Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relation of retinal vessel caliber to the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy: XIX: the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE To describe the relation of retinal arteriolar and venular caliber to the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus. DESIGN Incidence findings in a population-based study of diabetic retinopathy in Wisconsin. Participants included 996 persons diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus before 30 years of age who took insulin and underwent the baseline examination, 891 in the 4-year follow-up, 765 in the 10-year follow-up, and 634 in the 14-year follow-up. Retinal photographs of 7 standard fields were taken at all examinations. Computer-assisted grading was performed from a digitized image of field 1 to determine the average diameter of retinal arterioles and venules and their ratio. Main outcome measures included incidence and progression of retinopathy, incidence of proliferative retinopathy, and macular edema. RESULTS While adjusting for other factors, larger arteriolar (relative risk [RR] for the fourth vs first quartile range, 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-3.47; test of trend, P =.008) and venular diameters (RR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.37-3.95; test of trend, P =.005) were associated with greater 4-year progression of retinopathy. Larger venular diameters (RR, 4.28; 95% CI, 1.50-12.19; test of trend, P =.006) but not arteriolar diameters were associated with greater 4-year incidence of proliferative retinopathy. In multivariable analyses, arteriolar and venular calibers were not associated with the 4-year incidence of retinopathy. While adjusting for other factors, arteriolar and venular calibers were not associated with incidence of macular edema at 4 years. There were few associations of arteriolar or venular caliber with the 10- or 14-year incidence or the progression of retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS Larger arteriolar and venular caliber, independent of retinopathy severity level, is related to the progression of retinopathy, and larger venular caliber is associated with the 4-year incidence of proliferative retinopathy. Caliber of retinal vessels is not associated with incident retinopathy. These data suggest a quantitative measure of retinal vascular caliber provides additional information regarding risk for progression of retinopathy.
New tools and emerging technologies for the diagnosis of tuberculosis: Part II. Active tuberculosis and drug resistance

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s most important infectious causes of morbidity and mortality among adults. Between 8 and 9 million develop TB disease, and approximately 2 million die from TB each year. Despite this enormous global burden, case detection rates are low, posing major hurdles for TB control. Conventional TB diagnosis continues to rely on smear microscopy, culture and chest radiography. These tests have known limitations. Conventional tests for detection of drug resistance are slow, tedious and difficult to perform in field conditions. This second half of a two-part review series on new tools for TB diagnosis describes recent advances and emerging technologies in the diagnosis of active disease, and detection of drug resistance. For diagnosis, new tools include newer versions of nucleic acid amplification tests, immune-based assays, skin patch test and rapid culture systems. For drug resistance, new tools include line-probe assays, bacteriophage-based assays, molecular beacons and microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay. Although the ideal test for TB is still not in sight, substantial progress has been made in the past decade. With the resurgence of interest in the development of new tools for TB control, it is likely that the next decade will see greater progress and tangible benefits. However, the challenge will be to ensure that new tools undergo rigorous evaluations in field conditions, and also to make sure that benefits of promising new tools actually reach the populations in developing countries that need them most. Latent TB is discussed in Part I; 413–422 of this issue.
Space Connection - A Multiplayer Collaborative Biofeedback Game to Promote Empathy in Teenagers: A Feasibility Study

Biofeedback videogames are physiologically driven games that offer opportunities to individually improve emotional self-regulation and produce mental and physical health benefits. To investigate the feasibility of a novel collaborative multiplayer methodology, we created Space Connection, a videogame to promote empathy in teenagers. Space Connection depicts a futuristic adventure aboard a spaceship in which players have to jointly use their powers to solve a set of physics-based puzzles. The game relies on the use of physiological self-regulation to activate the playing partner powers. Using a low-cost brain computer interface and a respiration rate sensor we provided players with two game powers, namely telekinesis and timemanipulation which are mapped to changes in attention and relaxation. In this paper we describe the game mechanics in three different scenarios: i) the cryogenic room, ii) the space ship corridor and iii) the cargo hold. Finally, we performed a feasibility study with 10 users (aged 22.2 ± 5.6) to evaluate the game experience. Results revealed high scores in enjoyment and empathy but low scores on interface control. Our preliminary data supports the use of novel biofeedback strategies combined with videogames to promote positive emotions and incentive collaboration and teamwork.
Offset voltage estimation model for latch-type sense amplifiers

