Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paraspinal Muscle Denervation, Paradoxically Good Lumbar Endurance, and an Abnormal Flexion–Extension Cycle in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Study Design. A descriptive study was conducted to investigate the paraspinal muscle function in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Objective. To evaluate paraspinal muscle innervation and endurance in lumbar spinal stenosis. Summary of Background Data. Abnormal lumbar paraspinal muscle function is associated with chronic low back pain. Abnormal neurophysiologic findings of the lower limbs often are observed in lumbar spinal stenosis, and abnormal lumbar function also can be expected. However, paraspinal muscle function and innervation have not been studied in lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods. The study evaluated 25 patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed lumbar spinal stenosis. Electromyography of the paraspinal muscles was performed from L3 to S1 bilaterally using a concentric needle. At least 20 insertions were analyzed from each muscle. The aim of the examination was to detect abnormal spontaneous activity associated with axonal damage (fibrillation potentials, positive sharp waves, and complex repetitive discharges). Paraspinal muscle activity during trunk flexion–extension movement and muscle endurance during the dynamic isoinertial back endurance test were assessed by surface electromyography. Muscle fatigue was calculated using mean power frequency analysis. Results. Abnormal findings in needle electromyography of the paraspinal muscles were observed in 18 of the 22 (81.8%) examined patients. Abnormal flexion–extension activation of the paraspinal muscles was observed in all the examined patients. The change in mean power frequency was significantly smaller than in previously evaluated healthy subjects and patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain (P < 0.001) who were not experiencing symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis. Paraspinal muscle fatigability was not associated with the denervation of the muscles. Conclusions. Denervation and abnormal activation of lumbar paraspinal muscles are frequent findings in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who have not undergone surgery. The paraspinal muscle endurance of the patients was unexpectedly good.
A Comparative Study of GUI Testing Approaches

A maioria das aplicacoes de software modernas apresentam uma Interface Grafica de Utilizador (GUI), que torna a aplicacao mais simples de usar, promovendo maior produtividade e melhor acessibilidade, e oferecendo flexibilidade na forma como os utilizadores podem executar tarefas. No entanto, devido a complexidade das GUIs, o processo de teste de GUI pode ser moroso e intensivo. Assim, automatizar o processo tanto quanto possivel e indispensavel para testar qualquer interface grafica mais complexa e evoluida.Existem diferentes abordagens para testes de GUI automatizados, no entanto, a maioria delas requerer esforcos manuais substanciais, outras apenas sao capazes de encontrar erros especificos ou nao permitem a reutilizacao de casos de teste apos alteracoes de sistema ou GUI. Muitos investigadores afirmam que devem ser utilizadas diferentes tecnicas/abordagens para um bom processo de teste.Uma nova abordagem baseada em modelos, denominada de Pattern-Based GUI Testing, foi implementada a fim de aumentar a sistematizacao, reutilizacao e diminuir o esforco da modelacao e teste de GUIs. Baseia-se no conceito de Padroes de Teste de Interface de Utilizador (UITP), que contem estrategias de teste genericas para testar caracteristicas recorrentes e comuns (UI Patterns) em GUIs. E apoiada pela ferramenta PBGT, que integra um ambiente de modelacao e execucao de testes de modo a suportar a criacao de modelos de teste com base em UITPs, com recurso a uma linguagem especifica de dominio (PARADIGM) para modelacao da GUI.Como a abordagem e recente, e relevante submete-la a experiencias e testes sistematizados a fim de avaliar o seu bom desempenho/comportamento e compara-la com outras tecnicas. Assim, este trabalho de dissertacao baseia-se na avaliacao e comparacao da abordagem PBGT em relacao a outras ferramentas e tecnicas, no que diz respeito a deteccao de falhas, facilidade de utilizacao, e aos esforcos necessarios para testar a aplicacao.Para a realizacao de experiencias, foram introduzidas mutacoes em tres aplicacoes web diferentes - iAddressBook , TaskFreak e Tudu - de modo a abranger um maior numero de casos de uso, e cada mutante foi, por sua vez, testado por cada uma das ferramentas selecionadas ou desenvolvidas e que implementam as diferentes abordagens de teste consideradas.
A hybrid approach for the optimal synthesis of pencil beams through array antennas

