Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Victorian local government reform 1992-1999 revisited: implications for trade unions

Between 1992 and 1999 the Victorian State Government, led by Jeff Kennett, set about implementing the most extensive public sector reform program ever witnessed in Australia, part of which involved significant changes in the organisation and operation of local government. Although local government had traditionally been 'the blind spot' in governmental arrangements, within three years of assuming office local government had undergone major structural and operational change. This paper revisits this period by examining four elements of the reform agenda including the factors driving the reform, the Kennett government's approach to local government reform, the expected outcomes sought by this government, and the policies implemented in local government to achieve the expected outcomes. The paper identifies a number of implications for trade unions arising from this reform agenda and concludes that further investigation is warranted in this area.
When Injury Clouds Understanding of Others: Theory of Mind after Mild TBI in Preschool Children

Abstract There is evidence to suggest that social skills, such as the ability to understand the perspective of others (theory of mind), may be affected by childhood traumatic brain injuries; however, studies to date have only considered moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to assess theory of mind after early, mild TBI (mTBI). Fifty-one children who sustained mTBI between 18 and 60 months were evaluated 6 months post-injury on emotion and desires reasoning and false-belief understanding tasks. Their results were compared to that of 50 typically developing children. The two groups did not differ on baseline characteristics, except for pre- and post-injury externalizing behavior. The mTBI group obtained poorer scores relative to controls on both the emotion and desires task and the false-belief understanding task, even after controlling for pre-injury externalizing behavior. No correlations were found between TBI injury characteristics and theory of mind. This is the first evidence that mTBI in preschool children is associated with theory of mind difficulties. Reduced perspective taking abilities could be linked with the social impairments that have been shown to arise following TBI. (JINS, 2015, 21, 483–493)
Pulsating Signal Injection-Based Axis Switching Sensorless Control of PMSM for Minimal Zero Current Clamping Effects

This paper proposes an injection axis switching (IAS) sensorless control using a pulsating HF signal to minimize ZCC effect for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). When a pulsating carrier-signal voltage is injected in a synchronous frame, the envelope of the resulting HF current measured in the stationary reference frame follows an oscillating pattern with a maximum to zero magnitude. Taking this effect into account, multiple zero-crossings of HF currents around the zero-crossing region can be avoided by adjusting the current phase angle according to the load condition. For this purpose, we develop an injection axis switching scheme according to the load condition. At no-load, the pulsating voltage is injected only on the d-axis while the d-axis current is controlled to a certain nonzero value. Under the load condition, the injection voltage is switched to the q-axis and the d-axis current drops back to zero. Thus, the proposed sensorless control permits the HF current magnitude to be zero at every zero-crossing point. The minimization result leads to an accurate position estimate during ZCC region and the proposed scheme does not require any additional test prior to start-up. Experiments demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method in suppressing the voltage distortions caused by ZCC effect.
Sensitive stages for the effects of temperature on gonadal aromatase activity in embryos of the marine turtle Dermochelys coriacea.

Many data suggest an involvement of estrogens in gonadal differentiation in reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). However, the site of estrogen synthesis in two species of freshwater turtles is unclear. In Emys orbicularis, estrogens were shown to be produced by the gonads, whereas in Trachemys scripta, gonadal steroids were not detected. The marine turtle Dermochelys coriacea exhibits TSD but in gonadal development, ovarian differentiation is delayed. Gonadal aromatase activity and estrogen content in this species were measured in embryos incubated at 27 degrees and in embryos incubated at 30.5 degrees, respectively, masculinizing and feminizing temperatures within the range of temperatures found in natural nests. At all stages studied, aromatase activity was present and found to be higher at 30.5 degrees than at 27 degrees. Estrogens were only found at 30.5 degrees. The effects of temperature shifts on gonadal aromatase activity were then examined. Eggs were shifted from 27 to 35 degrees (feminizing temperature) at different embryonic stages and exposed to 35 degrees for 6 days. An increase in gonadal aromatase activity, although with significant individual variations, was seen only when eggs were shifted between stages 23 and 27. These stages are in the range of the thermosensitive stages for sexual differentiation of the gonads determined in other turtles. These results are similar to those previously obtained in E. orbicularis and agree with a key role for endogenous estrogens in gonadal differentiation of reptiles with TSD. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
AKI in Children Hospitalized with Nephrotic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Children with nephrotic syndrome can develop life-threatening complications, including infection and thrombosis. While AKI is associated with adverse outcomes in hospitalized children, little is known about the epidemiology of AKI in children with nephrotic syndrome. The main objectives of this study were to determine the incidence, epidemiology, and hospital outcomes associated with AKI in a modern cohort of children hospitalized with nephrotic syndrome. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Records of children with nephrotic syndrome admitted to 17 pediatric nephrology centers across North America from 2010 to 2012 were reviewed. AKI was classified using the pediatric RIFLE definition. RESULTS AKI occurred in 58.6% of 336 children and 50.9% of 615 hospitalizations (27.3% in stage R, 17.2% in stage I, and 6.3% in stage F). After adjustment for race, sex, age at admission, and clinical diagnosis, infection (odds ratio, 2.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 3.65; P=0.001), nephrotoxic medication exposure (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 1.64; P=0.002), days of nephrotoxic medication exposure (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.15; P<0.001), and intensity of medication exposure (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.09 to 1.65; P=0.01) remained significantly associated with AKI in children with nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotoxic medication exposure was common in this population, and each additional nephrotoxic medication received during a hospitalization was associated with 38% higher risk of AKI. AKI was associated with longer hospital stay after adjustment for race, sex, age at admission, clinical diagnosis, and infection (difference, 0.45 [log]days; 95% confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.53 [log]days; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS AKI is common in children hospitalized with nephrotic syndrome and should be deemed the third major complication of nephrotic syndrome in children in addition to infection and venous thromboembolism. Risk factors for AKI include steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, infection, and nephrotoxic medication exposure. Children with AKI have longer hospital lengths of stay and increased need for intensive care unit admission.
Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in hematological diseases

