Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
dUTP Pyrophosphatase, its appearance in extracellular compartment may serve as a potential biomarker for N‐methyl‐N'‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine exposure in mammalian cells

The monofunctional alkylating agent N‐methyl‐N'‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) is a model chemical widely used for studying the molecular events induced by the widespread environmental N‐nitroso alkylating carcinogen. Many studies have focused on understanding MNNG‐induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. However, the search for specific indicators of MNNG exposure is still underway. In this study, we analyzed the proteins in culture medium of human amnion epithelial cells (FL cells) exposed to MNNG by 2‐DE followed by MALDI‐TOF MS, in the hope of finding a specific protein marker suitable for MNNG risk assessment. Image visualization and statistical analysis indicated that 12 spots appeared and 4 spots up‐regulated after MNNG exposure. Most of them were identified by MS. These proteins include nuclear isoform of dUTP pyrophosphatase (DUT‐N), phosphoglycerate mutase 1, heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan, etc., which are involved in multiple cellular functions. Interestingly, 2‐DE and MS analyses of cell lysate exposed to MNNG revealed that DUT‐N was down‐regulated. The appearance of DUT‐N in culture medium and its down‐regulation in cell lysate was confirmed by Western blot. These data suggest that these proteins, especially DUT‐N, could be used as candidate biomarkers for monitoring MNNG exposure.
Rapid climate driven shifts in wintering distributions of three common waterbird species

Climate change is predicted to cause changes in species distributions and several studies report margin range shifts in some species. However, the reported changes rarely concern a species' entire distribution and are not always linked to climate change. Here, we demonstrate strong north‐eastwards shifts in the centres of gravity of the entire wintering range of three common waterbird species along the North‐West Europe flyway during the past three decades. These shifts correlate with an increase of 3.8 °C in early winter temperature in the north‐eastern part of the wintering areas, where bird abundance increased exponentially, corresponding with decreases in abundance at the south‐western margin of the wintering ranges. This confirms the need to re‐evaluate conservation site safeguard networks and associated biodiversity monitoring along the flyway, as new important wintering areas are established further north and east, and highlights the general urgency of conservation planning in a changing world. Range shifts in wintering waterbirds may also affect hunting pressure, which may alter bag sizes and lead to population‐level consequences.
Relationship of the manifestations of tuberculosis to CD4 cell counts in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

To evaluate the relationship between the clinical presentation of tuberculosis and the CD4 cell count in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we evaluated clinical and laboratory features of 97 HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis in whom CD4 cell counts were available. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis was found in 30 (70%) of 43 patients with < or = 100 CD4 cells/microL, 10 (50%) of 20 patients with 101 to 200 CD4 cells/microL, seven (44%) of 16 patients with 201 to 300 CD4 cells/microL, and five (28%) of 18 patients with > 300 CD4 cells/microL (p = 0.02). Mycobacteremia was found in 18 (49%) of 37 patients with < or = 100 CD4 cells/microL, three (20%) of 15 patients with 101 to 200 CD4 cells/microL, one (7%) of 15 patients with 201 to 300 CD4 cells/microL, and none of eight patients with > 300 CD4 cells/microL (p = 0.002). Acid-fast smears were more often positive in patients with low CD4 cell counts. Positive tuberculin skin tests were more common in patients with high CD4 counts. On chest roentgenograms, mediastinal adenopathy was noted in 20 (34%) of 58 patients with < or = 200 CD4 cells/microL and four (14%) of 29 patients with > 200 CD4 cells/microL (p = 0.04). Pleural effusions were noted in six (10%) of 58 patients with < or = 200 CD4 cells/microL and eight (28%) of 29 patients with > 200 CD4 cells/microL (p = 0.04). The CD8 cell counts did not correlate with the manifestations of tuberculosis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A tuning procedure for stable PID control of robot manipulators

Summary In this paper we propose some simple rules for PID tuning of robot manipulators. The procedure suggested requires the knowledge of the structure of the inertia matrix and the gravitational torque vector of the robot dynamics, but only upper bounds on the dynamics parameters are needed. This tuning procedure is extracted from the stability analysis by using a suitable Lyapunov function together with the LaSalle invariance principle. We show that with this guideline, the overall closed-loop system is asymptotically stable. This procedure is illustrated for a two degrees-of-freedom robot
Q-value Additional Updating Method for Reducing Learning Time

