Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of Bootstrap in Dose Apportionment of Nuclear Plants Via Uncertainty Modeling of the Effluent Released from Plants

Nuclear power plants are always operated under the guidelines stipulated by the regulatory body. These guidelines basically contain the technical specifications of the specific power plant and provide the knowledge of the discharge limit of the radioactive effluent into the environment through atmospheric and aquatic route. However, operational constraints sometimes may violate the technical specification due to which there may be a failure to satisfy the stipulated dose apportioned to that plant. In a site having multi facilities sum total of the dose apportioned to all the facilities should be constrained to 1 mSv/year to the members of the public. Dose apportionment scheme basically stipulates the limit of the gaseous and liquid effluent released into the environment. Existing methodology of dose apportionment is subjective in nature that may result the discharge limit of the effluent in atmospheric and aquatic route in an adhoc manner. Appropriate scientific basis for dose apportionment is always preferable rather than judicial basis from the point of harmonization of establishing the dose apportionment. This paper presents an attempt of establishing the discharge limit of the gaseous and liquid effluent first on the basis of the existing value of the release of the same. Existing release data for a few years (for example 10 years) for any nuclear power station have taken into consideration. Bootstrap, a resampling technique, has been adopted on the existing release data sets to generate the corresponding population distribution of the effluent release. Cumulative distribution of the population distribution obtained is constructed and using this cumulative distribution, 95th percentile (upper bound) of the discharge limit of the radioactive effluents is computed. Dose apportioned for a facility is evaluated using this estimated upper bound of the release limit. Paper de- scribes the detail of the bootstrap method in evaluating the release limit and also presents the comparative study of the dose apportionment using this new method and the existing adhoc method.
Risk factors for indigenous campylobacter infection: a Swedish case-control study

A case-control study was conducted in western Sweden (Älvsborg County). The aim of the study was to identify any special food items or behaviours associated with an increased risk of contracting campylobacter infection. A total of 101 cases and 198 controls were matched for age, sex and district of residence. The following risk factors or risk behaviours were associated with campylobacter infection: drinking unpasteurized milk (OR 3·56, 95% CI 1·46–8·94), eating chicken (OR 2·29, 95% CI 1·29–4·23), or eating pork with bones (chops OR 2·02, 95% CI 1·17–3·64; loin of pork OR 1·83, 95% CI 1·07–3·12), barbecuing (OR 1·98, 95% CI 1·10–4·34), and living or working on a farm (farm OR 3·06, 95% CI 1·58–6·62, hen/chicken-breeder OR 3·32, 95% CI 1·56–6·78), daily contact with chickens or hens (OR 11·83, 95% CI 3·41–62·03).
Brain change trajectories that differentiate the major psychoses

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are highly heritable, often chronic and debilitating psychotic disorders that can be difficult to differentiate clinically. Their brain phenotypes appear to overlap in both cross‐sectional and longitudinal structural neuroimaging studies, with some evidence to suggest areas of differentiation with differing trajectories. The aim of this review was to investigate the notion that longitudinal trajectories of alterations in brain structure could differentiate the two disorders.
ALTERATIONS IN THE CEREBELLUM OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE CALCIUM ATPASE 2 ( PMCA 2 )-NULL MOUSE INDICATE ABNORMALITIES IN PURKINJE NEURONS

PMCA2, a major calcium pump, is expressed at particularly high levels in Purkinje neurons. Accordingly, PMCA2-null mice exhibit ataxia suggesting cerebellar pathology. It is not yet known how changes in PMCA2 expression or activity affect molecular pathways in Purkinje neurons. We now report that the levels of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1), which plays essential roles in motor coordination, synaptic plasticity, and associative learning, are reduced in the cerebellum of PMCA2-null mice as compared to wild type littermates. The levels of inositol 1,4,5triphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3R1), an effector downstream to mGluR1, which mediates intracellular calcium signaling, and the expression of Homer 1b/c and Homer 3, scaffold proteins that couple mGluR1 to IP3R1, are also reduced in somata and dendrites of some Purkinje cell subpopulations. In contrast, no alterations occur in the levels of mGluR1 and its downstream effectors in the hippocampus, indicating that the effects are region specific. The reduction in cerebellar mGluR1, IP3R1 and Homer 3 levels are neither due to a generic decrease in Purkinje proteins nor extensive dendritic loss as immunoreactivity to total and non-phosphorylated neurofilament H (NFH) is increased in Purkinje dendrites and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2) staining reveals a dense dendritic network in the molecular layer of the PMCA2-null mouse cerebellum. PMCA2 coimmunoprecipitates with mGluR1, Homer 3 and IP3R1, suggesting that the calcium pump is a constituent of the mGluR1 signaling complex. Our results suggest that the decrease in the expression of mGluR1 and its downstream effectors and perturbations in the mGluR1 signaling complex in the absence of PMCA2 may cumulatively result in aberrant metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling in Purkinje neurons leading to cerebellar deficits in the PMCA2-null mouse. Corresponding author Stella Elkabes, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School-UMDNJ, 185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, H-506, Newark, NJ 07103,. Tel: 973 676 1000 Ext 1156 and 3589, Fax: 973 395 7233, E-mail: elkabest@umdnj.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access Author Manuscript Mol Cell Neurosci. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2008 October 4. Published in final edited form as: Mol Cell Neurosci. 2007 February ; 34(2): 178–188. doi:10.1016/j.mcn. 2006.10. 010. N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript
A NEW STANDARDIZED and EFFECTIVE METHOD of INDUCING PARALYSIS WITHOUT ADMINISTRATION of EXOGENOUS HORMONE IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL PERIODIC PARALYSIS