A sense amplifier detects a small signal and amplifies it to produce a large signal. However, a sensing failure may occur owing to the offset voltage caused by the mismatch of paired transistors in the sense amplifier. Since the yield of a sense amplifier is the strong function of the offset voltage, estimation of the offset voltage and its statistical distribution is critical in designing sense amplifiers. As offset voltage can be assumed to follow a Gaussian distribution, its standard deviation (1-sigma, σOS) can be estimated from a simple variance model for paired transistors. However, owing to secondary effects such as differential charge injection, drain-induced barrier lowering and stack effect, σOS estimated using the variance model deviates from that obtained from statistical (Monte-Carlo) simulation, and the deviation becomes larger as technology scales down. This study analyses secondary effects on the offset voltage in the most commonly used latch-type sense amplifiers and suggests novel σOS estimation model. The proposed model, which considers secondary effects, can accurately estimate σOS even when technology scales down. This study also presents the trend of the influence of secondary effects on the offset voltage with technology scaling.
Determination of Absolute Sound Levels and Acoustic Absorption Coefficients by Thermocouple Probes—Theory

A detailed theoretical analysis of the operation of thermocouple probes used to determine absolute sound levels or acoustic absorption coefficients is presented.The probe consists of a thermocouple imbedded in a sound absorbing medium which closely matches in density and sound velocity the medium in which the sound level is to be determined. In use the transducer which generates the acoustic field is excited to generate sound pulses with a rectangular envelope. The initial time rate of change of the temperature at the thermocouple junction is determined. In addition to the measurement of the temperature change, the calculation of the absolute sound intensity requires only a knowledge of the absorption coefficient of the imbedding material and its heat capacity per unit volume at the temperature at which the measurements are made.The theoretical discussion includes an analysis of the relation between the temperature rise at the junction resulting from absorption in the body of the imbedding medium and the .
Retinal projections to the superior colliculus and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii): I. Normal topography

The topography of retinal projections to the superior colliculus and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of a wallaby, the tammar (Macropus eugenii), was investigated by an anatomical method. Small laser lesions were made in the retinas of experimental animals, and the remaining retinal projections were visualized by means of horseradish‐peroxidase histochemistry. The position of each lesion was correlated with the position of the filling defects in the terminal label.
Smart Transformer reliability and efficiency through modularity

The application of the Smart Transformer (ST) in the electrical distribution system follows the trend to install more intelligent devices in the grid. In competition with the traditional transformer, the winning argument of the ST can be the grid services, while the system needs to be designed for the targets of high efficiency, high reliability and high availability. This work proposes a modular ST design, which uses power semiconductors rated for lower current and voltage for high efficiency, while the reliability and the availability are targeted by directly routing the power within the modular system. An overview is given on promising modular ST architectures and the concept of power routing for improved reliability is presented.
An extremal problem for a graphic sequence to have a realization containing every 2-tree with prescribed size

A graph $G$ is a $2$ -tree if $G=K_3$, or $G$ has a vertex $v$ of degree 2, whose neighbors are adjacent, and $G-v$ is a 2-tree. Clearly, if $G$ is a 2-tree on $n$ vertices, then $|E(G)|=2n-3$. A non-increasing sequence $\pi =(d_1, \ldots ,d_n)$ of nonnegative integers is a graphic sequence if it is realizable by a simple graph $G$ on $n$ vertices. Yin and Li (Acta Mathematica Sinica, English Series, 25(2009)795–802) proved that if $k \geq 2$, $n \geq \frac{9}{2}k^2 + \frac{19}{2}k$ and $\pi =(d_1, \ldots ,d_n)$ is a graphic sequence with $\sum \limits_{i=1}^n d_i > (k-2)n$, then $\pi$ has a realization containing every tree on $k$ vertices as a subgraph. Moreover, the lower bound $(k-2)n$ is the best possible. This is a variation of a conjecture due to Erdős and Sos. In this paper, we investigate an analogue extremal problem for 2-trees and prove that if $k \geq 3$, $n \geq 2k^2-k$ and $\pi =(d_1, \ldots ,d_n)$ is a graphic sequence with $\sum \limits_{i=1}^n d_i > \frac{4kn}{3} - \frac{5n}{3}$ then $\pi$ has a realization containing every 2-tree on $k$ vertices as a subgraph. We also show that the lower bound $\frac{4kn}{3} - \frac{5n}{3}$ is almost the best possible.
Complex behavior in solution of homodimeric SecA