In this paper, an update method of Q-value is proposed to increase the learning rate of Q-learning. When Q-value of executed action is small, even if it is an optimal action, the learning becomes longer because the frequency to be executed again becomes lower. The proposed method increased the execution frequency of optimal action by forcefully increasing the Q-value through the Q-value update method. In the test, up to 60% higher goal achievement rate was shown at a maximum.
A Genetic Algorithm Approach for Nurse Assignment Problem in an Operating suite

No: 025-0701 Title: A Genetic Algorithm Approach for Nurse Scheduling in an Operating suite Elham Torabi Department of Operations, Business Analytics and Information Systems 534 Carl H. Lindner College of Business University of Cincinnati 2925 Campus Green Dr. Cincinnati OH 45221 torabiem@mail.uc.edu, (513) 288-2546 Gino J. Lim Department of Industrial Engineering University of Houston E211 Engineering Building 2, Houston, TX 77204 ginolim@uh.edu, (713) 743-4194 Craig M. Froehle Department of Operations, Business Analytics and Information Systems 521 Carl H. Lindner College of Business University of Cincinnati 2925 Campus Green Dr. Cincinnati OH 45221 craig.froehle@uc.edu , (513) 556-7174 POMS 23rd Annual Conference Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. April 20 to April 23, 2011 A Genetic Algorithm Approach for Nurse Assignment Problem in an Operating suite Abstract In this paper we present a Genetic Algorithm approach for scheduling operating room (OR) nurses. Most studies in operating room scheduling deal with patient flow analysis and physician scheduling, limited literature has focused on scheduling OR nurses. Our objective is to minimize nurses’ idle time, overtime and non-consecutive assignments during overtime hours while maximizing demand satisfaction. The major constraints are: 1) shift constraints and 2) match between nurses’ skill sets and surgery requirements. Due to the large size of the problem, finding an optimal solution is extremely difficult. Therefore, a Genetic Algorithms approach is proposed to find a set of good schedules in a reasonable amount of time. The solutions were then evaluated in a simulation model with probabilistic surgery durations. The best performing solution in the stochastic environment is selected as the final schedule. We present a set of case studies to demonstrate the performance of our approach. We used sample data gathered from a large urban teaching hospital that has 31 operating rooms.In this paper we present a Genetic Algorithm approach for scheduling operating room (OR) nurses. Most studies in operating room scheduling deal with patient flow analysis and physician scheduling, limited literature has focused on scheduling OR nurses. Our objective is to minimize nurses’ idle time, overtime and non-consecutive assignments during overtime hours while maximizing demand satisfaction. The major constraints are: 1) shift constraints and 2) match between nurses’ skill sets and surgery requirements. Due to the large size of the problem, finding an optimal solution is extremely difficult. Therefore, a Genetic Algorithms approach is proposed to find a set of good schedules in a reasonable amount of time. The solutions were then evaluated in a simulation model with probabilistic surgery durations. The best performing solution in the stochastic environment is selected as the final schedule. We present a set of case studies to demonstrate the performance of our approach. We used sample data gathered from a large urban teaching hospital that has 31 operating rooms.
Efficacy of a Novel Method for Inspiratory Muscle Training in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background Most inspiratory muscle training (IMT) interventions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been implemented as fully supervised daily training for 30 minutes with controlled training loads using mechanical threshold loading (MTL) devices. Recently, an electronic tapered flow resistive loading (TFRL) device was introduced that has a different loading profile and stores training data during IMT sessions. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a brief, largely unsupervised IMT protocol conducted using either traditional MTL or TFRL on inspiratory muscle function in patients with COPD. Design Twenty patients with inspiratory muscle weakness who were clinically stable and participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program were randomly allocated to perform 8 weeks of either MTL IMT or TFRL IMT. Methods Participants performed 2 daily home-based IMT sessions of 30 breaths (3–5 minutes per session) at the highest tolerable intensity, supported by twice-weekly supervised sessions. Adherence, progression of training intensity, increases in maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (Pimax), and endurance capacity of inspiratory muscles (Tlim) were evaluated. Results More than 90% of IMT sessions were completed in both groups. The TFRL group tolerated higher loads during the final 3 weeks of the IMT program, with similar effort scores on the 10-Item Borg Category Ratio (CR-10) Scale, and achieved larger improvements in Pimax and Tlim than the MTL group. Limitations A limitation of the study was the absence of a study arm involving a sham IMT intervention. Conclusions The short and largely home-based IMT protocol significantly improved inspiratory muscle function in both groups and is an alternative to traditional IMT protocols in this population. Participants in the TFRL group tolerated higher training loads and achieved larger improvements in inspiratory muscle function than those in the MTL group.
Loša komunikacija i druge liječničke pogreške