A prolonged glucose loading test is described. When used in five patients with familial periodic paralysis it brought them into a state of massive hypopotassaemic paralysis at the first attempt, without the use of exogenous hormone. Three normal persons were subjected to the same glucose loading without exhibiting hypopotassaemia or muscular weakness. There were no essential differences in serum glucose levels between the two groups of individuals. the efficacy of previous methods of inducing paralysis, hormonal as well as non‐hormonal, is reviewed, and the advantages of this new method are pointed out.
Avaliação do Portfolio de Sistemas Legados Usando Modelos de Estimação Algorítmicos

Este artigo inclui uma avaliacao quantitativa do valor do portfolio de um conjunto de aplicacoes legadas numa grande empresa nacional. Esta avaliacao e uma das pecas necessarias a concepcao de um modelo de custeio das operacoes de manutencao dessas aplicacoes, na fundamentacao de accoes de reengenharia ou mesmo na avaliacao de servicos de desenvolvimento em “outsourcing”. Sao utilizados dois modelos de estimacao de recursos especialmente concebidos para o planeamento de projectos de Engenharia de Software e analisam-se as divergencias encontradas.
Evaluation of Fuzzy-Neuro Modifiers for Compensation of the Effects of Muscle Fatigue on EMG-Based Control to be Used in Upper-Limb Power-Assist Exoskeletons

Abstract Assistive robotic technology can play a major role to improve the quality of life of the physically weak people such as aged, injured, disabled or handicapped. Many assistive devices have been developed according to the needs of such individuals. Especially, upper-limb power-assist exoskeletons have been able to draw attention, as the upper limb motions are very important for the daily activities. Electromyography (EMG) signals of the upper limb muscles have frequently been used as a primary signal to control the upper-limb power assist exoskeletons, because the EMG signals directly reflect the motion intention of the user. However, one of the main problems for EMG-based control is the muscle fatigue, because the muscle fatigue can affect the EMG patterns. When the user's muscles get fatigued, it is required to consider the variety of EMG signals on the EMG-based controllers. In this paper, the effects of muscle fatigue on EMG-based control are analyzed based on upper-limb elbow flexion/extension motions and fuzzy-neuro modifiers which intend to compensate for the muscle fatigue effects based on a combination of EMG Root Mean Square (RMS) and EMG Mean Power Frequency (MPF) are proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed fuzzy-neuro modifiers for compensation of the effects of muscle fatigue are evaluated by conducting experiments.
The multi-threaded, parity-protected 128-word register files on a dual-core Itanium/sup /spl reg//-family processor

The dual-thread 18-port 128w/spl times/82b FPU register file, and the 22-port 128w/spl times/65b integer register file of the microprocessor is described. Parity embedded into each register provides soft error detection. The design integrates a charge-compensated thread switch and power-saving features to operate at 1.1V consuming 400mW at maximum frequency.
Embracing the concept of reproducible research.

In the July 2009 issue of Biostatistics, we announced arrangements intended to encourage authors of papers in the journal to embrace the concept of what has come to be known as Reproducible Research. In that issue, Roger Peng, one of our Associate Editors, outlined these arrangements, which were deliberately set out as an opportunity, rather than an obligation, to make data and/or code available whereby interested readers could, if they wished, reproduce or “modify” any published analysis (Peng, 2009). The emphasis is important. Our aim was not to police the technical correctness of published work but rather to recognize that a nontrivial …
Application of the wavelet transform to nanoscale thermal transport

