Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Irreversible compressible work and APE dissipation in turbulent stratified fluid

Although it plays a key role in the theory of stratiﬁed turbulence, the concept of available potential energy (APE) dissipation has remained until now a rather mysterious quantity, owing to the lack of rigorous result about its irreversible character or energy conversion type. Here, we show by using rigorous energetics considerations rooted in the analysis of the Navier-Stokes for a fully compressible ﬂuid with a nonlinear equation of state that the APE dissipation is an irreversible energy conversion that dissipates kinetic energy into internal energy, exactly as viscous dissipation. These results are established by showing that APE dissipation contributes to the irreversible production of entropy, and by showing that it is a part of the work of expansion/contraction. Our results provide a new interpretation of the entropy budget, that leads to a new exact deﬁnition of turbulent eﬀective diﬀusivity, which generalizes the Osborn-Cox model, as well as a rigorous decomposition of the work of expansion/contraction into reversible and irreversible components. In the context of turbulent mixing associated with parallel shear ﬂow instability, our results suggests that there is no irreversible transfer of horizontal momentum into vertical momentum, as seems to be required when compressible eﬀects are neglected, with potential consequences for the parameterisations of momentum dissipation in the coarse-grained Navier-Stokes equations.
Does exercise training change physical activity in people with COPD? A systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effect of exercise training on daily physical activity (PA) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from their inception to week 27 of 2010, using the keywords ‘COPD,’ ‘exercise,’ ‘therapy’ and ‘physical activity. ’ All studies except case reports were eligible for inclusion provided they investigated the effects of ≥4 weeks of supervised exercise training on PA in patients with COPD. Study quality for the randomised trials (RTs) and single-group interventional studies was rated using the PEDro scale and Downs and Black Tool, respectively. No randomised controlled trials met our study criteria. The two RTs had a mean PEDro score of 5. The 5 single-group studies had a mean Downs and Black score of 19 ± 3. When combined, a small effect on PA outcomes was demonstrated (overall mean effect = 0.12; p = 0.01). Taken together, the RTs and single-group studies demonstrate that exercise training may confer a significant but small increase in PA.
Slow Heating Methods in Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Several approaches to ion activation in tandem mass spectrometry have been developed in recent years for use in ion trapping instruments that allow for conditions to be reached wherein rates of ion activation and deactivation are comparable. These approaches are deÐned as slow heating methods and include continuous-wave laser infrared multiphoton dissociation, dissociation driven by blackbody radiation, quadrupole ion trap collisional activation and sustained o†-resonance irradiation in ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. In the limiting case in which ion activation and deactivation rates are equal, a steady-state parent ion internal energy distribution is achieved and the kinetics of dissociation can be interpreted in analogy with thermal dissociation. This discussion describes the thermal analogy and the limiting conditions of rapid energy exchange and slow energy exchange along with the possible ramiÐcations for dissociation rates and product ion spectra. The Ðgures of merit that the various slow heating methods share as a class of activation methods are also discussed. The purpose of this perspective is to provide a frame-of-reference from which slow heating methods can be considered. Such methods are seeing increasing use as the number of ion trapping instruments grows and have shown remarkable success with dissociation of high-mass ions. 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (
Minimally invasive surgery for male subfertility

Minimally invasive surgery is well established in the diagnosis and treatment of infertile women. With continuing advances in the design of fibreoptic instruments, especially the development of small diameter endoscopes, the concept of minimally invasive surgery can now be applied to the diagnosis and treatment of male subfertility, particularly in the management of azoospermic men.1 2 Azoospermia is caused either by obstruction or absence of the vas deferens or by abnormalities in spermatogenesis. Obstructive azoospermia—due to bilateral congenital absence of the vas deferens, a failed reversal of vasectomy, or inflammatory epididymitis—is the reason for infertility in 1-2% of infertile couples.3 Until recently, azoospermic men were considered to be irrevocably sterile, with their only option being donor insemination. It is now clear that spermatozoal transit through the epididymis is not crucial for fertilisation as pregnancies have occurred after epididymovasostomy4 and …
Analysis of emotional speech at subsegmental level

Emotional speech is produced when a speaker is in a state different from normal state. The objective of this study is to explore the deviations in the excitation source features of an emotional speech compared to normal speech. The features used for analysis are extracted at subsegmental level (1-3 ms) of speech. A comparative study of these features across different emotions indicates that there are signiﬁcant deviations in the subsegmental level features of speech in emotional state when compared to normal state.
The perceived advantage of work experience as a learning tool for university auditing students