Brojne znanstvene spoznaje i otkrica omogucavaju tehnoloski napredak medicine i ucinkovitije metode lijecenja te visok postotak uspjesnosti medicinske prakse. Unatoc tome, losa komunikacija lijecnika s pacijentom i njena percepcija od strane pacijenta razlog je za povecanje otuđenosti, nerazumijevanja, nesuglasnosti pa i sukoba lijecnika i pacijenta. Losa komunikacija nerijetko je pogreska koja omogucava druge pogreske za koje je odgovoran ljudski i/ili tehnicki faktor. Ako pacijent ne dobije ispriku, ili barem objasnjenje o onome sto se dogodilo, losa komunikacija može ga motivirati da tuži zdravstvenu ustanovu ili djelatnika. U radu se upozorava na problem razlicitog viđenja, shvacanja i definiranja pogreske. Je li to komplikacija, nuspojava, nesreca, nesavjesnost, nemar? Autor se zalaže da se pogreske promatraju kao sansa za unapređenje kvalitete medicinske prakse i poboljsanje odnosa između lijecnika i pacijenta te preveniranje buducih pogresaka. Da bi se smanjio broj pogresaka i steta od pogresaka, prije svega u obliku krsenje prava pacijenata i devalvacije ugleda lijecnika, potrebno je osuvremeniti edukaciju lijecnika te osmisliti strategiju upravljanja zdravstvom, a u sklopu toga definirati: a) upravljanje pogreskama, b) standard komunikacije lijecnik-pacijent, c) protokol priopcavanja losih obavijesti, te d) osnovati instituciju za rjesavanje sukoba lijecnika i pacijenta stvaranjem novog saveza, a u slucaju potrebe i za rjesavanje posljedice pogreske mirenjem.
Development of optical sensor device for pedobarograph acquisition

There have been many techniques for demonstrating different Pedobarograph systems to measure a foot pressure that can be used for a clinical tool. This tool can aid a surgeon's decision making. This paper presents development of optical sensor device for acquisition of Pedobarograph through the use of measuring the pressure foot which is relative to the weight. The optical sensor is utilized in terms of low cost and easy available while electronic matrix force plate (Tekscan®) is high cost and imported from overseas. For the proposed methods, weighted (or inputted) images from the pressure foot are captured from illuminated. Such weighted images are computed by image processing e.g Gaussian filtering, canny edge detection, region of interest, illuminate slicing. Then, statistical analysis using ANOVA testing and correlation technique will be used to verify the resulting of Pedobarograph between optical sensor and Tekscan® (electronic commercial product). The samples is 58 feet from 28 normal Subjects. The results show that F-statistics is approximately at 1,855.632, Significant (Sig.) value is equal to 0.001 (P<;0.05) and correlation coefficient is 0.764 indicating a strong relationship. This means that the optical sensor can be used for substituting the Tekscan®.
Naval radar trends: A look back - a look forward

The paper looks - chronologically spoken - back to the 90s of the last century, when the foundations were laid for a naval radar later to become the world market leader in the segment of small ship, air and sea target Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (STAR), named TRS-3D, developed and built by the former predecessor of Airbus Defence and Space, the TST Deutsche Aerospace. TRS-3D comprises a passive phased array antenna controlling its beam electronically in elevation and rotating electro-mechanically 360° in azimuth. At the beginning of the new century, the state of the art next generation TRS-4D emerged with four Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) apertures installed in a fixed way, two of them - now spatially spoken - covering fore and two of them covering aft of the ship, thus yielding an instantaneous full awareness around the platform. Additionally there is also a lower cost, rotating version of the TRS-4D, incorporating AESA capability. The paper finally gives a brief outlook on future developments of naval radar that can be expected.
Acute aortic dissection: population-based incidence compared with degenerative aortic aneurysm rupture.