The continuous wavelet transform is employed to analyze the dynamics and time-dependent energy distribution of phonon wave-packet propagation and scattering in molecular dynamics simulations. The equations of the one-dimensional continuous wavelet transform are presented and then discretized for implementation. Practical aspects and limitations of the transform are discussed, with attention to its application in the analysis of molecular dynamics simulations. The transform is demonstrated using three examples that are relevant to nanoscale thermal transport. First, a system of wave packets that interfere in both the spatial and Fourier domains are separated by the wavelet transform, allowing the measurement of each packet’s contribution to the system energy. Second, the wavelet transform is applied to a multiple wave-packet simulation of a silicon, heavy-silicon interface. The wavelet-based calculation of mode-dependent transmission is validated through comparison to literature results and theoretical predictions. Third, the dynamic scattering of a large amplitude wave packet is studied using the wavelet transform. The transform reveals a transition in the structure of the energy distribution. Unlike current techniques, the wavelet transform can be used to determine how the energy of a simulated system is distributed in time, in space, and among wave numbers, simultaneously. The ability to resolve phonon motion and energy from a vibrating ensemble of atoms in a molecular dynamics simulation makes the wavelet transform a promising technique for probing the physical mechanisms of nanoscale thermal transport.
Allowable sampling period for consensus control of multiple general linear dynamical agents in random networks

This article studies the consensus problem for a group of sampled-data general linear dynamical agents over random communication networks. Dynamic output feedback protocols are applied to solve the consensus problem. When the sampling period is sufficiently small, it is shown that as long as the mean topology has globally reachable nodes, the mean square consensus can be achieved by selecting protocol parameters so that n − 1 specified subsystems are simultaneously stabilised. However, when the sampling period is comparatively large, it is revealed that differing from low-order integrator multi-agent systems the consensus problem may be unsolvable. By using the hybrid dynamical system theory, an allowable upper bound of sampling period is further proposed. Two approaches to designing protocols are also provided. Simulations are given to illustrate the validity of the proposed approaches.
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PATTERN AGAINST VARIOUS ISOLATES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS FROM RAW MILK SAMPLES

A total of 50 raw milk samples were taken from shops in Multan city. More than 40% milk samples were found contaminated more than 10 8 bacteria per ml. The coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was present in all the samples. When the coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus isolates were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test, the erythromycin was the most effective antibiotic. Only 10% isolates were found methicillin resistant, co-trimaxazole, showed maximum resistance rate 81.81%, 57% isolates were resistant to lincomycin, 63.63% to orbenin, 25.97% to ampicillin, 24.67% to penicillin 23.37% to augmentin and 18.18% to ampiclox. Only 2.6% of the isolates were found resistant to tetracycline. It is concluded that hygiene of milk is poor and resistant strains have contaminated the milk probably during the process of transportation.
Angiotensin II activates nuclear transcription factor-kappaB through AT1 and AT2 receptors.

BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests that angiotensin II (Ang II) induces a variety of proinflammatory mediators including chemokines. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation plays an important role in Ang II-mediated inflammation. The present study investigated which Ang II receptor subtype is involved in NF-kappaB activation. We focused particularly on the Ang II subtype 2 (AT2) receptor because we previously observed that Ang II-induction of the chemokine RANTES in vitro and in vivo is mediated through AT2 receptors. METHODS AT1 or AT2 receptors were selectively overexpressed in COS7 cells that normally do not express Ang II receptors. In addition, rat glomerular endothelial cells (GER) that express AT1 and AT2 receptors and PC12 cells that exclusively exhibit AT2 receptors were studied also. Ang II-receptor expression was confirmed by Western blots of membrane lysates. NF-kappaB DNA binding in vitro was detected by electrophoretic shift assays. In addition, in vivo transactivation of a reporter gene construct with kappa enhancer coupled to luciferase also was investigated. Expression of the inhibitor of kappaB alpha (IkappaB-alpha) was detected by Western blots. RESULTS In AT1 or AT2 receptor transfected cells, but not untransfected COS7 cells, 10-7 mol/L Ang II induced NF-kappaB DNA binding in vitro, as detected by electrophoretic shift assays and in vivo transactivation of a reporter gene construct. The AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319 but not losartan attenuated Ang II-mediated NF-kappaB activation in COS7 cells transfected with AT2 receptors. While Ang II also induced NF-kappaB activation in PC12 cells, this activation was blocked by PD 123319. Finally, stimulation of GERs with Ang II led to the activation of NF-kappaB through both subtypes of Ang II receptors. Nuclear extracts from COS7 cells transfected with AT2 receptors and PC12 cells with NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity consisted of p50/p65 complexes. There was no difference in subunit composition of nuclear proteins from Ang II-stimulated AT1 receptor transfected COS7 cells. An artificial peptide (p-Amino-Phe6-Ang II) with a high affinity for the AT2 receptor also activated NF-kappaB. Ang II-induced activation of NF-kappaB was associated with degradation of IkappaB-alpha in all studied cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Our results clearly demonstrate in various cell lines that Ang II induces NF-kappaB activation through AT2 receptors. These data may have important therapeutic consequences, because potential Ang II-mediated proinflammatory renal and cardiovascular effects may not be totally antagonized by the currently increased clinical use of AT1 receptor antagonists.
Vasopeptidase Inhibition Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Endothelial Function in the JCR:LA-cp Rat