SecA, a homodimeric protein involved in protein export in Escherichia coli, exists in the cell both associated with the membrane translocation apparatus and free in the cytosol. SecA is a multifunctional protein involved in protein localization and regulation of its own expression. To carry out these functions, SecA interacts with a variety of proteins, phospholipids, nucleotides, and nucleic acid and shows two enzymic activities. It is an ATPase and a helicase. Its role during protein localization involves interaction with the precursor polypeptides to be exported, the cytosolic chaperone SecB, and the SecY subunit of the membrane‐associated translocase, as well as with acidic phospholipids. At the membrane, SecA undergoes a cycle of binding and hydrolysis of ATP coupled to conformational changes that result in translocation of precursors through the cytoplasmic membrane. The helicase activity of SecA and its affinity for its mRNA are involved in regulation of its own expression. SecA has been reported to exist in at least two conformational states during its functional cycle. Here we have used analytical centrifugation, as well as column chromatography coupled with multiangle light scatter, to show that in solution SecA undergoes at least two monomer‐dimer equilibrium reactions that are sensitive to temperature and to concentration of salt.
THE EFFECT OF CHITOSAN ON OSTEOCLAST VIABILITY, BONE RESORPTION AND RADICAL OXYGEN PRODUCTION OF PRIMARY OSTEOCLAST CULTURE OF MOUSE BONE

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of chitosan on osteoclast cells by observing cell viability, bone resorption, and radical oxygen species (ROS) production. Methods: Osteoclast cells were obtained from the primary culture of bone marrow mouse. The osteoclast cells were identified by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) marker both on the cells and the culture medium. The osteoclast cell viability was observed with (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium assay and Bradford assay for total protein medium culture, while ROS production was measured with malondialdehyde (MDA) assay. Slices of cow cortical bone were used as a substrate for osteoclastic resorption and concentrated hydrochloric acid were used to activate resorption and pit formation by any osteoclasts. Results: Osteoclast cells were identified by TRAP marker and chitosan treated group cells showed lower optical density value compared to control (p<0.05) on TRAP assay medium culture. Cell viability indicated lower on chitosan group than control (p<0.05). There was a qualitative difference of the pits formed on the bone surface between the control and the chitosan group. There was a significant difference in MDA (mmol/ml) between the control and the chitosan group with (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on this research, we conclude that chitosan inhibits the viability of osteoclast cells, decreases ROS production and bone resorption. Keywords: Chitosan, Osteoclast proliferation, Radical oxygen species, Bone resorption.
What do male singers mean by modal and falsetto register? An investigation of the glottal voice source

The voice source differs between modal and falsetto registers, but singers often try to reduce the associated timbral differences, some even doubting that there are any. A total of 54 vowel sounds sung in falsetto and modal register by 13 male more or less experienced choir singers were analyzed by inverse filtering and electroglottography. Closed quotient, maximum flow declination rate, peak-to-peak airflow amplitude, normalized amplitude quotient, and level difference between the two lowest source spectrum partials were determined, and systematic differences were found in all singers, regardless of experience of singing. The observations seem compatible with previous observations of thicker vocal folds in modal register.
Infants’ selective social learning: the impact of informants’ knowledge states and familiarity on infants’ reception and use of information within the second year of life

