Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concurrent Product Design

uct’s life depends on its acceptance by the consumers; a “failed” product could be “pulled from the market shelves” in a matter of months. A short product development cycle is crucial as it enables the company to deliver new products to the market quickly. Insufficient information and communication between phases are two reasons for long development cycles. In a typical cycle, each phase receives information from the previous phase, and feedback from the next phase. For example, the marketing representative gathers a set of customer requirements about the product and passes the information to the designer. The designer generates several designs that meet those requirements and passes one of these designs to the manufacturing engineer. The first problem that arises from a traditional approach is the loss of abstract information as the product specification is passed down the chain. Each phase in the chain receives a more concrete and often more distorted interpretation of the product description from the previous phase. Consequently, the final product does not always meet the needs of the customer. The second problem is that much time and effort is spent on returning the design to earlier phases to correct design mistakes that are discovered “downstream. ” This results in a long, costly development. The third problem is the loss of optimization opportunities. A product design is the interpretation of the functional requirements of the product in physical form. Theoretically, there are many physical interpretations. By finalizing a product design, the designer is choosing one interpretation, and passing it to the manufacturing engineer. This interpretation, the “best” from the designer’s point of view, may not be manufacturable. The designer may not know this because he or she does not have detailed manufacturing knowledge. The manufacturing engineer, on the other hand, has the knowledge to decide whether a design is manT product introductions. The duration of a prod-
Ventilatory threshold detection: a new method based on heart rate variability

Ventilatory threshold (VT) is one of the best indexes of aerobic fitness, but its evaluation is laborious and expensive. The High Frequency (HF} component of the heart-rate spectrum is influenced by ventilation: thus, changes in the HF component during exercise might reflect the ventilatory adaptations occurring at VT. Eleven subjects with diflerent aerobic firness levels were enrolled. RR time series were recorded during an incrementa2 ergometric exercise. VT, (uncompensated ventilatory threshold} was identified by averaging the values from 2 traditional methods based on gas analysis and visual inspection of the ventilatory curve, and from the detection of a deflection point in respiratory sinus arrhythmia from the R-R interval spectrum. The agreement between the two methods of VT detection was high (mean percentage error=5%). Our results may provide a new simple and inexpensive method to detect VT during an exercise test based on heart rate data.
Improving the estimation precision of causal effects by selecting covariates

Graphical models and the corresponding linear structural equation model can be used as a mathematical language for describing a causal-effect relationship. A common problem is argued about which covariates in the diagram should be used to estimate the causal effects. The primary aim of this paper is to show different covariates selection for estimating the causal effects and we evaluated the asymptotic variance of the estimated causal effects with different covariates selection. The comparison results show that the asymptotic variance with controlling C1 and Z is smaller than that with controlling C1 and C2. The simulation results give a promising examination of the proposed method.
LUMM: Local Update-based geographic Multicasting for Mobile sinks

Typical multicasting saves efficiently both bandwidth and energy in static wireless sensor networks. Such benefits make the research of multicast which is a transmission from a data source to multiple destinations (sinks), actively. Most of these researches focused on the way how to make efficient multicast tree only, they are weak for supporting mobile sinks. In practical applications, sinks move around and collect information from a sensor field. If the mobile sinks apply to these approaches, frequent entire multicast tree reconstructions are needed to support mobile sinks. Unfortunately, it leads to exhaustion of sensors' limited power supply, consequently it reduces whole network lifetime. In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient multicast protocol to support multiple mobile sinks by the local multicast tree reconstruction, called Local Updated-based geographic Multicasting for Mobile sinks (LUMM) for wireless sensor networks. A value of BOD (benefit of distance) used a standard from a local multicast tree reconstruction with minimal overhead. Our simulation results show that LUMM support the mobility of sinks efficiently.
Lack of DNA Polymerase θ (POLQ) Radiosensitizes Bone Marrow Stromal Cells In Vitro and Increases Reticulocyte Micronuclei after Total-Body Irradiation