In 2010 the accounting profession in South Africa adopted a new competency framework (SAICA 2009), in terms of which students are required to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical business environments. The ability to do this requires insight into real life work situations and consequently, tertiary institutions use role-play, case studies and simulations as substitutes for work experience. The primary objective of this research is to determine whether having work experience, obtained through vacation work, contributes to improving students' understanding of the discipline of auditing. Following a review of literature on the benefits of work experience in fields other than auditing, (Sykes (2009), Herrick (2010) and Zeng, Woodhouse and Brunt (2010)), a questionnaire was developed to investigate students' perceptions of skills developed while taking part in work experience; to determine their views of its benefits; whether having work experience makes it easier to understand auditing, and whether students subsequently find it difficult to stick to theory when being assessed. The questionnaire was distributed to students in their second through to honours years of the Auditing courses for the Bachelor of Accounting degree at Stellenbosch University. The findings of this research demonstrate that work experience enables students to reflect on and contextualise their theoretical knowledge when applying this knowledge in a business scenario and vice versa. Students are also able to understand the scenarios in examinations better after gaining work experience. Work experience further develops a variety of personal skills which cannot be developed in an academic environment. The benefits of work experience, as found by this research, could therefore address the lack of practical insight demonstrated by the majority of students. It also highlights the need for co-operation between the education providers, potential employers and the accounting profession to make work experience feasible and more accessible to a larger number of students.
Concentration in liner shipping: its causes and impacts for ports and shipping services in developing regions

Abstract Concentration in liner shipping means that relatively larger shipping companies are increasing their market share at the expense of the remaining smaller players. Although this process is not new, it has gained strength and is particularly affecting ports and shipping services in developing regions. Because trade is growing as a proportion of world GDP, governments and international organizations attach an increasing priority to improving ports and shipping services. This leads to deregulation, which, together with technological advances, increases the incentives for shipping companies to form alliances and to merge. Another cause of the process of concentration is technological change, which has led to an increase of fixed costs as a proportion of total average costs. This leads to larger optimum unit sizes of vessels, ports, and companies, which in turn reduces the number of participants in the long-term market equilibrium. To analyse the impacts of these trends, the document examines the following issues: the extent to which economies of scale are being realized; possible declines in liner shipping companies' profits; the danger of overcapacity; fluctuations in freight-rates; the strength of alliances; the expansion of east-west carriers into north-south markets; the increasing proportion of trans-shipped containers; ports as trans-shipment centres; options for small liner operators; benefits for importers, exporters and consumers; and the implications for regulatory bodies. The document presents a generally positive picture. The word concentration might initially raise the issues of abuse of market power and monopoly rents, but importers, exporters, consumers, ports, and major east-west carriers are all likely to gain from the described process. The ones that are most likely to lose are traditional north-south liner shipping companies. It would, however, be a costly misconception of competition if the public sector tried to protect smaller players from its consequences.
New process for T-2 toxin production

Strains of Fusarium produced high levels of T-2 toxin when cultured on certain media absorbed into vermiculite. Modified Gregory medium was nutritionally complex (2% soya meal, 0.5% corn steep liquor, 10% glucose) and, when inoculated with the appropriate fungal strain, yielded maximum T-2 toxin within 24 days of incubation at 19 degrees C. On Vogel synthetic medium N (H. J. Vogel, Microb. Genet, Bull. 13:42-43, 1956) supplemented with 5% glucose, optimal toxin levels were synthesized after incubation for 12 to 14 days at 15 degrees C. Fusarium tricinctum T-340 produced 714 and 353 mg/liter on modified Gregory medium and Vogel synthetic medium N plus 5% glucose, respectively. Improved analytical procedures were developed and involved aqueous methanol extraction, purification by liquid-liquid partitions, and gas-chromatographic quantitation.
Double‐strand DNA break repair with replication slippage on two strands: a novel mechanism of deletion formation

We have characterized an unusual family with two different androgen receptor (AR) gene deletions, in which we propose a novel mechanism of deletion formation has occurred. Affected individuals have the X‐linked disorder androgen insensitivity syndrome, and we previously showed that different family members have deletions of different exons of the AR gene. We have now fully sequenced the deletions from affected individuals, and confirmed the presence of different deletions in different affected family members. Most affected and heterozygote individuals have a 4,430‐bp deletion of exon 5 that occurred between repeated GTGGCAT motifs in introns 4 and 5. One affected hemizygous individual has a 4,033‐bp deletion of exons 6 and 7 that occurred between repeated CCTC motifs in introns 5 and 7. The intron 5 breakpoint junctions of the two deletions are only 11 bp apart. Surprisingly, the maternal grandmother of the original index case was found to be mosaic for both deletional events, as well as having the normal AR gene. Karyotyping ruled out 47,XXX trisomy, indicating triple mosaicism for the two different deleted AR alleles and a normal AR allele. This triple mosaicism must have occurred early in embryonic development, as both deletions were passed on to different children. Based on these findings, we propose a novel mechanism of deletion formation. We suggest that during AR gene replication, a double strand DNA break occurred in intron 5, and that a variant of replication slippage occurred on both newly synthesized strands between the repeat motifs of microhomology, leading to the formation of the two different AR gene deletions. Hum Mutat 27(5), 483–489, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How temperature affects the circadian clock of Neurospora crassa