Die Aufrechterhaltung und Weiterentwicklung der menschlichen Kultur fust insbesondere auf der Weitergabe und Aneignung des Wissens uber die Welt, das in Form von Informationen von einer Menschengeneration zur nachsten ubertragen wird. In der vorliegenden Dissertation werden Aspekte der ontogenetischen Ursprunge dieses sozialen Informations- und Wissenstransfers untersucht. Hierfur wurden vier Studienreihen durchgefuhrt mit dem Ziel zu untersuchen, inwiefern sich die Vertrautheit und der Wissensstand von Informanten auf das selektive soziale Lernen von Kleinkindern innerhalb ihres zweiten Lebensjahres auswirken. In Studienreihe 1 (Studie 1a, n=137; Studie 1b, n=134) wurde uberpruft, ob das Explorationsverhalten von 14-monatigen Kleinkindern von dem Wissensstand der Informanten hinsichtlich deren lokaler Expertise beeinflusst ist. In Studienreihe 2 wurde in zwei Langsschnittstudien (Studie 2a, n=40; Studie 2b, n=99) die selektive Nutzung des Wissensstandes von Informanten basierend auf deren visueller Perspektive in Versteckspielen bei Kindern im Alter von 14 und 19 bzw. 20 Monaten untersucht. In Studie 3 (n=99) wurde, ebenfalls in einem Versteckspielparadigma, die Praferenz von Kindern im Alter von 14 und 20 Monaten fur vertraute vs. fremde Informanten im Langsschnittdesign untersucht. In Studienreihe 4 (Studie 4a, n =78; Studie 4b, n=78; Studie 4c, n =97) wurden unter Verwendung der zuvor erhobenen Daten die inter-individuellen Unterschiede im sozialen Lernen der Kleinkinder in den Blick genommen. Der Fokus lag hierbei auf dem Zusammenhang zwischen der Qualitat der Eltern-Kind Interaktion und dem sozialen Lernen der Kleinkinder von vertrauten und fremden Informanten. Abschliesend wird in der vorliegenden Dissertation ein Modell vorgestellt, welches eine Moglichkeit darstellt, die wesentlichen Ergebnisse zusammenzufuhren und zu erklaren. In diesem Modell ist die Fahigkeit, bei der Problemlosung in sozialen Lernsituationen auf relevante Informationen zu fokussieren, ein zentraler Aspekt. Die vorliegenden Studien liefern empirische Hinweise darauf, dass das Alter der Kinder und die Sensitivitat ihrer Eltern Faktoren sein konnten, welche diese Fahigkeit formen. Dieses Modell gilt es in der zukunftigen Forschung zu uberprufen, um dadurch zu einem noch tieferen Verstandnis fur das soziale Lernen von Kleinkindern und ihren zugrunde liegenden Motivationen, mit denen sie bestimmte Informanten auswahlen um sich aktiv Wissen uber die Welt anzueignen, zu gelangen.
Murine dendritic cells transfected with human GP100 elicit both antigen‐specific CD8+ and CD4+ T‐cell responses and are more effective than DNA vaccines at generating anti‐tumor immunity