Abstract Mammalian POLQ (pol θ) is a specialized DNA polymerase with an unknown function in vivo. Roles have been proposed in chromosome stability, as a backup enzyme in DNA base excision repair, and in somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes. The purified enzyme can bypass AP sites and thymine glycol. Mice defective in POLQ are viable and have been reported to have elevated spontaneous and radiation-induced frequencies of micronuclei in circulating red blood cells. To examine the potential roles of POLQ in hematopoiesis and in responses to oxidative stress responses, including ionizing radiation, bone marrow cultures and marrow stromal cell lines were established from Polq+/+ and Polq−/− mice. Aging of bone marrow cultures was not altered, but Polq−/− cells were more sensitive to γ radiation than were Polq+/+ cells. The D0 was 1.38 ± 0.06 Gy for Polq+/+ cells compared to 1.27 ± 0.16 and 0.98 ± 0.10 Gy (P = 0.032) for two Polq−/− clones. Polq−/− cells were moderately more sensitive to bleomycin than Polq+/+ cells and were not hypersensitive to paraquat or hydrogen peroxide. ATM kinase activation appeared to be normal in γ-irradiated Polq−/− cells. Inhibition of ATM kinase activity increased the radiosensitivity of Polq+/+ cells slightly but did not affect Polq−/− cells. Polq−/− mice had more spontaneous and radiation-induced micronucleated reticulocytes than Polq+/+ and +/− mice. The sensitivity of POLQ-defective bone marrow stromal cells to ionizing radiation and bleomycin and the increase in micronuclei in red blood cells support a role for this DNA polymerase in cellular tolerance of DNA damage that can lead to double-strand DNA breaks.
Observations on the pathogenic properties of the K88, Hly and Ent plasmids of Escherichia coli with particular reference to porcine diarrhoea.

Summary Strains of Escherichia coli containing different combinations of the transmissible plasmids governing production of α-haemolysin (Hly), enterotoxin (Ent) and K88 antigen (K88) were prepared by the selective addition or removal of these plasmids and tested for ability to produce diarrhoea when given orally to naturally reared piglets and to recently weaned pigs. The removal of the K88 plasmid from an O141:K85ab,88ab strain was accompanied by the loss of its diarrhoea-producing capacity. It was restored by introducing a K88 plasmid from another strain of E. coli. The removal of the Hly plasmid had no observable effect. Neither did its removal from another wild enteropathogenic strain of antigenic formula O141:K85ac; the Hly- form of this strain, like the Hly+ form, produced oedema disease in addition to diarrhoea. As a consequence of receiving an Ent plasmid, a non-haemolytic O8:K40, 88ab:H9 strain produced diarrhoea more frequently and more severely in piglets than hitherto; after the removal of the K88 plasmid it became non-enteropathogenic. A non-pathogenic O9:K36:H19 strain was rendered enteropathogenic by the introduction of plasmids. The K88+ Ent+ form produced moderately severe diarrhoea in piglets. A smaller proportion of those given the K88+ Ent- form developed a milder diarrhoea. The K88- Ent+ and the K88- Ent- forms had no observable ill-effect. Bacteriological examinations on the animals given the different forms of the O141:K85ab,88ab, the O8:K40,88ab:H9 and the O9:K36:H19 strains revealed that it was the K88 antigen that enabled the organisms to proliferate high up in the small intestine, an essential prerequisite in the pathogenesis of E. coli diarrhoea. The Ent plasmid appeared to play no part in this proliferation, only in the diarrhoea that followed. The introduction of Hly into strains of E. coli was usually accompanied by an increase in virulence for mice challenged intraperitoneally, the extent of the increase varying according to the particular Hly plasmid introduced. Virulence was not related directly to haemolytic activity. K88+ forms of strains of E. coli were less virulent for mice on intraperitoneal injection than were the corresponding K88- forms. So were K88+ forms of Salmonella typhimurium and S. choleraesuis after intraperitoneal and oral infection; the K88+ organisms were less able to survive in the alimentary tract and in the tissues than were the K88- ones. A K88+ form of S. choleraesuis was also less virulent for pigs than was the corresponding K88- form.
Intrahepatic Induction of Alpha/Beta Interferon Eliminates Viral RNA-Containing Capsids in Hepatitis B Virus Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is abolished in the liver of HBV transgenic mice by stimuli that induce alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) in the liver. The present study was done to identify the step(s) in HBV replication that is affected by this cytokine in transgenic mice treated with the IFN-α/β inducer polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I-C)]. Here we show that the pool of cytoplasmic HBV pregenomic RNA (pgRNA)-containing capsids is reduced 10-fold within 9 h after poly(I-C) administration, while there is no change in the abundance of HBV mRNA or in the translational status of cytoplasmic HBV transcripts. In addition, we show that the pool of HBV DNA-containing capsids is not reduced to the same degree until at least 15 h posttreatment, and we show that virus export is not accelerated and the half-life of virions in the serum is unchanged. These results indicate that IFN-α/β triggers intracellular events that either inhibit the assembly of pgRNA-containing capsids or accelerate their degradation, and that maturation and secretion of virus is responsible for clearance of HBV capsids and their cargo of replicative intermediates from the cytoplasm of the hepatocyte.
Genome‐wide analysis of carbohydrate‐active enzymes in Pyramimonas parkeae (Prasinophyceae)