Abstract: In the last decade large amounts of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) have been used worldwide. Doubts exist as to whether this increased use is paralleled by a comparable growth of reliable data on the therapeutic effectiveness of IVIg. We performed a literature search using MEDLINE from January 1981 to January 1997 and analysed articles on the use of IVIg in hematological disorders and searched for published guidelines. For most hematological disorders, evidence to use IVIg as first line therapy is not very strong. For many disorders no controlled trials have been performed. In published guidelines, IVIg is only recommended, with a few exceptions, when other treatments have failed or are contraindicated. Therefore the increase of consumption of IVIg can not be explained by an increase in established indications in hematology.
Increased number of sex chromosomes affects height in a nonlinear fashion: A study of 305 patients with sex chromosome aneuploidy

Tall stature and eunuchoid body proportions characterize patients with 47,XXY Klinefelter syndrome, whereas patients with 45,X Turner syndrome are characterized by impaired growth. Growth is relatively well characterized in these two syndromes, while few studies describe the growth of patients with higher grade sex chromosome aneuploidies. It has been proposed that tall stature in sex chromosome aneuploidy is related to an overexpression of SHOX, although the copy number of SHOX has not been evaluated in previous studies. Our aims were therefore: (1) to assess stature in 305 patients with sex chromosome aneuploidy and (2) to determine the number of SHOX copies in a subgroup of these patients (n = 255) these patients and 74 healthy controls. Median height standard deviation scores in 46,XX males (n = 6) were −1.2 (−2.8 to 0.3), +0.9 (−2.2 to +4.6) in 47,XXY (n = 129), +1.3 (−1.8 to +4.9) in 47,XYY (n = 44), +1.1 (−1.9 to +3.4) in 48,XXYY (n = 45), +1.8 (−2.0 to +3.2) in 48,XXXY (n = 9), and −1.8 (−4.2 to −0.1) in 49,XXXXY (n = 10). Median height standard deviation scores in patients with 45,X (n = 6) were −2.6 (−4.1 to −1.6), +0.7 (−0.9 to +3.2) in 47,XXX (n = 40), −0.6 (−1.9 to +2.1) in 48,XXXX (n = 13), and −1.0 (−3.5 to −0.8) in 49,XXXXX (n = 3). Height increased with an increasing number of extra X or Y chromosomes, except in males with five, and in females with four or five sex chromosomes, consistent with a nonlinear effect on height. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A guide to the field of palaeo colour

Melanin, and other pigments have recently been shown to preserve over geologic time scales, and are found in several different organisms. This opens up the possibility of inferring colours and colour patterns ranging from invertebrates to feathered dinosaurs and mammals. An emerging discipline is palaeo colour: colour plays an important role in display and camouflage as well as in integumental strengthening and protection, which makes possible the hitherto difficult task of doing inferences about past ecologies, behaviours, and organismal appearance. Several studies and techniques have been presented in the last couple of years that have described ways to characterize pigment patterns. Here, I will review the available methods and the likely applications to understand past ecologies. A golden age of colourized dinosaurs and other animals is now dawning upon us, which may elucidate the nature of ancient predator prey interactions and display structures.
Design and development of energy-efficient transmission for wireless IoT modules. (Conception et développement d'une transmission écoénergétique pour les modules IoT sans fil)

L'Internet des objets (IoT) devrait interconnecter plus de 50 milliards d’objet d'ici a 2020. Avec l'IoT, une variete d’objets de differentes industries seront interconnectes a travers Internet. Avec un accent sur la gestion et le stockage des ressources energetique et l'eau. L'IoT permet d’enrichir les services fournis par les distributeurs d’energie a travers les smart-grid au-dela de la distribution, de l'automatisation et du controle. Les systemes de gestion pour la domotique et les bâtiments intelligents aideront les consommateurs a surveiller et a ajuster leur consommation. Les compteurs intelligents fournissent ainsi un ensemble d’information permettant aux fournisseurs d’energie de mettre en place des services plus intelligents pour l'ensemble de la chaine de production d'energie. L'objectif principal de ce projet de recherche doctorale est de developper des modules de communication tres basse consommation. La consommation energetique etant la plus grande contrainte pour les applications de compteurs intelligents. Les objets connectes alimentes par batterie tels que les capteurs et compteurs de gaz et d'eau sont concernes directement par la consommation en energie de leur module de communication. Aujourd'hui, la plupart des solutions sans fil embarquees concues pour capteurs alimentes ne sont pas compatible avec la pile protocolaire IPv6 afin d’economiser la consommation energetique. Elaborer des technologies sans fil de l'IoT pour atteindre les objectifs de consommation d'energie va democratiser l’utilisation de ces technologies et aider les solutions de l’IoT a trouver leur place sur le marche. Ce doctorat debutera par: 1) Un etat de l'art permettant d'examiner les solutions actuelles developpees pour les reseaux de capteurs et des protocoles concus pour les appareils alimentes par batterie. 2) Dans un deuxieme temps en examinant les solutions Itron pour IPv6 reseau maille. 3) La troisieme phase sera la proposition et la conception d'une solution a faible consommation pour les modules sans fil et l'internet des objets. 4) Et enfin l’experimentation et la validation des solutions proposees sur des plateformes d’experimentations
Human primary corneal fibroblasts synthesize and deposit proteoglycans in long‐term 3‐D cultures

Our goal was to develop a 3‐D multi‐cellular construct using primary human corneal fibroblasts cultured on a disorganized collagen substrate in a scaffold‐free environment and to use it to determine the regulation of proteoglycans over an extended period of time (11 weeks). Electron micrographs revealed multi‐layered constructs with cells present in between alternating parallel and perpendicular arrays of fibrils. Type I collagen increased 2–4‐fold. Stromal proteoglycans including lumican, syndecan4, decorin, biglycan, mimecan, and perlecan were expressed. The presence of glycosaminoglycan chains was demonstrated for a subset of the core proteins (lumican, biglycan, and decorin) using lyase digestion. Cuprolinic blue–stained cultures showed that sulfated proteoglycans were present throughout the construct and most prominent in its mid‐region. The size of the Cuprolinic‐positive filaments resembled those previously reported in a human corneal stroma. Under the current culture conditions, the cells mimic a development or nonfibrotic repair phenotype. Developmental Dynamics 237:2705–2715, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Telephone-based identification of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in a multicultural cohort.

BACKGROUND Telephone-based interviews can be used for screening and to obtain key study outcomes when participants in longitudinal studies die or cannot be seen in person, but must be validated among ethnically and educationally diverse people. OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of a telephone interview in classifying (1) demented from nondemented participants, (2) cognitively impaired participants from cognitively normal participants, and (3) participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from those with normal cognition or (4) MCI from dementia among an ethnically and educationally diverse community-based sample. METHOD The sample consisted of 377 (30.5% non-Hispanic white, 34.7% non-Hispanic black, and 33.7% Caribbean Hispanic) older adults. The validation standard was diagnosis of dementia and MCI based on in-person evaluation. The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) and the Dementia Questionnaire (DQ) were administered within the same assessment wave. RESULTS The sample included 256 people (67.9%) with normal cognition, 68 (18.0%) with MCI, and 53 (14.1%) with dementia. Validity of the TICS was comparable among non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics. Among non-Hispanic whites, the DQ had better discrimination of those with dementia from those without dementia and from those with MCI than among other racial/ethnic groups. Telephone measures discriminated best when used to differentiate demented from nondemented participants (88% sensitivity and 87% specificity for the TICS; 66% sensitivity and 89% specificity for DQ) and when used to differentiate cognitively normal participants from those with cognitive impairment (ie, MCI and dementia combined; 73% sensitivity and 77% specificity for the TICS; 49% sensitivity and 82% specificity for DQ). When demographics and prior memory test performance were used to calculate pretest probability, consideration of the telephone measures significantly improved diagnostic validity. CONCLUSIONS The TICS has high diagnostic validity for identification of dementia among ethnically diverse older adults, especially when supported by the DQ and prior visit data. However, telephone interview data were unable to reliably distinguish MCI from normal cognition.
Thyroid nodularity among Chernobyl clean-up workers from Lithuania