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent inducers of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) when pulsed with an antigenic peptide or tumor lysate. In this report, we have used liposome‐mediated gene transfer to examine the ability of plasmid DNA encoding the human melanoma‐associated antigen gp100 to elicit CD8+ and CD4+ T‐cell responses. We also compared the efficacy between gp100 gene–modified DCs and naked DNA (pCDNA3/gp100)–based vaccines at inducing anti‐tumor immunity. DCs were generated from murine bone marrow and transfected in vitro with plasmid DNA containing the gp100 gene. These gp100‐modified DCs (DC/gps) were used to stimulate syngeneic naive spleen T cells in vitro or to immunize mice in vivo. Antigen‐specific, MHC‐restricted CTLs were generated when DC/gps were used to prime T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, these CTLs were cytolytic for gp100‐transfected syngeneic (H‐2b) tumor MCA106 (MCA/gp) and vaccinia‐pMel17/gp100‐infected syngeneic B16 and MCA106, but not parental tumor MCA106 and B16, or gp100‐transfected allogeneic tumor P815 (H‐2d). Immunization with DC/gp protected mice from subsequent challenge with MCA/gp but not parental MCA106. Antibody‐mediated T‐cell subset depletion experiments demonstrate that induction of CTLs in vivo is dependent on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, DC/gp immunization elicits an antigen‐specific CD4+ T‐cell response, suggesting that DC/gps present MHC class II epitopes to CD4+ T cells. In addition, our data show that gene‐modified, DC‐based vaccines are more effective than the naked DNA‐based vaccines at eliciting anti‐tumor immunity in both prophylactic and therapeutic models. These results suggest that the use of DCs transfected with plasmid DNA containing a gene for TAA may be superior to peptide‐pulsed DCs and naked DNA‐based vaccines for immunotherapy and could provide an alternative strategy for tumor vaccine design. Int. J. Cancer 83:532–540, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An underground explorer robot based on peristaltic crawling of earthworms

Purpose – An earthworm moves by peristaltic crawling which brings a large surface into contact during motions and requires less space than other mechanisms. A peristaltic crawling is suitable for moving in excavated space by an anterior (front) of a robot. Therefore, a peristaltic crawling robot is useful for an underground explorer. The purpose of this paper is to develop a peristaltic crawling robot with several parallel links and compare with motion of an actual earthworm. Then we had some experiments on a plane surface and in a tube, and in vertical perforated dirt.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed robot, which consists of several parallel mechanisms, has four units for being controlled in 3‐DOF. A unit expands in a radial direction when it contracts to increase the friction between the unit and surroundings. Dustproof covering is attached for preventing dirt from getting inside units. Locomotion mechanism is as the same as an actual earthworm's peristaltic crawling. The robot makes an anteri.
The intertidal distribution of the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) in southeastern Australia: The effects of physical conditions, interspecific competition, and predation on propagule establishment and survival

The upper and lower limits of the distribution of mature Avicennia marina lie between mean high water and mean sea level in open estuaries in southeastern Australia. Newly established seedlings are highly variable in abundance, but are rarely found in the saltmarsh or on mudflats. Their distribution is unlikely to be limited by dispersal because propagules disperse into the saltmarsh and to intertidal mudflats, but their establishment may be limited by physicochemical conditions, interspecific competition and predation. The model that physicochemical conditions control the intertidal limits of establishment of seedlings was accepted for propagules stranding in the saltmarsh but rejected for those strand- ing on mudflats. No seedlings established on saltmarsh sediments but similar numbers of seedlings established within light gaps in adult mangrove stands and on intertidal mudflats. The model that interspecific interaction with freeliving macroalgae (Hormosira banksii) re- duces the establishment of seedlings on mudflats covered with macroalgae or in stands with a ground cover of macroalgae was accepted. Under controlled conditions five times as many propagules established on cleared ground compared with ground covered with macroalgae. Predators also reduce seedling establishment, but the model that they preferentially act on propagules stranding on the mudflat was rejected. The low number of seedlings found on mudflats without macroalgae appears to relate to wave and current effects on establishment and the effects of waterlogging or fouling on survival.
On capacitated covering with unit balls

In this paper, we consider the problem of capacitated covering with unit balls. In this problem, a set of weighted points in a metric space is given, and we want to cover them with a minimum number of the unit balls of that metric space provided that the total weight assigned to each unit ball is at most one. The problem is NP-hard as it generalizes the covering-with-unit-balls problem. We consider the problem in two cases: (1) the weight of each point can be split among several unit balls and (2) the unsplittable case. In the latter case, the problem is a generalization of the bin-packing problem even when , and thus it is not approximable under 1.5, unless P=NP. We design a polynomial-time approximation scheme (PTAS) for the splittable case when is a fixed constant and is an metric. This also results in a PTAS for the unsplittable case when all the points have the same weight. We also analyse several natural algorithms for this problem and prove that they achieve constant approximation factors.