The insulin-resistant, hyperinsulinemic, normoglycemic, and obese JCR:LA-cp rat was used to study the effects of ramipril (an ACE inhibitor) and AVE7688 (a dual inhibitor of ACE and neutral endopeptidases) on insulin sensitivity and vascular function. Both compounds reduced the surge of plasma insulin in a meal tolerance test by approximately 50%. Ramipril had no effect on acetylcholine-induced relaxation but increased the sensitivity to sodium nitroprus-side at low concentrations. AVE7688 significantly reduced the EC50 for acetylcholine to relax phenylephrine-contracted aortic rings. None of the compounds affected the baseline coronary flow and reactive hyperemia. Coronary flow response to bradykinin in AVE7688- and ramipril-treated rat hearts showed a significantly lower EC50 than in control rats. Maximum flow rate was not different between groups. In summary, both ramipril and AVE7688 had significant hypoinsulinemic and insulin-sensitizing effects. Whereas ramipril had limited vascular effects, AVE7688 had more marked beneficial vascular effects, probably of endothelial origin and possibly related to lowered insulin levels.
The development of a computerized assessment for minor psychiatric disorder

Synopsis This paper describes the development, validation and use of a computerized assessment for minor psychiatric disorder based on the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS; Goldberg et al. 1970). There was good agreement between the computerized assessment and the CIS administered by psychiatrists, both in assessing overall severity and in defining ‘cases’ of psychiatric disorder. Individual symptoms elicited by the computer and the CIS were compared, and the levels of agreement found were similar to those from inter-observer studies of standardized interviews. Subjects from a variety of non-psychiatric settings regarded the assessment as acceptable, accurate and easy to use. It is concluded that this computerized assessment of neurotic symptoms is valid and reliable. It eliminates observer bias, it is an efficient use of research resources and it may have clinical applications in primary care.
Erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume associated with the anatomical distribution in peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND Elevated erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) has been suggested to be a risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether MCV was associated with a distinct pattern of severe atherosclerosis (lumen reductions > or = 75%) in patients with symptomatic PAD, as measured by angiography. PATIENTS AND METHODS 100 consecutively admitted male PAD patients with iliac, femoral-popliteal and crural disease manifestation were compared with 100 male age-matched control subjects without PAD on the basis of angiographically determined lumen reductions > or = 75%. RESULTS The pattern of severe atherosclerosis was as follows: 41 PAD patients displayed stenoses/occlusions in the iliac segment, 68 in the femoral-popliteal and 15 in the crural segment. When comparing the PAD patients with the controls by multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis, MCV was an independent predictor of severe atherosclerosis in the iliac (OR = 2.72 for an increment of 5 fl, 95% CI = 1.15-6.40) and the femoral-popliteal segment (OR = 3.13 for an increment of 5 fl, 95% CI = 1.51-6.49) but not in the crural site. This pattern was similar to the impact of smoking. CONCLUSION Higher MCV values contributed to lumen reductions > or = 75% of the proximal segments in patients with symptomatic PAD. This observation could be clinically important since revascularisation procedures are done predominantly in these segments. As a consequence, observance of elevated MCV values should be considered in PAD patients.
Hand Movements Which Cross the Body Midline: Findings Relating Age Differences to Handedness

Performance of 200 children (5 groups, 4 to 12 yr.) in an experimental study of spatial development was analyzed in terms of hand preference and differences in laterality of response. In accord with the literature a cross-lateral inhibition effect was confirmed but there were marked differences between hands. The supposed ‘body midline’ seemed to offer more resistance to one hand than to the other. Alternative explanations are suggested.
( Droxidopa ) : a new therapy for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension The US experience

neurotransmitter disorder. While Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of dopamine neurotransmission, autonomic failure is a disorder of norepinephrine neurotransmission. The idea that deficient dopamine neurotransmission in Parkinson’s disease could be overcome by treatment with oral levodopa, the amino acid precursor of dopamine, led to the most successful therapeutic intervention in 20th century neurology. Although levodopa is the amino acid precursor of both dopamine and norepinephrine, treatment with levodopa leads to an increase in dopamine but not to a significant increase in norepinephrine levels. Norepinephrine is synthesized from levodopa in two steps (Fig. 1). The first step is the decarboxylation of levodopa to dopamine by the enzyme L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. The second step, catalyzed by the enzyme dopamine beta hydroxylase, is the hydroxylation of dopamine to norepinephrine. Horacio Kaufmann L-dihydroxyphenylserine (Droxidopa): a new therapy for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension