Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deposition of Biomass Combustion Aerosol Particles in the Human Respiratory Tract

Smoke from biomass combustion has been identified as a major environmental risk factor associated with adverse health effects globally. Deposition of the smoke particles in the lungs is a crucial factor for toxicological effects, but has not previously been studied experimentally. We investigated the size-dependent respiratory-tract deposition of aerosol particles from wood combustion in humans. Two combustion conditions were studied in a wood pellet burner: efficient (“complete”) combustion and low-temperature (incomplete) combustion simulating “wood smoke. ” The size-dependent deposition fraction of 15-to 680-nm particles was measured for 10 healthy subjects with a novel setup. Both aerosols were extensively characterized with regard to chemical and physical particle properties. The deposition was additionally estimated with the ICRP model, modified for the determined aerosol properties, in order to validate the experiments and allow a generalization of the results. The measured total deposited fraction of particles from both efficient combustion and low-temperature combustion was 0.21–0.24 by number, surface, and mass. The deposition behavior can be explained by the size distributions of the particles and by their ability to grow by water uptake in the lungs, where the relative humidity is close to saturation. The experiments were in basic agreement with the model calculations. Our findings illustrate: (1) that particles from biomass combustion obtain a size in the respiratory tract at which the deposition probability is close to its minimum, (2) that particle water absorption has substantial impact on deposition, and (3) that deposition is markedly influenced by individual factors.
Development of a Japanese Version of the Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire

The present study described development of a Japanese version of the Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire and examined the relations of scores with those on Big Five scales of personality and self-esteem scales. The participants were 615 undergraduates. Factor analysis led to the shortened version of 24 items in three subscales. Although Cronbach alphas were low for the subscale, Manage and Regulate Emotion, values were satisfactory for the other two subscales, Express and Label Emotion and Perceive and Understand Emotion. Total scores of this version were positively correlated with score for self-esteem, Extraversion, and Openness but negatively correlated with scores on Neuroticism. This shorter Japanese versions shows suitable internal consistency and content validity, but other reliabilities and validities must be examined precisely.
Drain Extended Tunnel FET—A Novel Power Transistor for RF and Switching Applications

For the first time, a novel drain-extended tunnel FET (DeTFET) device is disclosed in this paper, while addressing the need for high-voltage/high-power devices for system-on-chip and automotive applications in beyond FinFET technology nodes. Operation of the proposed DeTFET device is presented with physics of band-to-band tunneling and associated carrier injection. Device’s intrinsic (dc/switching), analog, and RF performance is compared with the state-of-the-art drain-extended nMOS (DeNMOS) device. The proposed device for 11 V breakdown voltage offers <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$15\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> better subthreshold slope, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> lower off-state leakage, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> higher ON current, and absence of channel length modulation and drain induced barrier lowering, while keeping <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.5\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> lower threshold voltage. This results into significantly better ON resistance for a range of gate voltages, higher transconductance, orders of magnitude higher intrinsic transistor gain, and better RF characteristics, when compared with the DeNMOS device. Finally, device design guidelines are presented and scalability, without affecting breakdown voltage, of the proposed device is compared with the DeNMOS device.
Polyimide-based scintillators studied by ion beam induced luminescence

New organic scintillators for ionizing radiation sensors are synthesized by dispersing dye molecules into chemically imidized polyimide hosts in order to obtain detection systems with improved radiation resistance with respect to the traditional polyvinyltoluene based materials. Nile Red and rhodamine B are dispersed at different concentrations in polyimides derived from the following monomers: 6FDA-DAD, 6FDA-DAB and BPDA-3F. Scintillating thin films are produced by the spin coating technique. Scintillation tests are performed both on pure polyimides and on binary systems by means of ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL), in which the emission spectrum is collected during the irradiation of the films with a /sup 4/He/sup +/ beam. From the intensity and the degradation rate of the IBIL signal during irradiation, the scintillation efficiency with respect to NE102 and the radiation hardness of the produced films are calculated.
Logistic Support Architecture with Petri Net Design in Cloud Environment for Services and Profit Optimization

Cloud computing refers to both the applications delivered as services over the Internet and hardware and system software in the cloud server farm that provides those services. The research on server backup of cloud server farm appears to be an important issue of cloud computing economics. Optimal logistic policy should be considered to be a profit-oriented framework simultaneously for providing qualified service to cloud users while the whole cloud center is under construction. The kernel point of the proposed approach is that a novel design pattern is developed for approaching optimal profit on logistics using the finite-source queuing theory. To model the proposed approach for qualitative analysis, a Petri Net model was developed to configure all relevant system aspects in a concise fashion. On quantitative work, a comprehensive mathematical analysis on profit pattern has been made in detail. Relevant simulations have also been conducted to validate the proposed optimization model. The design illustration is presented to demonstrate engineering application scenario in cloud environment, hence the proposed approach indeed provides a feasibly profit-oriented framework to meet logistic economy.
CD95 is not functional in human erythrocytes

Introduction: The CD95 pathway is a potent inducer of apoptosis in nucleated cells and this death receptor is important for proper blood cell development. Although it is expressed in red blood cells, its functional role in erythrocytes is not well documented. These anucleated cells can undergo cell death via eryptosis, a process showing similarities to apoptosis of nucleated cells. This mode of cell death is mainly triggered by oxidative stress or energy depletion.
Species-specific diversity among simian immunodeficiency viruses from African green monkeys

The prevalence, natural history, and genetic characteristics of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections in most feral African monkey species are presently unknown, yet this information is essential to elucidate their origin and relationship to other simian and human immunodeficiency viruses. In this study, a combination of classical and molecular approaches were used to identify and characterize SIV isolates from West African green monkeys (Cercopithecus sabaeus) (SIVagm isolates). Four SIVagm viruses from wild-caught West African green monkeys were isolated and analyzed biologically and molecularly. Amplification, cloning, and sequencing of a 279-bp polymerase fragment directly from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells was facilitated by the use of nested polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that West African green monkeys are naturally infected with SIVs which are closely related to East African SIVagm isolates. However, structural, antigenic, and genetic differences were observed which strongly suggest that the West African green monkey viruses comprise a phylogenetically distinct subgroup of SIVagm. These findings support our previous hypothesis that SIVagm viruses may have evolved and diverged coincident with the evolution and divergence of their African green monkey host. In addition, this study describes a polymerase chain reaction-based approach that allows the identification and molecular analysis of divergent SIV strains directly from primary monkey tissue. This approach, which does not depend on virus isolation methods, should facilitate future studies aimed at elucidating the origins and natural history of SIVs in feral African green monkey populations.
Compensating Wage Differentials, Sorting into Occupations and Job Tasks

The theory of wage premia for job disamenities exhibits mixed evidence in empirical analysis. In the current study, I employ a rich data set of workplace attributes for 1979-2012 in Germany to show that only those disagreeable workplace characteristics that are related to non-routine cognitive tasks receive a positive payoff. Moreover, sorting in occupations and job tasks explains a substantial part of both positive and negative returns to disamenities. Thus, the mixed evidence on returns to disamenitites can be explained by the type of jobs they are related to and by the magnitude by which technological progress has affected these jobs.
The Ded1/DDX3 subfamily of DEAD-box RNA helicases

Abstract In eukaryotic organisms, the orthologs of the DEAD-box RNA helicase Ded1p from yeast and DDX3 from human form a well-defined subfamily that is characterized by high sequence conservation in their helicase core and their N- and C- termini. Individual members of this Ded1/DDX3 subfamily perform multiple functions in RNA metabolism in both nucleus and cytoplasm. Ded1/DDX3 subfamily members have also been implicated in cellular signaling pathways and are targeted by diverse viruses. In this review, we discuss the considerable body of work on the biochemistry and biology of these proteins, including the recently discovered link of human DDX3 to tumorigenesis.
Paradoxical Septal Motion After Cardiac Surgery: A Review of 3,292 Cases

Paradoxical septal motion (PSM) is the systolic movement of the interventricular septum toward the right ventricle despite normal thickening. The PSM is a frequent echocardiographic finding after cardiac surgery. Although it is universally recognized, there has been no large‐scale study to correlate PSM with the type of surgical procedure. The cause of PSM is unknown; prevailing theories include: (1) operation on the heart alters the degree to which it is restrained by the pericardium and the chest wall and (2) transient ischemia alters septal motion.
Industrial relations now: Where are we? Where to next?

It has been more than two decades since human resource management (HRM) was predicted to make our field of scholarship, industrial relations (IR), redundant. However, we see the discipline as being alive and well, with a productive overlap between HRM and IR as fields of both scholarship and practice with a focus on work itself, and relationships at work as well as the social, cultural and political elements that influence them. For a better understanding of workplace matters, it is essential to retain a critical scholarship towards the study of the employment relationship. The notable historian of IR Peter Ackers suggests that ‘IR, as IR can only meet the current challenge by retooling some foundation ideas’ and that we can ‘only find the future in the past’ (2011: 46). In answering this call, we thought it worthwhile to revisit the meaning, relevance and impact of IR as a field of scholarship and to attempt to understand where the field is going. As such, as editors of this special issue, we asked the authors who have contributed articles to do three things: provide a review of the themes in the extant research in their field of expertise; analyse the emerging issues in the relevant literature; and finally, present some suggestions as to the questions and topics likely to emerge in future scholarship. The six articles presented in this edition have been constructed to meet these three aims.
HHV‐6 and 7 DNA loads in lung tissues collected from patients with interstitial pneumonia

The aim of this study is to determine whether human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) and HHV‐7 might play an important role in causing interstitial pneumonia in patients who have not undergone transplantation. HHV‐6 and HHV‐7 DNAs were quantitated by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in paraffin embedded lung tissues collected from 24 patients having the disease. Control tissues (without fibrosis) were also collected from 19 of the 24 patients. Statistical analysis was carried out by the Wilcoxon signed rank test or the Mann–Whitney U‐test. HHV‐6 DNA was detected in 3 (12.5%) of the 24 target tissues and 3 (15.8%) of the 19 control tissues, respectively. In contrast, HHV‐7 DNA was detected in 19 (79.2%) of the 24 target tissues and 11 (57.9%) of the 19 control tissues. Neither HHV‐6 DNA load (P = 0.6395) nor HHV‐7 DNA load (P = 0.5966) in target tissues differed between males and females. Neither HHV‐6 DNA load (P = 0.9589) nor HHV‐7 DNA load (P = 0.7419) in target tissues differed between cases with and without underlying collagen disease. While HHV‐6 DNA load did not differ between the target and control tissues (P > 0.9999), the HHV‐7 DNA load was significantly higher in the target tissue than in the control tissue (P = 0.0298). This study suggests that HHV‐7 may play an important role in causing interstitial pneumonia in patients who are not transplant recipients. J. Med. Virol. 75:70–75, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A 137 dB Dynamic Range and 0.32 V Self-Powered CMOS Imager With Energy Harvesting Pixels

This work presents an 0.32 V self-powered high dynamic range (DR) CMOS imager in standard 0.18 μm CMOS technology with dual-mode operation: imaging (IMG) and optical energy harvesting (OEH) modes. In IMG mode, a dual-exposure extended-counting (DEEC) scheme is proposed and implemented with a 5-bit programmable current-controlled threshold (PCCT) generator. By combining the DR of a short-exposure (88 dB) and an extended long-exposure (49 dB) conversions, the DEEC achieves a high DR of 137 dB. The chip consumes 10.6 μW at 6.5 fps with 0.32 V operation and 32.1 μW at 16.5 fps with 0.4 V operation, which results in an iFoM of 8.1 f and 9.8 fJ/pixel·code. In OEH mode, the sensing pixels turns into energy harvesting pixels with an additional global micro solar cell and corresponding mode control circuit, which generates 455 mV and 14 μW at 60 klux (sunny day) and supports a self-powered imaging operation at 4.1 fps.
Swallowing after laryngectomy

Purpose of review This article examines the emergence of dysphagia as an area for rehabilitation postlaryngectomy. The use of dysphagia evaluation tools postlaryngectomy is described and the causes of dysphagia discussed. Recent findings Although the risk of aspiration postlaryngectomy is low, significant symptoms of dysphagia can exist in this patient population. A comprehensive evaluation is the cornerstone for both the identification and management of postlaryngectomy dysphagia. The tool predominantly used to evaluate laryngectomy to date has been videofluoroscopy. The use of this tool in this patient population is described together with fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and manometry. Common causes for dysphagia postlaryngectomy are outlined. Some of the surgical and behavioural interventions used to manage postlaryngectomy dysphagia are discussed. Summary A significant proportion of postlaryngectomy patients can present with dysphagia. Comprehensive swallowing evaluation can illuminate the causes of dysphagia in this patient population and facilitate their management.
Priming of hypoxia-inducible factor by neuronal nitric oxide synthase is essential for adaptive responses to severe anemia

Cells sense and respond to changes in oxygen concentration through gene regulatory processes that are fundamental to survival. Surprisingly, little is known about how anemia affects hypoxia signaling. Because nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) figure prominently in the cellular responses to acute hypoxia, we defined the effects of NOS deficiency in acute anemia. In contrast to endothelial NOS or inducible NOS deficiency, neuronal NOS (nNOS)−/− mice demonstrated increased mortality during anemia. Unlike wild-type (WT) animals, anemia did not increase cardiac output (CO) or reduce systemic vascular resistance (SVR) in nNOS−/− mice. At the cellular level, anemia increased expression of HIF-1α protein and HIF-responsive mRNA levels (EPO, VEGF, GLUT1, PDK1) in the brain of WT, but not nNOS−/− mice, despite comparable reductions in tissue PO2. Paradoxically, nNOS−/− mice survived longer during hypoxia, retained the ability to regulate CO and SVR, and increased brain HIF-α protein levels and HIF-responsive mRNA transcripts. Real-time imaging of transgenic animals expressing a reporter HIF-α(ODD)-luciferase chimeric protein confirmed that nNOS was essential for anemia-mediated increases in HIF-α protein stability in vivo. S-nitrosylation effects the functional interaction between HIF and pVHL. We found that anemia led to nNOS-dependent S-nitrosylation of pVHL in vivo and, of interest, led to decreased expression of GSNO reductase. These findings identify nNOS effects on the HIF/pVHL signaling pathway as critically important in the physiological responses to anemia in vivo and provide essential mechanistic insight into the differences between anemia and hypoxia.
Valuing investment projects under interest rate risk: empirical evidence from European firms