OBJECTIVES To ascertain whether acute aortic dissection (AAD) remains the most common aortic catastrophe, as generally believed, and to detect any improvement in outcomes compared with previously reported population-based data. PATIENTS AND METHODS We determined the incidence, operative intervention rate, and long-term survival rate of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents with a clinical diagnosis of AAD initially made between 1980 and 1994. The incidence of degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) rupture was also delineated. We compared these results with other population-based studies of AAD, degenerative TAA, and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture. RESULTS During a 15-year period, we identified 177 patients with thoracic aortic disease. We focused on 39 patients with AAD (22% of the entire cohort) and 28 with TAA rupture (16%). The annual age- and sex-adjusted incidences were 3.5 per 100,000 persons (95% confidence interval, 2.4-4.6) for AAD and 3.5 per 100,000 persons (95% confidence interval, 2.2-4.9) for TAA rupture. Thirty-three dissections (85%) involved the ascending aorta, whereas 6 (15%) involved only the descending aorta. Nineteen patients (49%) underwent 22 operations for AAD, with a 30-day case fatality rate of 9%. Among all 39 patients with AAD, median survival was only 3 days. Overall 5-year survival for those with AAD improved to 32% compared with only 5% in this community between 1951 and 1980. CONCLUSIONS In other studies, the annual incidences of TAA rupture and AAA rupture are estimated at approximately 3 and 9 per 100,000 persons, respectively. This study indicates that AAD and ruptured degenerative TAA occur with similar frequency but less commonly than ruptured AAA. Although timely recognition and management remain problematic, these new data suggest that recent diagnostic and operative advances are improving long-term survival in AAD.
The relationship between outdoor air quality and respiratory symptoms in young children

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between air pollution and respiratory symptoms in young children. A total of 263 children at high risk of developing asthma or atopy were recruited antenatally and all respiratory symptoms experienced by the children were recorded by their parents for five years. Daily pollutant concentrations and meteorological data (ambient temperature and humidity) were collected from network monitoring sites. Logistic regression models investigating relationships between individual air pollutants and respiratory symptoms showed significant associations between Ozone (O3) (1 h and 8 h) concentrations and raised body temperature (lag 0); Carbon monoxide (CO) (8 h) and wheeze/rattle and runny/blocked nose (lag 5 and additive exposure over 5 days); Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (24 h) concentrations and cough (lag 0 and additive exposure over 5 days) and PM2.5 and visibility (BSP) (1 h) with cough (lag 0). These associations were observed even though air pollutant concentrations were below national standards throughout the study period.
A path toward understanding neurodegeneration

A focus on cell biology may accelerate progress in disease prevention and cures The specter of neurodegenerative disease, particularly Alzheimer's disease, haunts the developed world and exacts a poorly documented toll on underdeveloped countries. With so little progress made toward finding a cure—or, better, a prevention—it is time to rethink the path to progress. This requires a change in perspective on the type of research that will make a difference. The lesson learned from cancer research is that a new commitment means rethinking the fundamental approach to the disease. Cancer research moved from taking potshots with, usually, cytotoxic drugs to a bottom-up, mechanism-based approach in which newly acquired genetic knowledge played the largest role. Today, that effort has produced a platform of knowledge from which academia and industry are drawing. For neurodegenerative disease, the genetic approach remains valid but the problem must concurrently be approached from a complementary, robust cell biological perspective, focusing on the cellular cascade of events that lead to neuronal cell death.
Treatment of T Cell-Dependent Experimental Colitis in SCID Mice by Local Administration of an Adenovirus Expressing IL-18 Antisense mRNA1