Light and temperature are major environmental cues that influence circadian clocks. The molecular effects of these zeitgebers on the circadian clock of Neurospora crassa have been studied intensively during the last decade. While signal transduction of light into the circadian clock is quite well characterized, we have only recently begun to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie temperature sensing. Here we summarize briefly the current knowledge about the effects of temperature on the circadian clock of Neurospora crassa.
An Efficient Objective Quality Model for Agile Application Development

In the recent past, software industry has seen a paradigm shift in the software development methodologies. Several software development models have been proposed from time to time keeping in view the changing patterns and requirements of customers. Advancements in technology and change in standard operating procedures of corporate sector organizations has led to the development and evolution of several software development models. Currently, agile application development methodology is the most widely use software development model owing to its flexibility. Quality models have also evolved with corresponding to the software development models. Previously several quality metrics models have been developed for waterfall, spiral and incremental development. Work is also being done to propose a quality model which could ensure the quality of agile product being developed. However a robust and standard quality metrics model is lacking for the agile methodologies which can ensure that agile product being developed will fulfill implicit as well as explicit quality characteristics as agreed by the stakeholders. In this paper a quality metrics model for agile application development methodologies has been proposed which ascertains that the quality of the product being developed in agile requirement meet the standard and desired criteria of quality.
Alcohol expectancy moderates attentional bias for alcohol cues in light drinkers.

AIMS Theoretical models suggest that attentional bias for alcohol-related cues develops because cues signal the availability of alcohol, and the expectancy elicited by alcohol cues is responsible for the maintenance of attentional bias among regular drinkers. We investigated the moderating role of alcohol expectancy on attentional bias for alcohol-related cues. DESIGN Within-subjects experimental design. SETTING Psychology laboratories. PARTICIPANTS Adult social drinkers (n=58). MEASUREMENTS On a trial-by-trial basis, participants were informed of the probability (100%, 50%, 0%) that they would receive beer at the end of the trial before their eye movements towards alcohol-related and control cues were measured. FINDINGS Heavy social drinkers showed an attentional bias for alcohol-related cues regardless of alcohol expectancy. However, in light social drinkers, attentional bias was only seen on 100% probability trials, i.e. when alcohol was expected imminently. CONCLUSIONS Attentional bias for alcohol-related cues is sensitive to the current expectancy of receiving alcohol in light social drinkers, but it occurs independently of the current level of alcohol expectancy in heavy drinkers.
Atelectasis during anesthesia: pathophysiology and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS The incidence of intraoperative pulmonary collapse is elevated in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation/paralysis. This complication is associated with worsening intraoperative gas exchange and, in some cases, the need for prolonged postoperative respiratory support. The objective of this report was to review the pathophysiological aspects of atelectasis during general anesthesia and possible therapeutic maneuvers that could prevent and treat this complication. CONTENTS This review discusses the concepts about the incidence of intraoperative atelectasis, factors that influence their development, both mechanical and those related to mechanical ventilator settings during the surgery, diagnostic criteria, and strategies to prevent and treat this complication. CONCLUSIONS Understanding of the mechanisms related with the development of intraoperative pulmonary collapse, as well as its treatment, can contribute to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, the length of recovery and hospital costs.
FROM A GLOBAL INTEGRATION PERSPECTIVE: ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES IN DANISH-OWNED ESTONIAN SUBSIDIARIES

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the integration of accounting procedures in Danish-owned Estonian subsidiaries. The paper elicits the extent to which different global integration modes are used to integrate one business function, i.e. the accounting function, and related human resource management (HRM) practices in the accounting function. The study analyses the use of four specific integration modes: people, information, formalization, and centralization. In selected Danish-owned subsidiaries in Estonia interviews were conducted with the accounting staff, using an interview guide. The related headquarters in Denmark were addressed with questionnaires eliciting their integration mode strategies. The findings indicate a differential usage of inte- gration modes.
Nutrient partitioning by transgenic animals.