The wall‐less green flagellate Pyramimonas parkeae is classified in clade I of the prasinophytes, a paraphyletic assemblage representing the last common ancestor of Viridiplantae, a monophyletic group composed of the green algae and land plants. Consequently, P. parkeae and other prasinophytes illuminate early‐evolved Viridiplantae traits likely fundamental in the systems biology of green algae and land plants. Cellular structure and organellar genomes of P. parkeae are now well understood, and transcriptomic sequence data are also publically available for one strain of this species, but corresponding nuclear genomic sequence data are lacking. For this reason, we obtained shotgun genomic sequence and assembled a draft nuclear genome for P. parkeaeNIES254 to use along with existing transcriptomic sequence to focus on carbohydrate‐active enzymes. We found that the P. parkeae nuclear genome encodes carbohydrate‐active protein families similar to those previously observed for other prasinophytes, green algae, and early‐diverging embryophytes for which full nuclear genomic sequence is publically available. Sequences homologous to genes related to biosynthesis of starch and cell wall carbohydrates were identified in the P. parkeae genome, indicating molecular traits common to Viridiplantae. For example, the P. parkeae genome includes sequences clustering with bacterial genes that encode cellulose synthases (Bcs), including regions coding for domains common to bacterial and plant cellulose synthases; these new sequences were incorporated into phylogenies aimed at illuminating the evolutionary history of cellulose production by Viridiplantae. Genomic sequences related to biosynthesis of xyloglucans, pectin, and starch likewise shed light on the origin of key Viridiplantae traits.
Novel genetic aspects of congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract

Purpose of review Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are among the most frequent organ malformations. They are a relevant cause of chronic renal failure in children. Apart from isolated forms of CAKUT, more than 500 syndromes have been described that are characterized by combined defects of the kidney and other organ systems. Familial aggregation of renal malformations in approximately 10% of patients suggests that genetic events might be involved. Modifying effects due to missense mutations in additional developmental genes seem to enhance the phenotypic variability in affected families. In these families, genetic counseling can be difficult. In contrast, in patients with defined autosomal dominant disease, genetic counseling is of high clinical relevance, also with respect to additional extrarenal symptoms. Recent findings Due to the development of numerous genetic knock-out mouse models, the identification of specific renal developmental genes and the application of novel sequencing techniques of the human genome, our understanding of kidney organogenesis has largely improved during very recent years. Summary This review will focus on important genetic factors that influence nephrogenesis and highlight important human disorders that are associated with anomalies of kidneys, proximal and distal urinary tract.
Depth of faulting on Mercury: Implications for heat flux and crustal and effective elastic thickness