Recent studies have shown that IL-18, a pleiotropic cytokine that augments IFN-γ production, is produced by intestinal epithelial cells and lamina propria cells from patients with Crohn’s disease. In this study, we show that IL-18 is strongly expressed by intestinal epithelial cells in a murine model of Crohn’s disease induced by transfer of CD62L+CD4+ T cells into SCID mice. To specifically down-regulate IL-18 expression in this model, we constructed an E1/E3-deleted adenovirus expressing IL-18 antisense mRNA, denoted Ad-asIL-18, and demonstrated the capacity of such a vector to down-regulate IL-18 expression in colon-derived DLD-1 cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Local administration of the Ad-asIL-18 vector to SCID mice with established colitis led to transduction of epithelial cells and caused a significant suppression of colitis activity, as assessed by a newly developed endoscopic analysis system for colitis. Furthermore, treatment with Ad-asIL-18 induced a significant suppression of histologic colitis activity and caused suppression of mucosal IFN-γ production, whereas IFN-γ production by spleen T cells was unaffected. Taken together, these data indicate an important role for IL-18 in the effector phase of a T cell-dependent murine model of colitis and suggest that strategies targeting IL-18 expression may be used for the treatment of patients with Crohn’s disease.
Nuclease S1‐sensitive sites in multigene families: human U2 small nuclear RNA genes.

We show here that human U2 small nuclear RNA genes contain a ‘strong nuclease S1 cleavage site’ (SNS1 site), a sequence that is very sensitive to digestion by nuclease S1. This site is located 0.50‐0.65 kb downstream of the U2 RNA coding region. It comprises a 0.15‐kb region in which (dC‐dT)n:(dA‐dG)n co‐polymeric stretches represent greater than 90% of the sequence. Nuclease S1 is able to excise unit length repeats of the human U2 RNA genes both from cloned fragments and total human genomic DNA. The precise locations of the cleavage sites are dependent on the superhelicity of the substrate DNA. In negatively supercoiled substrates, cleavages are distributed over the entire 0.15‐kb region, but in linearized substrates, they occur within a more limited region, mainly at the boundary of the SNS1 site closest to the human U2 RNA coding region. Nuclease S1 cleavage of negatively supercoiled substrates occurs at pHs as high as 7.0; in contrast, cleavage of linearized substrates requires a pH less than 5.0, indicating that supercoiling contributes to the sensitivity of this site. Mung bean nuclease gives results similar to that observed with nuclease S1.
Dual band dielectric resonator based metamaterial antenna

A dielectric resonator based metamaterial antenna is presented for dual band operations. The hybrid design uses the dielectric resonator (DR) and split ring resonator (SRR) to radiate two resonant modes. The antenna has a compact size of 40 × 40 mm2. The peak realized gain of 6.24 dBi and 6.04 dBi is obtained at 5.5 GHz and 5.8 GHz respectively. Also a peak efficiency of 94% is obtained across the covering frequency. The antenna has potential applications for WiMAX (5.5 GHz) and WLAN (5.8 GHz) operations.
Prospects for HIV-1 therapeutic immunisation and vaccination : the potential contribution of peptide immunogens

Background : Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection continues to challenge the development of antigen-specific immune-based strategies for the management (therapeutic immunisation) and prevention (vaccination) of HIV-1 infection. Objective : This review aims to assess current prospects for HIV-1 therapeutic immunisation with particular emphasis on the contribution of peptide-based immunogens. Methods : The potential for therapeutic immunisation to provide immunological support that can allow for prolonged safe ART-free periods is discussed in light of the Strategies for Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (SMART) study. Different approaches to peptide design are considered including the quality of T-cell responses desired. Results/conclusion : Synthetic peptide immunogens are amenable to modification to improve immunogenicity and reactivity to multiple virus subtypes. Ideally peptide immunogens should incorporate combinations that target restricted, relevant polyfunctional epitopes to regions of HIV-1 associated with control of infection. Peptides showing a beneficial effect following therapeutic immunisation may provide the basis for a future preventative vaccine.