The intent of this review is to describe, to the extent possible, the expected change in nutrient requirements resulting from transgene manipulations. Theory of nutrient partitioning. Transgenic procedures and transgene expression; methods of transferring gene, transfer of growth-related genes, expression of integrated gene. Nutrient recommendations for growth-regulated transgenic animals; aminoacids, energy, vitamins and minerals
Biomedical risk assessment as an aid for smoking cessation.

BACKGROUND A possible strategy for increasing smoking cessation rates could be to provide smokers who have contact with healthcare systems with feedback on the biomedical or potential future effects of smoking, e.g. measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), lung function, or genetic susceptibility to lung cancer. We reviewed systematically data on smoking cessation rates from controlled trials that used biomedical risk assessment and feedback. OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy of biomedical risk assessment provided in addition to various levels of counselling, as a contributing aid to smoking cessation. SEARCH STRATEGY We systematically searched he Cochrane Collaboration Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), and EMBASE (1980 to 2004). We combined methodological terms with terms related to smoking cessation counselling and biomedical measurements. SELECTION CRITERIA Inclusion criteria were: a randomized controlled trial design; subjects participating in smoking cessation interventions; interventions based on a biomedical test to increase motivation to quit; control groups receiving all other components of intervention; an outcome of smoking cessation rate at least six months after the start of the intervention. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two assessors independently conducted data extraction on each paper, with disagreements resolved by consensus. MAIN RESULTS From 4049 retrieved references, we selected 170 for full text assessment. We retained eight trials for data extraction and analysis. One of the eight used CO alone and CO + Genetic Susceptibility as two different intervention groups, giving rise to three possible comparisons. Three of the trials isolated the effect of exhaled CO on smoking cessation rates resulting in the following odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 0.73 (0.38 to 1.39), 0.93 (0.62 to 1.41), and 1.18 (0.84 to 1.64). Combining CO measurement with genetic susceptibility gave an OR of 0.58 (0.29 to 1.19). Exhaled CO measurement and spirometry were used together in three trials, resulting in the following ORs (95% CI): 0.6 (0.25 to 1.46), 2.45 (0.73 to 8.25), and 3.50 (0.88 to 13.92). Spirometry results alone were used in one other trial with an OR of 1.21 (0.60 to 2.42). Two trials used other motivational feedback measures, with an OR of 0.80 (0.39 to 1.65) for genetic susceptibility to lung cancer alone, and 3.15 (1.06 to 9.31) for ultrasonography of carotid and femoral arteries performed in light smokers (average 10 to 12 cigarettes a day). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Due to the scarcity of evidence of sufficient quality, we can make no definitive statements about the effectiveness of biomedical risk assessment as an aid for smoking cessation. Current evidence of lower quality does not however support the hypothesis that biomedical risk assessment increases smoking cessation in comparison with standard treatment. Only two studies were similar enough in term of recruitment, setting, and intervention to allow pooling of data and meta-analysis.
Apoptosis Induction Influences Reovirus Replication and Virulence in Newborn Mice

ABSTRACT Apoptosis is a type of controlled cell death that is essential for development and tissue homeostasis. It also serves as a robust host response against infection by many viruses. The capacity of neurotropic viruses to induce apoptosis strongly correlates with virulence. However, the precise function of apoptosis in viral infection is not well understood. Reovirus is a neurotropic virus that induces apoptosis in a variety of cell types, including central nervous system neurons, leading to fatal encephalitis in newborn mice. To determine the effect of apoptosis on reovirus replication in the host, we generated two otherwise isogenic viruses that differ in a single amino acid in viral capsid protein μ1 that segregates with apoptotic capacity. Apoptosis-proficient and apoptosis-deficient viruses were compared for replication, dissemination, tropism, and tissue injury in newborn mice and for the capacity to spread to uninfected littermates. Our results indicate that apoptotic capacity enhances reovirus replication in the brain and consequent neurovirulence but reduces transmission efficiency. The replication advantage of the apoptosis-proficient strain is limited to the brain and correlates with enhanced infectivity of neurons. These studies reveal a new cell type-specific determinant of reovirus virulence.
Viral Marketing or Electronic Word-of-Mouth Advertising: Examining Consumer Responses and Motivations to Pass Along Email

ABSTRACT Although viral marketing has garnered a great deal of attention in the trade press, almost nothing is known about the motivations, attitudes, and behaviors of the people (those sending the email to others) that constitute the essential component of any such strategy. This article reports the results of three studies that examine consumer responses and motivations to pass along email. Implications for target selection and message creation are discussed for advertising practitioners interested in implementing viral efforts, and suggestions for future research relating to computer-mediated consumer-to-consumer interactions are presented for academic researchers.