Topographic profiles across a lobate fault scarp on Mercury have been used to constrain the depth of faulting to 30–40 km. Here we use this depth to place constraints on the crustal thickness and heat flow into the base of the crust. With no crustal heat production, the mantle heat flux on Mercury at the time of scarp formation was 30–50 mWm−2. However, higher crustal heat production rates allow significantly lower mantle heat fluxes. In all cases the mantle heat flux exceeds the likely radiogenic heat flux 4 Gyr ago; it is likely that secular cooling accounted for the remainder. Irrespective of crustal heat generation, a crustal thickness of ≤140 km is required to satisfy both the faulting observations and the requirement that the base of the crust does not melt. The effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere at the time of faulting is predicted to be 25–30 km.
Multivariate segregation analysis using the mixed model

Most major genes involved in the etiology of complex diseases are likely to have pleiotropic effects on a number of intervening quantitative traits. Methods of segregation analysis that incorporate the additional information from such multiple traits will exhibit greater power for detecting the effects of major genes and allow explicit tests of major locus pleiotropy hypotheses. In this study, we present a new method for multivariate segregation analysis that utilizes a multivariate generalization of Hasstedt's [1982] technique for calculating approximate mixed model likelihoods on pedigrees. The method is based on a simplification of the multivariate conditional likelihood via a transformation that simultaneously orthogonalizes the residual additive genetic and environmental covariance matrices. This transformation allows the multivariate conditional likelihood to be factored into the product of independent univariate conditional likelihoods. Resulting computations are relatively fast, making it feasible to analyze multiple traits in extended pedigrees. We demonstrate our method with a bivariate analysis of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and apolipoprotein AI (apo AI) serum levels in 585 pedigreed baboons.
Determinants of Participation in Leisure Activities in Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy: Systematic Review

Children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP) experience difficulties in their ability to move, problem solve, socialize, and communicate, associated with limitations in activities in all environments. They are at risk for lower participation in social and leisure activities critical in fostering friendships, developing interests, and promoting well-being. Little is known about involvement in leisure activities and their determinants. This systematic review aims to describe participation in leisure activities by children with CP and identify personal and environmental factors that influence participation. The following databases were reviewed—CINAHL, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, OTseeker, and REHABDATA—using the keywords participation, cerebral palsy, leisure, and recreation. The literature to date suggests that children with physical disabilities are less involved in leisure activities than their peers; activities are more passive, home based, and lack variety. Several factors influence participation in leisure activities, including age, gender, activity limitations, family preferences and coping, motivation, and environmental resources and supports.
Relaciones bancarias: factores explicativos y efecto sobre la deuda de la PYME

Los directivos de las pequenas y medianas empresas (PYMEs) suelen argumentar que no pueden obtener la deuda bancaria que necesitan en unas condiciones aceptables. La teoria financiera sugiere que la existencia de ciertas imperfecciones en los mercados puede explicar por que los recursos no siempre fluyen hacia las empresas con proyectos rentables. Se argumenta que la responsabilidad limitada del empresario y su disparidad de intereses con el prestamista pueden incentivarle para adoptar comportamientos en beneficio propio y en perjuicio del intermediario financiero. Si ademas hay asimetria informativa, el coste de estos comportamientos oportunistas puede ser tan alto que el banco prefiere racionar los fondos antes que elevar su precio. Tradicionalmente, la literatura en intermediacion financiera senala como rasgo distintivo de los bancos su habilidad para adquirir informacion sobre los prestatarios y utilizarla en sus decisiones de prestamo y credito. A partir de estas primeras aportaciones teoricas, la moderna literatura en intermediacion financiera analiza la posibilidad de que banco y empresa vayan mas alla de una simple y anonima transaccion financiera y estrechen su vinculacion. Este vinculo, al que se denomina relacion bancaria, puede incrementar el flujo informativo entre prestatario y prestamista y resolver los conflictos existentes entre ambos, de modo que los bancos incurran en menos riesgos cuando prestan los fondos. En Espana, como pais cuyo sistema financiero se encuadra en el modelo continental, la financiacion de las empresas se realiza fundamentalmente de forma intermediada. Ademas, el tejido empresarial espanol se compone basicamente de pequenas y medianas empresas. Pese a todo, la relacion banco-PYME permanece practicamente inexplorada en Espana. La literatura existente en torno a las relaciones bancarias se centra en las grandes sociedades. Por tanto, el principal objetivo de esta tesis es l
Hypoactivity as a possible contributing cause of obesity in the weanling rat ventromedial syndrome.