A hybrid approach to the synthesis of excitations and locations of nonuniformly spaced arrays in order to achieve optimal focusing in any given direction is proposed and discussed. The approach takes definite advantage from the convexity of the problem with respect to excitation variables, and exploits a Simulated Annealing procedure as far as location variables are concerned. The corresponding synthesized patterns outperform previously known results in standard benchmark problems.
System Architecture Virtual Integration : A Case Study

Aerospace industry is experiencing exponential growth in the size and complexity of onboard software. It is also seeing a significant increase in errors and rework of that software. All of those factors contribute to greater cost; the current development process is reaching the limit of affordability of building safe aircraft. An international consortium of aerospace companies with government participation has initiated the System Architecture Virtual Integration (SAVI) program, whose goal is to achieve an affordable solution through a paradigm shift of―integrate then build. A key concept of this paradigm shift is an architecturecentric approach to analysis of virtually integrated system models with respect to multiple operational quality attributes such as performance, safety, and reliability. By doing so early and throughout the life cycle at different levels of fidelity, system-level faults are discovered earlier in the life cycle—reducing risk, cost, and development time. The first phase of this program demonstrated the feasibility of this new development process through a proof of concept demonstration and a return on investment analysis, which are the topics of this paper.
Role of Doping and Thickness of Emitter in the Efficiency of Monocrystalline Si Solar Cells

In order to improve the efficiency of Czocharalski - Si (Cz-Si) photovoltaic cells, we have studied the distribution losses from recombination in Cz-Si commercial standard cell (Isofoton S.A.) by means of I-V measurements under solar simulation illumination with a surface irradiance of 1000 W/m2 and a light spectrum corresponding to a relative air mass of 1.5 G and the PC-ID software. The quantum efficiency of these cells was also measured. An important ratio of losses is localized in the emitters with a low resistance (40 Omega/ ). To decrease the Auger recombination in these emitters we have changed the phosphorous diffusion condition in the furnace in order to obtain shallower and low doping emitters (80 Omega/ ). A new paste for fingers and a metallization procedure were also developing. These new cells present an improvement in its efficiency of 3.5%.
Using the Learning Design Language to model activities supported by services

The main objective of the field of Learning Design (LD) is to provide teachers and instructional designers with the conceptual and technological means to create and manage e-learning activities. This paper addresses a paradox in existing approaches to LD: the activity mediated by services is neither prescribed nor observed. Our proposition is to use LD languages to model an activity supported by a service. This paper describes how to use a specific LD language, also called Learning Design Language (LDL), to model such activities and how Learning Design Infrastructure (LDI), the associated infrastructure, has been extended to allow the operationalisation and execution of these improved scenarios. Thus, the approach attempts to improve service support in the LD field.
Cross-Cultural Web Design Guidelines

Adapting web pages to cultural preferences has been shown to improve communication effectiveness. However, the lack of a set of research-based web design guidelines or best practices renders the creation of culturally tailored versions of a website a time-consuming, costly task which is rarely undertaken by designers. This research aims to develop guidelines for cross-cultural web design to overcome these issues. The authors' prior work has provided empirical data showing significant cultural differences in the usage of design web attributes. These are used to determine a relationship between design attributes, cultural factors, and HCI factors. The result is a synthesis of culturally specific design attributes and published theories of culture to create a set of website design guidelines. The development process involved five steps: evaluation of the usage of design elements between cultures, identification of prominent design elements, organisation of cultural factors, organisation of HCI factors, and finally development the cross-cultural design guidelines. It is hoped that these evidence and research based guidelines will ultimately enhance website usability for users from different cultural backgrounds.
Y chromosome variation in Europe: Continental and local processes in the formation of the extant gene pool

The polymorphism of the male-specific portion of the Y chromosome has been increasingly used to describe the composition of the European gene pool and to reconstruct its formation. Here the theoretical grounds and the limitations of this approach are presented, together with the different views on debated issues. The emerging picture for the composition of the male gene pool of the continent is illustrated, but local peculiarities that represent departures from the main trends are also highlighted, in order to illustrate the main unifying feature, i.e. the overlay of recent patterns onto more ancient ones. A synopsis of the main findings and conclusions obtained in regional studies has also been compiled.
Incidence and host determinants of probable occupational asthma in apprentices exposed to laboratory animals.