The accident at the Chernobyl NPP on 26 April 1986 was the worst in the history of nuclear power. This catastrophe resulted in massive contamination of the area necessitating evacuation of the population, an extensive clean-up and construction of sarcophagus. This clean-up and construction activity was accomplished by approximately 600000 workers from former Soviet Union. Exposures were from rapidly-decaying radioactive iodines, as well as from Cs and other long-lived radioisotopes [1]. Because the thyroid gland is highly susceptible to the carcinogenic actions of radiation, especially when exposure occurs at a young age, a clinical examination survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities among former clean-up workers [2]. Nodules are considered a sensitive for evidence of low-dose radiation effects [3]. Presence of benign tumors has been linked with development of thyroid cancer [4]. A remakable increase in thyroid cancer has been reported among children living in contaminated areas around Chernobyl [5]. The objective of this study is to evaluate the dose effects of chronic radiation exposure (mainly from external gamma radiation, but residual I 31 might also have been contributed to the thyroid dose among those sent to Chernobyl within one month after the accident), prolongation of time in zone and length of time after expdsure role in developing thyroid tumors within a study population.
Robust Trench Buried-Guard-Ring-Based Termination for Charge Balanced Devices

A major limitation on the performance of high-voltage power semiconductor is the edge termination of the device. It is critical to maintain the breakdown voltage of the device without compromising the reliability of the device by controlling the surface electric field. A good termination structure is critical to the reliability of the power semiconductor device. The proposed termination uses a novel trench MOS with buried guard ring structure to completely eliminate high surface electric field in the silicon region of the termination. The proposed termination scheme was applied toward a 1350-V fast recovery diode and showed excellent results. It achieved 98% of parallel plane breakdown voltage, with low leakage and no shifts after high-temperature reverse bias testing due to mobile ion contamination from packaging mold compound.
The Function of the CLE Peptides in Plant Development and Plant-Microbe Interactions

The CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION (ESR) (CLE) peptides consist of 12 or 13 amino acids, including hydroxylated proline residues that may or may not contain sugar modifications, and function in a non-cell-autonomous fashion. The CLE gene was first reported in Zea mays (maize) as an endosperm-specific gene, ESR, in 1997 (Opsahl-Ferstad et al., 1997). CLE genes encode secreted peptides that function in the extracellular space as intercellular signaling molecules and bind to cellular surface receptor-like proteins to transmit a signal. CLE peptides regulate various physiological and developmental processes and its signaling pathway are conserved in diverse land plants. Recent CLE functional studies have pointed to their significance in regulating meristematic activity in plant meristems, through the CLE-receptor kinase-WOX signaling node. CLV3 and CLE40 are responsible for maintenance of shoot apical meristem (SAM) and root apical meristem (RAM) function, regulating homeodomain transcription factors, WUSCHEL (WUS) and WUSCHEL-related homeobox 5 (WOX5), respectively. CLE and WOX form an interconnected and self-correcting feedback loop to provide robustness to stem cell homeostasis. CLE peptides are required for certain plant-microbe interactions, such as those that occur during legume symbiosis and phytopathogenic nematode infection. Understanding the molecular properties of CLE peptides may provide insight into plant cell-cell communication, and therefore also into plant-microbe interactions.
Autoregulation of Blood Pressure and Thought: Preliminary Results of an Application of Brain Imaging to Psychosomatic Medicine

Objective This presentation seeks to demonstrate the use of brain imaging techniques for understanding the interaction between hypertension and psychosocial function. Methods The historical background for the study of brain function among hypertensive patients is reviewed. An initial and a current project examining rCBF with 15O water radiotracer and PET in unmedicated hypertensives and normotensives are described. The rCBF response is assessed during the performance of spatial and verbal working memory tasks of increasing memory load. The assessment also addresses the influence on rCBF and performance of white matter hyperintensities and the presence of carotid artery thickening. Results Initial results suggest that hypertensives relative to normotensives show less CBF and less posterior parietal rCBF in response to increases in memory load. Hypertensives, however, increase lateral prefrontal (Broca’s area)/insula and amygdala/hippocampal rCBF more than normotensives. Conclusion Initial results are sufficient to show that hypertension induces changes in rCBF. A tentative hypothesis is that a relatively general decrease in rCBF responsivity induces specific compensatory cognitive strategies as well as subcortical activation. The rCBF changes appear to have implications for information processing and, as such, hold promise for understanding prior reports relating hypertension to affective regulation and cardiovascular reactivity. Imaging techniques provide a powerful tool for psychosomatic research.