ABSTRACT In this article, we perform an empirical investigation of the effect of the interest rate uncertainty on the valuation of investment projects. The analysis is carried out by employing a real option approach and by considering a set of firms that operate in various production sectors in the euro area. In particular, the revenues generated by the investment projects are modelled using a geometric Brownian motion, whereas the interest rate is specified as a stochastic process of Vasicek type. Moreover, using the volatility of the equity return as a proxy, the volatility of the revenues is calibrated to real firm data, while the parameters of the interest rate model are estimated by fitting the Euribor time series. To this aim, an ad hoc calibration procedure is developed which is based on the maximum likelihood principle and thus has the merit of being simple, fast and suitable for practical purposes. Our study reveals that the interest rate uncertainty reduces the valuation of investment projects. However, stochastic interest rates do not provide a substantial improvement with respect to constant interest rates, or at least the differences are not statistically significant.
Trajectories of Adolescent Alcohol Use in the Year Following a Brief Alcohol Intervention.

OBJECTIVE Brief interventions have become increasingly popular for youth who engage in problematic drinking behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the alcohol use trajectories of adolescents over a 12-month period following the receipt of a brief intervention. METHOD The current sample came from two independent studies and consisted of 206 adolescents (ages 13-19; 52% male) recruited through an emergency department or community institution (e.g., courts, schools). Timeline followback methods were used at four points over 1 year to obtain daily estimates of alcohol use behaviors, with daily data then aggregated at the monthly level to examine trajectories of total drinks consumed and maximum drinks on one occasion. Using latent growth curve analysis, we expected a general pattern of increasing use over time, with lower use during the month immediately following completion of the intervention. RESULTS Models with random intercepts, random linear slopes, and fixed quadratic trends provided good fit to the data for both total drinks and maximum drinks. For each outcome, there was an immediate decrease and then a gradual increase up to the 3- and 6-month assessments, with decreases seen in the months following assessments. Older age, White race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, and greater prior substance use were associated with greater initial levels of use and growth over time. CONCLUSIONS Interindividual differences were observed in alcohol use trajectories over time for high-risk adolescents following an alcohol use intervention. Subsequent research may demonstrate more uniform and permanent modification of trajectories by incorporating intervention-related materials into follow-up contacts.
A New Approach for Measuring Shareholder Value Creation

This paper introduces a new approach for measuring shareholder value creation (called adjusted economic profit (EP)) which combines the advantages of both EP and APV (adjusted present value) methods. In particular, the shareholder value creation over a period is derived as the sum of two components: the EP relating purely to the operations of the company and the EP generated each period due to the tax benefit that arises from debt financing. We consider our results to be important for analysts and decision makers involved in appraising business performance or making investment decisions and HR professionals as well.
Bacterial Cytolysin Perturbs Round Window Membrane Permeability Barrier In Vivo: Possible Cause of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Acute Otitis Media

ABSTRACT The passage of radioiodinated streptolysin-O (SLO) and albumin through the round window membrane (RWM) was studied in vivo. When applied to the middle ear, SLO became quantitatively entrapped in this compartment and no passage to the cochlea occurred. However, flux of radioiodinated albumin through the toxin-damaged RWM was observed. We propose that the passage of noxious macromolecules, such as proteases, from a purulent middle-ear effusion may be facilitated by pore-forming toxins, resulting in cochlear damage and sensorineural hearing loss.
BRONCHIOLAR EPITHELIAL LESIONS INDUCED IN THE PREMATURE RABBIT NEONATE BY SHORT PERIODS OF ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION

Premature newborn rabbits were ventilated with standardized tidal volume (10 ml/kg) or standardized insufflation pressure (35 cm H2O) for 1–30 min. The lungs of the experimental fetuses were fixed by perfusion of the pulmonary artery and examined by light and electron microscopy, with particular reference to the prevalence and ultrastructure of bronchiolar epithelial lesions. Necrosis and desquamation of bronchiolar epithelium were constant findings in fetuses ventilated for 5 min. or more, and were also present in some of the fetuses ventilated for only 1 min. Since the light microscopic and ultrastructural appearance of these bronchiolar lesions is similar to early stages of human neonatal hyaline membrane disease, we conclude that artificially ventilated pre‐term newborn rabbits might serve as a useful model of this disease.