Laboratory animal (LA) workers are frequently affected with allergic sensitization and occupational asthma (OA). The role of preexposure host factors, in particular airway responsiveness, on the incidence of OA has not been satisfactorily studied. A prospective cohort study of 417 apprentices in animal-health technology was conducted to investigate the incidence and determinants of probable OA. Questionnaire and skin-prick tests with common and work-specific allergens were administered on entry and at follow-up visits (up to three) from 8 to 44 mo after starting apprenticeship. Responsiveness to inhaled methacholine was assessed at baseline and at follow-up in apprentices who developed a new specific skin sensitization and in control subjects. Preexposure host characteristics and the school attended were compared between cases and all cohort subjects not meeting the criteria for probable OA. Twenty-eight apprentices satisfied the definition for probable OA, i.e., onset of immediate skin reactivity to > 1 occupational inhalant and > 3.2-fold decrease in the provocative concentration causing a 20% reduction in FEV(1) (PC(20)). The incidence of probable OA was 2.7% (28/1,043 person-years). Baseline immediate skin reactivity to pets (rate ratio [RR] 4.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6 to 10.8), and bronchial responsiveness (PC(20) < or = 32 versus PC(20) > 32 mg/ ml) (RR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.0 to 5.8) were associated with an increased risk of probable OA; a lower FEV(1) had an apparent, protective effect (RR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.43 to 0.78). It is concluded that apprentices in animal health show a high incidence of probable OA, and that preexposure airway caliber and responsiveness as well as sensitization to pets are associated with an increased risk.
Extending an ontology alignment system with BioPortal: a preliminary analysis

Ontology alignment (OA) systems developed over the past decade produced alignments by using lexical, structural and logical similarity measures between concepts in two different ontologies. To improve the OA process, string-based matchers were extended to look up synonyms for source and target concepts in background or external knowledge sources such as general purpose lexicons, for example, WordNet.3 Other OA systems such as SAMBO [8] and ASMOV [6] applied this approach but with specialized background knowledge, i.e. the UMLS Metathesaurus,4 for the anatomy track of the Ontology Alignment Evaluation Initiative5 (OAEI). Then a composition-based approach was proposed to use background knowledge sources such as Uberon6 and the Foundational Model of Anatomy7 (FMA) as intermediate ontologies [5] for the anatomy track. Here source concepts and target concepts are first mapped to the intermediate background ontology. If source and target concepts map to an exact match in the intermediate ontology, a mapping can be made between them. Other OA systems also followed with a composition-based approach using Uberon [1, 2]. One issue on the use of background knowledge sources is determining the best knowledge source on which to use these various alignment techniques. Previous OA systems using specialized knowledge sources have pre-selected specific biomedical ontologies such as Uberon for the anatomy track. As a coordinated community effort, BIOPORTAL [3, 4] provides access to more than 370 biomedical ontologies, synonyms, and mappings between ontology entities via a set of REST services.8 By tapping into this resource, an OA system has access to the full range of these ontologies, including Uberon and many of the ontologies integrated in the UMLS Metathesaurus. Since BioPortal has not been exploited in the context of the OAEI, this paper examines two practical uses of BIOPORTAL as a generalized yet also specialized background knowledge source for the biomedical domain. We provide a preliminary investigation of the results of these two uses of BIOPORTAL in the OAEI’s anatomy track using the LogMap system [7].
A four-year baseline Swift study of enigmatic X-ray transients located near the Galactic center

We report on continued monitoring observations of the Galactic center carried out by the X-ray telescope aboard the Swift satellite in 2008 and 2009. This campaign revealed activity of the five known X-ray transients AX J1745.6‐2901, CXOGC J174535.5‐290124, GRS 1741‐2853, XMM J174457‐2850.3 and CXOGC J174538.0‐290022. All these sources are known to undergo very faint X-ray outbursts with 2‐10 keV peak luminosities of LX,peak ∼ 10 34−36 erg s −1 , although the two confirmed neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries AX J1745.6‐2901 and GRS 1741‐2853 can also become brighter (LX,peak ∼ 10 36−37 erg s −1 ). We discuss the observed longterm lightcurves and X-ray spectra of these five enigmatic transients. In 2008, AX J1745.6‐2901 returned to quiescence following an unusually long accretion outburst of more than 1.5 years. GRS 1741‐2853 was active in 2009 and displayed the brightest outburst ever recorded for this source, reaching up to a 2‐10 keV luminosity of LX ∼ 1 ×10 37 (D/7.2 kpc) 2 erg s −1 . This system appears to undergo recurrent accretion outbursts approximately every 2 years. Furthermore, we find that the unclassified transient XMM J174457‐2850.3 becomes bright only during short episodes (days) and is often found active inbetween quiescence (LX ∼ 10 32 erg s −1 ) and its maximum outburst luminosity of LX ∼ 10 36 erg s −1 . CXOGC J174535.5‐290124 and CXOGC J174538.0‐290022, as well as three other veryfaint X-ray transients that were detected by Swift monitoring observations in 2006, have very low time-averaged mass-accretion rates of � ˙
Effects of Insulin on Vasoconstrictive Responses to Norepinephrine and Angiotensin II in Rabbit Femoral Artery and Vein

To determine whether insulin has a vasodilator action on the artery and vein, the effects of insulin at varying concentrations (120 μU/ml, 1.2 mU/ml, 12 mU/ml, and 120 mU/ml) on vasoconstriction by norepinephrine (NE) and angiotensin II (ANG II) were studied in the isolated rabbit femoral artery and vein. Helical strips were suspended in an organ bath filled with modified Krebs solution (pH 7.4), were gassed with 95% O2/5% CO2 at 36°C, and isotonic contractions were measured. Insulin significantly and dose dependently inhibited the vasoconstriction induced by NE (10−8 M for the artery and 10−7 M for the vein) at ≥1.2 mU/ml for both the artery and vein and the vasoconstriction induced by ANG II (3 × 10−10 M for the artery and 3 × 10−9 M for the vein) at ≥1.2 mU/ml for the artery and ≥12 mU/ml for the vein. The results indicate that insulin has an inhibitory effect on NE- and ANG II–induced contraction in both the artery and vein, and this appeared to be a contributory factor in the hypotensive effect observed in diabetic patients treated with insulin.
Modeling and minimization of power consumption in charge pump circuits

In this communication, starting from a power consumption model, an optimized strategy to design charge pumps with the minimum power consumption is presented. The approach allows one to define the number of stages that for a given input and output voltage maximizes the power efficiency. Capacitor value is then set to provide the required current capability. The approach was analytically developed and was validated through simulations on 0.35 /spl mu/m EEPROM technology.
Mechanical initiation of intervertebral disc degeneration.

