and right otoliths, or otolith elemental chemistry, compared with controls. However, in the more extreme treatment (pH 7.6 and 1721 μatm CO 2 ) otolith area and maximum length were larger than controls, although no other traits were significantly affected. Our results support the hypothesis that pH regulation in the otolith endolymph can lead to increased precipitation of CaCO 3 in otoliths of larval fish exposed to elevated CO 2 , as proposed by an earlier study, however, our results also show that sensitivity varies considerably among species. Importantly, our results suggest that otolith development in clownfishes is robust to even the more pessimistic changes in ocean chemistry predicted to occur by 2100.
Comparitive study on the antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial property of Agaricus bisporus (J. E. Lange) Imbach before and after boiling

In this study, ethanol extracts of an edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus, before and after boiling were investigated for antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities. To confirm the total antioxidant activity, ABTS, DPPH free radical-scavenging assay was carried, along with total phenolic and flavonoid concentration. In measuring ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activities, scavenging activity was found to be similar in both the extracts. Total flavonoids were 16.4±0.5 and 15.2±0.2 mg/g (Quercetin equivalent), the phenolics were 90.2±0.6 and 70.6±0.1 mg/g (Catechin equivalent) in raw and boiled extract, respectively. A. bisporus extracts inhibited cell proliferation of HL-60 leukemia by the induction of apoptosis. In addition, A. bisporus extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, as well as anticandidal activity against Candida albicans. Therefore, A. bisporus could be considered as a functional food with antimicrobial, anti-oxidative and antiproliferative activity.
Changes in T cell subpopulations after specific sublingual immunotherapy against Dermatophagoides farinae

The mechanisms by which allergen-specific immunotherapy induce clinical improvement in allergic asthma remain incompletely understood. Here, the changes in T cell subpopulations, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells and Th1/Th2 cells, were determined following sublingual specific immunotherapy against the house dust mite species Dermatophagoides farinae in pediatric asthma patients. The study cohort comprised 25 children with asthma who had received standardized dust mite-specific sublingual immunotherapy for one year (observation group), 27 healthy children (control group), 24 children with medication-uncontrolled asthma (uncontrolled group), and 21 children with medication-controlled asthma (controlled group). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from all participants and were stimulated with dust mite extracts for 72 h. The proportions of nTreg and Th1/Th2 cells were measured by flow cytometry. After in vitro dust mite extract stimulation, the percentages of nTreg (nTreg% CD4+T) cells were significantly increased (P<0.05) in each group compared to before stimulation; however, the there were no significant differences between groups. The ratio of Th1/Th2 cells in each group increased after stimulation, significantly so in the controlled group and observation group (P<0.05), with the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells in the healthy control group higher than that of the other three groups. Thus, a decreased ratio of Th1/Th2 cells exists in children with asthma. Dust mite-specific sublingual immunotherapy may work through reducing the number of Th2 cells and increasing the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells. Further, the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells in peripheral blood could be measured, which may predict the efficacy of dust mite-specific sublingual immunotherapy.