Weanling rats, with electrolytic lesions primarily destroying the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei (V.M.N.) and sparing the median eminence, have in the past been shown to be growth-retarded, to have reduced pituitary and plasma growth hormone levels, to be obese despite normal body weight gains, and to show normophagia, normoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia. In the present study, the spontaneous running activity of such animals, as measured in rotating drum type activity cages, was normal during the first 24 h after the operation, became suggestively reduced during the 1st week, and was significantly reduced 2 weeks after the hypothalamic operation. Food intake was normal throughout the experiment but the V.M. N. lesioned animals weighed less than the controls despite a higher obesity index. It is concluded that hypoactivity may be a contributing factor in the development of the normophagic–normoglycemic–hyperinsulinemic obesity that characterizes the weanling rat.
TLR9 Transcriptional Regulation in Response to Double-Stranded DNA Viruses

The stimulation of TLRs by pathogen-derived molecules leads to the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Because uncontrolled inflammation can be life threatening, TLR regulation is important; however, few studies have identified the signaling pathways that contribute to the modulation of TLR expression. In this study, we examined the relationship between activation and the transcriptional regulation of TLR9. We demonstrate that infection of primary human epithelial cells, B cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells with dsDNA viruses induces a regulatory temporary negative-feedback loop that blocks TLR9 transcription and function. TLR9 transcriptional downregulation was dependent on TLR9 signaling and was not induced by TLR5 or other NF-κB activators, such as TNF-α. Engagement of the TLR9 receptor induced the recruitment of a suppressive complex, consisting of NF-κBp65 and HDAC3, to an NF-κB cis element on the TLR9 promoter. Knockdown of HDAC3 blocked the transient suppression in which TLR9 function was restored. These results provide a framework for understanding the complex pathways involved in transcriptional regulation of TLR9, immune induction, and inflammation against viruses.
Cortactin in cell migration and cancer at a glance

The actin-nucleation-promoting factor cortactin has emerged not only as a crucial regulator of actin cytoskeletal dynamics, but also as a key player in aggressive cancers ([Buday and Downward, 2007][1]; [Weaver, 2008][2]). Cortactin was first identified as a prominent substrate of the Src
Hypoxic stress‐induced changes in adrenergic function: role   of HIF1α

Sustaining epinephrine‐elicited behavioral and physiological responses during stress requires replenishment of epinephrine stores. Egr‐1 and Sp1 contribute by stimulating the gene encoding the epinephrine‐synthesizing enzyme, phenylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase (PNMT), as shown for immobilization stress in rats in adrenal medulla and for hypoxic stress in adrenal medulla‐derived PC12 cells. Hypoxia (5% O2) also activates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) 1α, increasing mRNA, nuclear protein and nuclear protein/hypoxia response element binding complex formation. Hypoxia and HIF1α over‐expression also elevate PNMT promoter‐driven luciferase activity in PC12 cells. Hypoxia may be limiting as HIF1α over‐expression increases luciferase expression to no greater extent than oxygen reduction alone. HIF1α inducers CoCl2 or deferoxamine elevate luciferase as well. PC12 cells harboring a HIF1α expression construct show markedly higher levels of Egr‐1 and Sp1 mRNA and nuclear protein and PNMT mRNA and cytoplasmic protein. Inactivation of Egr‐1 and Sp1 binding sites in the proximal −893 bp of PNMT promoter precludes HIF1α stimulation while a potential hypoxia response element (−282 bp) in the promoter shows weak HIF1α affinity at best. These findings are the first to suggest that hypoxia activates the proximal rat PNMT promoter primarily via HIF1α induction of Egr‐1 and Sp1 rather than by co‐activation by Egr‐1, Sp1 and HIF1α. In addition, the rise in HIF1α protein leading to Egr‐1 and Sp1 stimulation of PNMT appears to include HIF1α gene activation rather than simply prevention of HIF1α proteolytic degradation.