STUDY DESIGN Mechanical testing of cadaveric lumbar motion segments. OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that minor damage to a vertebral body can lead to progressive disruption of the adjacent intervertebral disc. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Disc degeneration involves gross structural disruption as well as cell-mediated changes in matrix composition, but there is little evidence concerning which comes first. Comparatively minor damage to a vertebral body is known to decompress the adjacent discs, and this may adversely affect both structure and cell function in the disc. METHODS In this study, 38 cadaveric lumbar motion segments (mean age, 51 years) were subjected to complex mechanical loading to simulate typical activities in vivo while the distribution of compressive stress in the disc matrix was measured using a pressure transducer mounted in a needle 1.3 mm in diameter. "Stress profiles" were repeated after a controlled compressive overload injury had reduced motion segment height by approximately 1%. Moderate repetitive loading, appropriate for the simulation of light manual labor, then was applied to the damaged specimens for approximately 4 hours, and stress profilometry was repeated a third time. Discs then were sectioned and photographed. RESULTS Endplate damage reduced pressure in the adjacent nucleus pulposus by 25% +/- 27% and generated peaks of compressive stress in the anulus, usually posteriorly to the nucleus. Discs 50 to 70 years of age were affected the most. Repetitive loading further decompressed the nucleus and intensified stress concentrations in the anulus, especially in simulated lordotic postures. Sagittal plane sections of 15 of the discs showed an inwardly collapsing anulus in 9 discs, extreme outward bulging of the anulus in 11 discs, and complete radial fissures in 2 discs, 1 of which allowed posterior migration of nucleus pulposus. Comparisons with the results from tissue culture experiments indicated that the observed changes in matrix compressive stress would inhibit disc cell metabolism throughout the disc, and could lead to progressive deterioration of the matrix. CONCLUSIONS Minor damage to a vertebral body endplate leads to progressive structural changes in the adjacent intervertebral discs.
Análise do conteúdo das provas da área de Ciências Contábeis: edições do Provão 2002/2003 e do ENADE de 2006

Este estudo tem dois objetivos. O primeiro e verificar se as provas da area de Ciencias Contabeis do Provao de 2002/2003 e do ENADE/2006 incluiram os itens que representem adequadamente o dominio de conteudo da area. O segundo objetivo e desenvolver uma analise critica acerca destes testes de desempenho. Para tanto, empregou-se a tecnica do grupo focal. Foram realizadas duas sessoes de entrevistas junto a um grupo de especialistas da area, composto por docentes, estudantes de mestrado e doutorado. Os resultados evidenciam que na percepcao dos participantes do grupo focal os exames podem ser considerados uma aproximacao adequada do nivel de conhecimento cognitivo da area, dado que os principais conteudos foram avaliados pelos testes. Entretanto, na percepcao dos participantes as questoes dos testes nao mensuraram adequadamente as habilidades, atitudes e comportamentos predeterminados pelas comissoes de especialistas da area, nomeadas pelo Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anisio Teixeira (INEP). Os participantes apontaram que o baixo desempenho dos estudantes possa estar relacionado a reduzida motivacao para resolver a prova.
It's a Just World No Matter Which Way You Look at It

ABSTRACT According to the confluence theory (D. Trafimow, 2009), there is a general tendency of associated mental elements to become compatible with each other. It is possible to derive a reversibility principle from this theory; effects that have been shown to go in 1 direction also can be shown to go in the other direction. Two experiments applied these ideas to just-world phenomena. In Experiment 1, the authors replicated traditional just-world effects but also demonstrated that they occur in the reverse direction. In Experiment 2, the authors extend the notion of compatibility by showing that the value participants assigned to luck is influenced by the assumed goodness or badness of the person involved. The authors also obtained a “contagion” effect whereby a person associated with the target person was tainted by the target person's goodness or badness.
Online Chat Dependency: The Influence of Social Anxiety

Recent developments in information technology have made it easy for people to “chat” online with others in real time, and many do so regularly. “Virtual” relationships can be attractive, especially for people with social interaction problems in the “real world”. This study examines the influence on online chat dependency of three dimensions of social anxiety: general social situation fear, negative evaluation fear, and novel social situation fear. Participants of this study were 454 college students. The survey results show that negative evaluation fear and general social situation fear are relative to online chat dependency, while novel social situation fear does not seem to be a relevant factor.
Measurement and Modeling of 2-D Magnetostriction of Nonoriented Electrical Steel

Magnetostriction of nonoriented electrical steel was measured under rotating flux magnetization conditions which occur in AC electrical machine stator cores, and compared with the magnetostriction calculated from a model based on a mechanical elasticity analogy. Shear magnetostriction and magnetostriction perpendicular to the magnetization direction are accounted for in the model which leads to an accurate representation of magnetostriction throughout the electrical steel lamination plane. This has the potential for improving the accuracy of stator core deformation and vibration calculations.